The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-09-24
"p00R MR. FAT."

I'LL III eo "Sii "SeS
last. I have got to earn my owl
bread and butter anyway; and if
happen to want any cheese Of
sweetmeats with it, why, [ mus
work the harder. Yes, Mrs. Har
ris, this room will do very nicely
It, was O. charming voice tha
spoke, half gaily, talf sadly, ane
the good landlady looked wonder
ingly at the sweet, pale face, an(
the honest brown eyes that wer'
raised so frankly to her own; tn
air and manner Of the girl being 81
unmistakably lady-like.
81 think you'll be pleased will
the apartment. There's a piano
you see, in one recess, that poo
Mr.. Fay used to play on +; and you
being a music teacher, you see i
comes quite handy" :,
"Thank you, Mrs. Harris, it vii
be rey convenient. You said, .poo
Mr.. Fay Is the gentleman i'll O.
dead z"
Mrs. Harris sighed respectfully.
"Worse than either. He wa
foully murdered, they say, and hi
body was never recovered. Poo
hovi he seemed almost like m,
own"
Maud Irving was trying thu
piano while Mrs. Harris spoke
playing a low melody Of minor
chords: When she bad finished
she turned around.
"Oh! isn't dreadful? L dom
wonder you said poor Mr.. Fay.
And to think he once played OF
these very same keys! Well, Mrs
I am not in the least afraid OF MI
coming back
"Oh, 'sh! 'sh!' and the fat fore
finger of the pleasant landlady
went up warningly. "Miss Irving
don't talk like that, because they dt
say this very room is haunted.
haven't got the conscience to let i
to you without telling YOU"
Naud's eyes opened widely, ane
then she laughed.
"Why, I consider it quite an in
ducement to take the room. l al
ways wanted to see ghost-a real
fair ghost, you know"
Mrs. Harris looked in astonish
ment at the bcight fair face tha
was looking so curiously at her: .
$50 you aipt afraid-ch? ? Well
1 can't say as I'm exactly afrait
myself, but then-then, 1 wouldn'
care to sleep right in the same bee
where anybody slept who had becl
murdered. Oh, I know 1t Amt
rolicy to talk So" she said, regard
ing the merry shaking of Maud
finger; "but 7 said it once, and II
say it again: I've got a tender con
science, and I shan't abuse it,
Elm sure I thank you, Mrs. 1lar
ris: but really I think your stor,
adds. a charm to the comfort of tn
room. Brussels carpet, marble-to]
walnut suit, a French rocker, gas
privilege of bathroom: fire, hot an.
cold water, o dear motherly land
lady, and-his ghostship; all 70
the reasonable price you mentioned
Indeed, you must not putme out, j
I am to CO."
Maud deliberately took off he
furs and wraps, and drew the low
easy rocking. chair beside the regis
ter, with a dccidedly-at- home feel
ing about her that good Mrs. Har
ris evidently appreciated.
"Bless your dear heart! Just 81
still and rest you, and I'll SEN
Mary Ann up with mouthful t
stay you till dinner"
Somehow, Maud's spirits sud
dently deserted her after her lane
| lady left her. There came agloor
over her sweet face, and there wer
decided signs of tears in her eyes
as she leaned her head forward o
her hand and thought it all over.
1t was ala experience that La
made very sudden, very alarmln
changes in Maud Irving's life. BIT
- NO, ,ot co ,nunb har father