Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-07-26
AN INVALID BOARDER.


have an uncongenial person here!"
He might be very pleasant.
"A strange invalid pleasant" con-
temptuously.
I'VE must either take somebody into
the family or dismiss Mary.
Better even that than a boarder
What would the Blairs say?"
Think how your hands would look.
But hurry; can't wait longerl"
There was frown ON Addie Merrilrs
soft forehead and tapping of her dain-
tily slippered foot as she wrote the note
Just as she signed it Mrs. Merrill has
5ened out for her forgotten purse.
Il don't believe we are as bad off as
mamma pretends, regarding the tip of
her pen.
Then the grieved expression left her
face and mischieyous mutiny reigned
supreme.
Dipping the pen, she wrote, without a
moments hesitation:
p. S-If you come I'll make II so un pleasant
that you can not remain.
Mrs. Merrill now entered, and with
triumphant little sigh and not one re-
morseful twinge Addie calmly folded the
thick creamy sheet and placed it in the
envelope.
The following morning Mrs. Merrill
hustled about, fearing the advertiser
might call early.
Il don't think he'll come, said Addie.
This is such an out of the way place.
He said he wanted quiet Please
hurry and pick flowers enough for at
least two bouquets.
Addie, having cut the blossoms, artis-
tically arranged them in delicate jars,
and placing one on the piano, asked:
"Where shall put this one?"
"US in the spare chamber, said Mrs.
Merrill, who was carrying downy sofa
pillow thither
"I'm glad l added the postscript,
thought Addie. glancing around the cozy
homelike apartment; "for if he saw the
room he'd be certain to want it. A hate
full invalid here, indeedl"
The bell distinctly tinkled in the far
off kitchen.
"A gentleman to see Mrs Merrill.
And that plump and comely matron
Slnoothed her wavy gray hair, and made
her way to the parlor.
Addie went to her room and began
reading. In a few minutes--it didn't
seem over five-her mother came in, say
ing:
"He is coming"
"Comingl" echoed Addie. "Who?"
"Why, Mr.. Bevan, our boarder, of
course.
"The one that advertised?" asked
Addie, aghast.
Certainly. He will arrive for dinner
at six.
And arrive he did.
Addie dreaded the meeting. She had
not counted it possibility.
1t was with roster cheeks than usual,
and most tasteful toilet, that she went
down a little early for dinner.
At least, he should not think her q
fright as wen as vixeni
Finally surveying the pretty figure re-
1ected in her white draped mirror, she
found herself wishing that the new
boarder was young and companionable;
for, of course, he was a crusty old fellow,
in all probability so disagreeable that his
relatives couldn't tolerate him.
Dimly recollecting an invalid uncle's
great animosity toward pianos and pi-
ano playing young women, Addie went
60 the parlor, and, establishing herself
on the piano stool, began playing, hav-
ing selected ''Tam O'Shanter, I" Storm
at Sea, besides long arrangement de-
scriptive of certain fierce battle.
These pieces are not in themselves par
ticularly Objectionable, but when exc
cuted by strong little pair of hands,
with determination to make them as
terrible as possible, and not a moments
pause between them, they assume un-
dreamed of horrors
Addict" came in her mothers voice,
as she was about to pause from sheer ex-
haustion, and was finishing with blood
curdling chord.
Addie turned round, and there, stand
ing just inside the portieres, was a man
Ia young and handsome one at that.
Who could he be2
Certainly not their invalid boarder.
His eyes twinkled merrily as Mrs. Mer-
rill entered and introduced Mr.. Bevan.
aI have been listening to you, Miss
Merrill am very fond Of music, he
said.
~That is pleasant, as play so much, I"
eaid Addie; trying to read his dark laugh
ing but incomprehensible eyes, and won
dering how long he had been there.
All through dinner he retained his
pleasing but. to Addie, perfectly exas-
perating smile.
And thus the days passed, Addie grad
ually abandoning her thunderstorm stTis