The Washington times., 1895-04-14

stairs. But personal interview had very
little effect She came back looking dis
eouraged-
She says it really is the custom. and that
Tor Il week She cannot afford to do any
more
We remained at the place a week. each
Cdy a little wetter, drearier and colder than
the preceding, and our big drawing rooms
absorbing all the ugly aspects Ofthe weather
outside. Our miniature fire was totally
inadequate 70 the situation, aud we had 10
sit around in our outdoor wraps 10 keep
warm. The only fun we s<d was furnished
by Mary Ann She was = simple creature
but possessed the provertssl Irish wit. and
had a fresh, rosy young face when il was
clean However, We only saw that phe-
nonenen once during our acquaintance with
heF we felt sure that she slept in the
coaIbn- and sometimes were inclined TO
think our landIady did the same. Mary
Ann was not Dublin girl. bat belonged To
There were some sharp contrasts in our
surroundings, for if We had this gentle-
woman on one side, we had some OF the
lowest types of civilized humanity on the
other. Our back window opened out
over an alley with only a garden the size
OF pocket handkerchief between. That
alley swaTmed with active life from morn
ing until night, and half the night. Men,
women and children, 6ioakeys. pigs. geese.
dogs and cats We're indiSCriminateIy mixed
and We Were often entertained with choice
examples OF Irish wit, though not Couched
in the choicest terms. One evening We
were startled by wild shTieks of murder.
m1rderl' IN woman's keen, high-pitched
| voice.
Isis she dead?" timidIy inquired the
/ companion from under the pillow
No, indeed; cid You ever know a dead
woman to create such a disturbance as
| that?"
But Mrs. TwombIy, our Iandlady, came
/ to the door to Teassure Us.
/ You needn't by frightened. Its only
/ Sarah Brady drunk again, and r 'usband
/ is trying to get 'er 'Ome. She is a hartfuI
I Creature, and wants to make everybody
believe 'e's beating 'eT But she beats
i'm, not e 'er. Martins gone hout to see
| habOut hit"
After time we became used to the rows.
/ for great many words but few blows
! seemed the order of the day with our excit-
able neighbors. Besides Mrs. TwOmhiy
had absorbed the attention hitherto given
I to the alley She was perpetually excuS-
ing her grasping disposition with this
remark:
You see, 'um, Martin hand me are Young,
hand ave our way to make We ave Ugh
rent to pay, and must keep these rooms
| set"
She was always Setting the rooms and
| we finally discovered that it meant renting
them to lodgers. She told us her family
history, also the long oouItship with her
/ husband
Hi waited for i'm twelve years, hand
don't you think hit was time for i'm to
keep is word to me? Time hand time
again lis mother said, 'ATriet. hi want
you hand Martin to marry You know IS
ways, hand you are the wife for I'm. But
e was over ere in Dublin 'aving a good
time, hand me ard lat wolk
One day the lady came in looking de-
termined and desperate
Are you thoroughly satisfied with our
lodging experiment."
The first day satisfied me-"
''Then pack your trunk"
That evening we were comfortably housed
in large hotel, with plenty of towels. hot
and cold water and gas, and sat down to
dinner in large dining groom where we'll
trained walters were moving softly about.
Now, this is something Ike life" said
the man, in a satisfied tone.
Yes, am so glad to get hack again.
We've been living in a hook Hereafter
I'll be content to simply read them
''But We Lived very inexpensiveIy in tnf
book" MATT GRIM