The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-09-28
The air is lest roasted


in there whenever the cook stove is
fired up"
"Mind your own business Pm
housckeeper~ cried Mrs. Copper
And Peter beckoned his guest to fol-
low him.
He put the trunk into the room,
and looked anxiously to see whether
there was also room for a human be-
ing. A clothes-pin propped the one
window. 1t opened so little that no
longer rest was needed. The smell of
fried fish had come up from the kitch-
en- stove-pipo hole at breakfast time
and had not yet escaped.
"Dear me! is this my room?" asked
Mrs. Smith in gray, standing at the
door.
"Wcll, so mywifc says, said Peter.
Mrs. Smith shrugged horshoulders
and entered.
An hour afterward the two board
ors met on the piazza, and Mrs Smith
in gray first broke the silence.
"Hayc you a comfortable room,"
she asked.
ooh, yes ma'am," said the Mrs.
Smith in black silk, "bcautiful; and
the lady of the house SO kind"
"show me your room, Margaret"
said Mrs. Smith in gray.
Certainly, ma'am, saidMrs. Smith
in black silk, and ushcrcd the way.
so fresh and sweet" said she, and
brought me a cup of tea; and so po-
lite. l hope you are comfortable,
ma'am; though of course, you might
find fault where l wouldn't"
Mrs, Smith in gray made no def
mite answer. She asked a few more
questions, and made q resolution.
At dinner, Mrs. Smith in black
silk was served with care and ankle
ty, and Mrs. Smith in gray was help
ed to her dinner, and left to ask for
more if she wanted it.
In the afternoon Mrs. Smith in
black silk was taken out to ride; and
no invitation was extended to Mrs.
Smith in gray, who, however, sat
quite placidly on the porch until the
tea hour being over, bedtime ap-
preached. Then she sought an in
torvicw with Mrs. Copper.
"Havc you other empty rooms be-
side the one you gave me?" she ask
ed.
"Of course l have" said Mrs. Cop
per.
"Thcn l must ask you to give me
one" said Mrs. Smith. 81 cannot
sleep in that small oven over the
kitchen"
"Thcn you'll have to lie awake,
ma'am," said Mrs. Copper.
"That l prefer not do" said Mrs.
Smith. 81 would make nocomplaint
if it were merely u bare room with a
decent bed. l expect no elegance,
but you know no one could rest in
such place"
Dear mel" cried Mrs. Copper, 81
suppose you've been used to every,
thing very fine! You forget that you
told me you went out nursing, and
wantcdcheap board. I've only charg,
ed you five dollars a week, remem,
ber."
Mrs. Smith smiled.
"Your other boardcr has delight,
full room," said she.
a should think So" said Mrs. Cop,
per. That's the rich Mrs. Jabe2
Smith. She is worth half a million,
She didn't ask what I'd charge, and
my Fred. is working for the firm,
and knows how she lives and all
Folks that go out nursing can't ex'
poet to be just exactly the same as
quality unless they can pay for it"
Good reasoning Mrs Copper" said
Mrs. Smith in gray, "only you have
made a little mistake. ] happen to
be Mrs. Jabez Smith. 1t is Il com
mon name. Your other boardcr
whom l met, to my surprise, at the
depot, is Mrs Smith, the nurse. She
lived with me for fifteen years, and
cared for all my children, She is an
excellent woman, and | consider her
u friend. /
"Dear, dear, dear!" cried Mrs. Cop