Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-12-10
A THANKSGIVING SURPRISE.

ness when Mrs. kitchell raped at the
door. He had occupied her rooms six
months.
"Slept sound as q mole on the new
spring Mattress" Frank volunteered,
turning from the dressing-c case as she
came in. Lucky for me it's easy" Inc
added. 81 expect to stay all day in bed
pretty soon."
"Rhcumatism?"
"Well, no; I've Miss McFlimscy's
complaint-nothing to wear"
"Mr. Russell!
"Fact. Haven't dud that is in
order"
Il might take stitchor 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 business of put
ting my clothes in order, one who was re-
liable, and would como here and do it,"
"There are members who make 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 member to put gen.
" tleman's wardrobe in order. Call at
No. 436 - street.
"How is this?" he asked, reading.
at sounds WELL"
''All right. Ill drop into the Office
of the Blusterer and have it inserted ut
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. He examined and found it had
undergone thorough repair. He envel-
oped himself in its crimson and old gold
gorgeousness with sigh of satisfaction.
he opened his fine linen drawer. Prayed
buttonholes, nccks and wristbands had
been looked after and buttons summoned
hack to du.x-...-Tl,e hopalses laolipts ssal-
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 we'll be-
gun.
1T is fine thing to have 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, bcaming at him across the
rejuvenated dressing-gown.
''She's been hero, | see," Frank said,
"and she's proved jewel so far"
"She's real lady. l 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 a good beginning.
Take this" handing her bank note, "to
make yourself good and pay her for her
work"
"l'm very glad you are satisfied"
said Mrs. kitchell, cheerfully, as she
glanced at the denomination of tho
note. She had often said that there was
nothing "skimpin' about Mr.. Russell.
Mrs. Kltche!l was non-committal
woman. Frank wanted to ask after the
looks of the mender, but forbore. "Some
one who has seen better days likely" he
thought.
He fell into another reverie before the
open fire after Mrs. Kitchell had left
him. A curious sense of companionship
was invading him not unpleasantly. His
portrait hung above the mantel-piecc.
Its eyes seemed 10 meet their duplicates
knowingly, as if their owner could a tale
unfold If he so desired. Eyes they were
with q sort of steady insistanco and a
CLEAN of nirthfulness beneath their un-
satisfied expression. Things had gone
wrong with their owner, awfully wrong,
he told himself. He was in no doubt as
TO where the blame should be credited.
He had been an unmitigated idiot, Us he
was apt TO remind himself.
AS he raised his arm that faintest odor
oe violet or something else seemed to
creep out of his dressing gown. He next
sar long, brown. FURNISHED hair trail
ing over tho skirt of it. He tried to
brush il into tho fire. 1t chung to his
fingers, but finally discngaged itself of
its own will aud gyratcd up the chimney.
He begun 10 wonder If this member was
nice looking. He had thought of her
vaguely as homcly and clever with her
needle, but somehow FURNISHED hair and
the odor of yiolets seemed TO demand
some other kind Of character.
lie came home the next night feeling
he had new interest in life. Again the
faint odor of violets came to his nostrils
as he opened tho door The fire was
struggling into a bright glow in the
crate.