Amarilly of Clothes-line Alley

The next afternoon Amarilly called at the studio for the surplice.

"I am glad to see you have your hair fixed as I told you, Amarilly," was

Derry's greeting. "And have you remembered the other things I told you?"

"I hev' writ out 'can' and 'ate' in big letters and pinned 'em up on the

wall. I can say 'em right every time now."

"Of course you can! And for a reward here's a dollar with which to buy

some black velvet hair-ribbons. Never put any color but black or brown

near your hair, Amarilly."

"No, Mr. Derry; but I don't want to take the dollar."

"See here, Amarilly! You're to be my little housemaid, and the uniform

is always provided. Instead of buying you a cap and apron, I prefer to

furnish velvet hair-ribbons. Take it, and get a good quality silk

velvet. And now, good-by for two months. I will let you know when I am

home so that you may begin on your duties."

"Good-by, Mr. Derry," said the little girl artlessly. "And thar's

something I'd like to say to you, if you don't mind."

"You may say anything--everything--to me, Amarilly."

"When you go to eat, won't you order jest as ef I was with you--nothin'

more?"

His fair boyish face reddened slightly, and then a serious look came

into his dancing eyes.

"By Jove, Amarilly! I've been wishing some girl who really meant it, who

really cared, would say that to me. You put it very delicately and

sweetly. I'll--yes, I'll do it all the time I'm gone. There's my hand on

it. Good-by, Amarilly."

"Good-by, Mr. Derry."

Amarilly walked home very slowly, trying to think of a way to realize

again from the surplice.

"I'm afeerd I won't find a place to rent it right away," she sighed.

Looking up, she saw the Boarder. A slender, shy slip of a girl had his

arm, and he was gazing into her intent eyes with a look of adoration.

"Oh, the Boarder is in love!" gasped Amarilly; her responsive little

heart leaping in sympathetic interest. "That's why he's wore a blue

necktie the last few days. Lord Algernon said that was allers a sure

sign."

She tactfully slipped around a corner, unseen by the entranced couple.

That night, as he was lighting his after-supper pipe, the Boarder

remarked casually: "I'd like to rent the surplus fer an hour to-morrer, Amarilly."

"Why, what on airth can you do with it?" was the astonished query.