The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-03-08
MARY AIMS IODGER.


It was a wild, black night in hummer
street, Jackass Flat, Cal, 1852. The
wind fairly howled. The rain scourged
the roofs, twisting in wet sheets about
the chimneys, and pulling them down,
as the velvet train of lady clings to
the ankle of the unwary dancer, and up
sets him in minute. There was more
water in Bemmer street than you would
have thought from merely looking at
the surface, because, as a rule, you can't
see very far into the water, every cubic
mile of which holds in solution small
range of mountains and two or three
mining towns. The boarding house of
Mrs. Hashagen presented, however you
might look at it, a very detected aspect
There was one tallow-candle burning
dimly at an upper window, and beside
it sat, in anxious expectancy, the land
lady's old mother-in-law, plying the
busy needle. Her son, the man OF the
house, who was .'having a little game
with the boys behind dormer-window
at Clawhammer Jake's, had promised
to return at 10 O clock if he had 'any
kind O. luck"-which meant any kind
excepting bad or Indifferent luck-and
either how soon it might be necessary
to take to the boats. Presently some
thing bumped against the side of the
house. there was murmur of subdued
swearing outside, a scow was pushed up
to the window ledge, and Mr. Hashagen
stepped into the room.
"How's business, Joseph?' was the
laconic welcome from the aged mother.
'.Disgustin'!'' was the unamiable re-
ply of herson, as he chained his barge
to the shutter. s'Never held such dern-
ed hands in my life. Beat the game,
though. Ten or twenty dollars, l should
say. But 'tain't no use for me to keep
up that lick. Fate's dead agin me
that's how put it up"
''Quite true, Joseph" replied the old
lady mildly; ''we done better'n. that to
home"
"Did, hayP'
There was long silence, broken only
by the pounding and chatting of Mr..
Hashagen's galley against the side of
the house. The wind had died away,
or moaned only at long intervals, like
the warning wall of the Banshee. Some
solemn and mysterious spell seemed to
brood upon that households; vague but
ghostly presentiment was at the heart
of Mr.. Hashagen-a subtle sense of help
lessness and dread of some overshadow-
ing Presence. He rose and looked out
upon the moving waters.
''Mary Ann's got customer, Joseph
said the old lady with an air of forced
cheerfulness, as if to dispel the gather
ing gloom by idle talk.
''What is hep" inquired her son me-
chanically, not even Withdrawing his
eyes from the window-''roomer OF
mealer?'
"Only bedder at present, Joseph"
PAY in advanced"
mo, Joseph"
'Any traps?''
'Not even a carpet-bag."
"Know himp"
"We never none of us ever seen him
afore."
There was another pause. The con-
versation had recalled Mr.. Hashagen's
faculties to the cares of the lodging
house business, and he was turlfing
something over in his mind, but did not
seem to get it right side up. Presently
he spoke:
Hang me eff 1 savvy! He didn't
don't know him! Now it's my opinion
he's dead beat-that's how put him
up! He lays out to get away with US
to play roots on the shebang. But I'll
get the drop on him; I'll ring in cold
deck on him, or I'm a Chinaman; you
Just put dat that down-that's me!'
But all this time there was chill fear
creeping about Joseph's heart. He
talked very bravely, but he felt, some
how, that it didn't help him! He didn't
exactly connect this feeling with his
mysterious lodger, but he thought he
would rather have taken in some person
he knew. The old lady made no further
attempt to put him at his ease, but sat
placidly sewing, with face as impas-
sive as that of the Sphynx.
81 say, mother, has he turned in?''
''Yes, Joseph, l believe he retired
come hours ago
''Then bust my crust eff don't 60 for
his dudsr'
And selling the candle this provident
landlord strobe into the hall, marched
resolutely to the proper door, laid hold
of the knob, and then, as he afterward
described it, ''you could have knocked
him down with 81 bill However,
he pushed open the door and entered.
And there, stretched out upon bed.
and decently sheeted from sight, lay the
motionless form of Mary AIMS lodger,
and, drawing off the covering, exposed
the whole figure, which was about ten
inches long, and rosy as summer sun
set. The new bedder was as much as
three hours of age, and quite hearty
San Francisco Wasp