Evening star., 1896-01-11
A pHrLosoPHrc BoARpER.
A Leaf From the History of q Board
ing House.

A Leaf From the History of q Board.
ing House.
Mr.. Paddles, which Is not his real name,
sat in the small hall bed room Of his
boarding house, not more than four hun
dred and seventy-five miles from the north
west corner of the patent office, with his
blue fingers over the lamp chimney, when
knock resounded upon his door. 1t was
knock to startle. but it didn't startle Mr..
Paddles He was afraid to be startled, lest
any sudden movement would break him in
two SO nearly frozen brittle was he.
Come in,'' he called.
Coed evening"" said a lady, curtly, as
she opened the door in response to the in
vitation of Mr.. Paddles.
1t was the landlady, but this did not
startle Mr.. Paddles. He was accustomed
to his landlady.
Take this chair Mrs. Spuddington," said
Mr.. Paddles. rising and crowding over to
the wall, in order to give the landlady
chance not to get pinched. 1T is the only
cheir I have in the room at present, but
L fancy you don't care for more than one
rarely does" and Mr. Paddles smiled
thinly. II never do You will at least find
it warm, which is, 1 am sorry to say, not
q striking characteristic of the temperature
of the ROOM.
Mrs. Spuddington, which is not her real
name took the chair, and Mr.. Paddles
leaned up against the wall, getting as close
to the lamp as he could.
81 came in Mr. Faddles" said the lady
severely. and without thanking him for the
chair, Ito ask you about the board bill you
owe me-
'It is very kind Of you. am sure" said
Mr.. Paddles.
II don't know that it is," she replied, in
but it is" insisted Mr. Paddles. II am
sure 1 would never have thought of going
to see you about it. But then" added Mr..
Paddles in self-deprecation, you were al
ways thoughtful Mrs. Spuddington."
Il guess not" she laughed, disagreeably,
and with reference especially to his not
coming to see her about it.
May ask he inquired, with great def
erence, how much 1T is?"
twenty-five dollars and fifty cents.''
Why" exclaimed MIR. Paddles in gentle
surprise, 'ft seems to be growing
Il should say it was growing" she snap
ped. "W hen are you going to pay it?'
Just as soon as 1 can" This with conf
dence.
That's what you told me when it was
fifteen dollars.
eyes. believe did," admitted Mr.. Fad
dies.
And it is more now"
YES" he confessed with contrition, "sev-
en- dollars and half more, and my ability
to Hquidate is decreased by just that
| much"
Mrs Spuddington was becoming angry.
What 1 want to know is, are you going
| to pay, ever?" she said, bouncing around In
Mr.. Paddles chair.
"of course 1 am" asserted Mr. Paddles.
Well. all l have to say is you'll pay or
you'll get OUT
Then you will lose it." argued Mr.. Fad
dies. because IL can't pay you now, how
can pay you when am owing some other
landlady to whom you have driven me?"
This WAS putting it in a different light.
I'D rather lose twenty-five dollars and q
half than forty-two and half" she SAID.
Then I'll get oLL''
mo, you won't either" contended Mrs.
Spuddington after the manner of women in
| an argument. You'll stay here till you
pay it if 1t takes a year."
Mr.. Paddles face frightened.
"All right" he responded, changing his
position for one more comfortable That
being settled. let us talk about something
more agreeable
mo we won't either" she contended with
spirit. We'll talk about that board bill"
"Very well, madam" agreed Mr.. Paddles
with the same imperturbahle good nature
| What phase of it would you like best to
discuss?"
Its too cold here to discuss anything"
shivered the landlady. Gene down stairs
to my room, where ii Is warmer" and Mr..
Paddles obedieEtly followed Mrs. Spudding-
| ten down stairs ponde.ing as ne went
along on how much better IT was for a
| boarder not to pay his board and have the
| landlady make 1t hot for him, than 1T was
| to pay promptly and freeze stiff in a little
hall bed room with nothing to keep him
warm except pocketful of receipted bills.