vey of the landscape, and afforded an exceptionally noble
opportunity for an unobstructed view of the heavens upon cloudless
nights. Alice particularly admired the lawn, for already she pictured
to herself the pleasing sight of little Josephine and little Erasmus at
play in the cool grass under the umbrageous trees.

And now, having yearned and pined for this particular abiding-place a
many days, it was really ours! Alice told me about it--how she had
comprehended the bargain (for it was indeed a bargain!)--as we
proceeded together to inspect our new home. It seems that that very
morning, worn out with waiting and inflamed by a determination to do
Now or to perish in the attempt, Alice had sallied forth in quest of
the precious game. She had gone directly to the owner, had subtly
ingratiated herself in the confidence of Mrs. Schmittheimer, and, in
less than fifteen minutes' time, had made terms with that amiable
woman. And _such_ terms! My head fairly swims when I think of it.

Mrs. Schmittheimer is a widow. Since her husband's demise two years
ago come next September, she has lived in comparative solitude in the
old home. She was not wholly alone, for with characteristic Teutonic
thrift she had rented the lower part of the house to a small family,
consisting of a mechanic, his wife, their baby, and a small dog. Mrs.
Schmittheimer herself lived and moved and had her being in the second
story, doing her own cooking and other housework, her only companion
being her faithful omnipresent cat, the sex of which (I state this for
a reason which will hereinafter transpire) was feminine. Although the
good Mrs. Schmittheimer was not unfrequently visited by female
compatriots who condoled with her and drank her coffee and ate her
kuchen, after the fashion of sympathetic, suffering womanhood, she
wearied of this loneliness; she was, in fact, as anxious to get away
from the old place as Alice and I were to get into it.

So Alice and Mrs. Schmittheimer had little trouble in coming to an
understanding mutually agreeable. The late Mr. Schmittheimer had
always demanded the round sum of ten thousand dollars for the property
under discussion, but the prevalence of hard times and the persuasive
eloquence of my dear diplomatic Alice induced the late Mr.
Schmittheimer's relict to consent to a reduction of the price to nine
thousand five hundred dollars, "one thousand dollars in cash and the
balance in five years at six per cent.