The Boarder looked sheepish.
"You see, Amarilly, I'm akeepin' stiddy company with a little gal."
"I seen you and her this arternoon. She's orful purty," said Amarilly
reflectively. "She looked kinder delikit, though. What's her name?"
"Lily--Lily Rose. Ain't that a purty name?"
"Beautiful. The lily part jest suits her. She's like a flower--a white
flower. But what do you want the surplus fer?"
"You see," began the Boarder, coming by circuitous route to his subject,
"gals git notions in their heads sometimes when they air in--"
"Love," promptly supplied the comprehending little girl.
"Yes," he assented with a fiery blush. "And she wants fer me to hev my
likeness took so I kin give it to her."
"Thar ain't nothin' foolish about that!" declared Amarilly.
"No; but I never sot fer one yet. I wouldn't mind, but you see she's got
it in her head that I am good-looking--"
"Well, you be," corroborated Amarilly decisively.
"And she wants me fer to dress up like a preacher. I told her about
Hallie Hudgers lookin' so swell in the surplus, and she wants, as I
should dress up in it and set fer my likeness in it."
"I think it would be fine!" approved Amarilly. "You sure would look
nicer nor Hallie did."
"Well, I wouldn't look like a dead one," admitted the Boarder. "But I
was orful afraid you'd laugh. Then I kin rent it fer an hour to-morrer
ef it ain't got no other dates."
"You can't _rent_ it. You can take it fer an hour, or so long as you
like," she assured him.
"You'll hev to take a quarter anyway, fer luck. Mebby 'twill bring me
luck awinnin' her."
The photograph of the Boarder in saintly attire was pronounced a great
success. Before the presentation he had it set in a frame made of gilt
network studded with shells.
Lily Rose spent her leisure moments gazing upon it with the dream-
centred eyes of a young devotee before a shrine.
The next wearing of the surplice was more in accord with its original
design. In the precinct adjoining the one in which lived and let live
the Jenkins family, a colored Episcopal church had recently been
established. The rector had but one surplice, and that had been stolen
from the clothes-line, mayhap by one of his dusky flock; thus it was
that Amarilly received a call from the Reverend Virgil Washington, who
had heard of the errant surplice, which he offered to purchase.