Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-11-26
TURNING THE TABLES.
A THANKSGIVING SURPRISE.

L
any, small blame to him. Trifes try
mems souls.
Something will have to be DONE" he
thought as he bent pin to do duty for a
collar button. " All my clothes have
struck for repairs 1t destroys man s
self-respect to go around dressed in this
make-shift fashion"
He was trying to whistle off his dreari
ness when Mrs. Kitchell raped at the
door. He had occupied her rooms six
months.
"Slept sound as n mole on the new
spring Mattress" Frank volunteered,
turning from the dressing-case as she
came in. Lucky for me it's easy" he
added. 81 expect to stay all day in bed
pretty SOON"
"Rheumatsm?"
"Well, no; I've Miss McFlimsey' S
complaint-nothing to wear"
"Mr. RUSSELL"
"Fact. Haven't dud that is in
order"
II might take a stitch or sew on but
ton, said Mrs. Kitchell doubtfully.
Thanks. But there are scores of
buttons and any number of stitches
needed. Don't you know of some wo-
man who would make a business of put
ting my clothes in order, one who was re-
liable, and would come here and do it,"
"Ihere are members who make q bust
ness of it, if we could find them," said
Mrs. Kitchell.
"Why not advertiser"
1--WE might try"
He sat down to his desk and wrote:
WANTED-A nice mender to put gen.
" tleman's wardrobe in order. Call at
No. 436 - street.
GLOW is this?" he asked, reading.
at sounds well"
"All right. I'll drop into the Office
OF the Blusterer and have it inserted at
once"
On the evening of the next day Frank
came home, went straight to his room and
lighted the gas. 1t was the dullest of
November evenings and the glow seemed
CHEEKY. There had been some sort of
change in the atmosphere of the place
since morning. Wasn't there a faint
odor of violets in the air? He thought
suddenly of his ad. Had Mrs. Kitchell
engaged woman? Did members as u
rule leave trail of delicate perfume be-
hind them?
He proceeded to investigate. First he
opened clothes press. His dressing
gown confronted him with knowing
look. lie examined and found it had
undergone thorough repair. He envel-
oped himself in its crimson and old gold
gorgeousness with sigh of satisfaction.
de opened his fine linen drawer. Frayed
buttonholes, necks and wristbands had
been looked after and buttons summoned
back to duty. The hopeless looking col
lection in the stocking drawer had been
begun upon. There was the needle and
mending yarn, showing that "there was
more to follow" of the work so well be-
gun.
at is fine thing to have a woman
around, provided you don't" Here
Frank broke off abruptly and sat think
ing some painful, uneasy thoughts.
Mrs. Kitchell raped and came in at
his bidding, beaming at him across the
rejuvenated dressing gown.
''She's been here, | see," Frank said.
"and she's proved jewel so far"
"Shes real lady. | picked her out
OF dozen who came. You wouldn't give
some of them house room. knew she
was sure not to poke around in things"
Your choice does you credit, Mrs
kitchell. She's made good beginning
Take this" handing her bank note, "tc
make yourself good and pay her for hel
work"
"Pm very glad you are satisfied, y
said Mrs. kitchell, cheerfully, as she
glanced at the denomination of the
note. She had often said that there was
nothing 'skimpin about Mr.. Russell.
Mrs. kltchell was non-committal
woman. Frank wanted to ask after the
looks of the mender, but forbore. "Som,
one who has seen better days likely" Il,
thought.
He fell into another reverie before tn,
open fire after Mrs. Kitchell had lef
him. A curious sense of companionshiI
was invading him not unpleasantly. Hi,
portrait hung above the mantel-piece
Its eyes seemed to meet their duplicate.
knowingly, as if their owner could tale
unfold if he so desired. Eyes they wor,
with sort of steady insistance and {
CLEAN of nIrthfulness beneath their un
satisfied expression. Things had gon,
wrong with their owner, awfully wrong
he told himself. He was in no doubt IA
to whore the blame should be credited
He had been an unmitigated idiot, as h
was apt to remind himself.
As he raised his arm that faintest odo
of violet or something else seemed t
,,ti l.. 4 g..