Evening journal., 1897-11-16
THE MAN WHO STAYED.
He Was Demonstrating Glow TO Live
on Nothing Year"

ou years. Nltu lutlts NLu WIS bhllNh |
in the family vault. Our man was not
so bad as that. He stayed three weeks
only instead of one; but his method of |
haunting us after the three weeks seems |
to be sufficiently odd TO chronicle. lie I
came originally as friend of my sis
ter's husband, who came with my sis |
ter at the same time, but went away |
at the end of a week. Boxer stayed on. |
1 think he was asked by my father to
do so after agreeing with the old man
late at night. From his conversation
l gathered that he spent most of the
year in other peoples houses. and from
his keenness about the point 1 think
he was on the lookout for another in
vitation, and only stayed on with us
in default of something better. How
ever. he made himself pretty comfort
able. l think. He used 10 lie about on
sofas and in hammocSs n good deal,
and used 10 stroll off with one Of my
fathers best cigars when there was
any question of church or when neigh
bors came TO tea. He found out my
sisters private collection of novels, and
helped himself freely. Boxer was man
of about 40, with a large, clean-shaven
face. and a round body clothed in dou-
ble-breasted gray suits. He did not talk
much. but he used to smile in a flnbby
but kindly manner when anybody
spoke. lie used to cat good deal.
That is all l can think of to say of
Boxer as a man; it is of Boxer as
slayer that l propose TO write. AS
hn 4 ftfr 10 m
end. and he was not invited to stay any
longer, he announced that he was so
delighted with our part OF the coun-
try that he intended to take rooms in
afalmhouse and enjoy the scenery and
solitude. We expressed doubts of his
comfort, but he roamed away one after
noon, and when he came back am
nounccd that he had taken rooms in
farmhouse not quite a mile off. OF
course when he went away we said we
hoped he would lock us up. Boxer said
he would. My mother, in a foolish ex-
uberance of JOY at his departure, in-
vited him 10 come TO any meal 10 which
he felt inclined, and Boxer beamed oil
over. The day after his departure he
turned up TO lunch. and sat all the after
! noon until it was time to dress for din
ner. He was asked TO stay, with po-
litely limited doubt Of the weather-the
clouds were working up for q storm
and he said he did not mind getting
wet. Later on it poured in torrents,
and he said he was afraid of lumbago.
So it was a question between having
out the horses. which my mother had
been working all day for calls, or of
Offering Boxer n bed. lie was offered
bed. and accepted. He stayed all the
next day, sending down to his farm for
clean shirt and collar. but went after
! dinner.
On the next day he met my sisters,
] who were out walking. and returned
y with them to the house, because he
e wanted exercise; and then, Of course
he had to be asked in, That night he
stayed only TO lunch however. But
the following day when we came down
in the morning. there was Boxer wait
ing for his breakfast. lie said he had
D been out for an early teddle, and
e couldn't resist the thought of a jolly
4 family breakfast. ] believe he would
r. have liked family funeral, if there
e had been feed connected with H. The
day after, we all went on some eXpe-
dition or other, and laughed as we
thought that Boxer would find nobody
at home; when we returned late in tn,
= afternoon, Boxer was asleep in ham
S mock; he stayed to dinner.
S After that a council was held on tn,
{ alternatives of being rude to Boxer oi
shutting up the house. We wrote e
d my brother-in-law finally TO threaten
a family quarrel unless he drew BoNe
y y of; be and my sister had taken littl,
house, by that time, for the summer
p My brother Bill always maintained thai
4 my brother-in-law. owing BoXer an in
O vitation TO the country, had worked hin
d off on us. In any case NY brother-in
1t law refused, and Boxer wenton turning
II up for another week Then Bill though
y of plan which, with my married sis
ter's cooperation, was put into effect
She wrote to Boxer inviting him t.
a stay, and off went Boxer The da,
e after his arrival he was told that IN,
e sisters little boy had the scarlet fever
a and he fed precipitately. Meantime, a
e soon as he was gone, we hired all thl
rooms to let for four miles round, ant
so when old Boxer wanted 10 come bacl
e he found he was spoofed. But we shal
p never forget him.-Pall Mall Gazette.