The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-29
TIE MYSTERIOUS BOARDhR.
Secret why Many Callers Came to the Plain,
Moderately Young Woman.

When II woman stays AT home all day, and al
night has from three to seven new stories TO tell,
nothing stands in the way OF her popularity.
This was what made the plain. moderately young
woman who came 10 live at the west side board
ing-house the nccssant delight of two tables.
The surprising thing that she usually stayed
at home all day and still had always new stock.
Whether she spent the day evolving them from
her inner consciousness OF selecting them from
IL compendium of fun nobody knew cared.
II both had been the case one would have coveted
such an inner consciousness and promptly invested
in such compendium.
Mornings and afternoons the little black maid
was kept painting up the three flights 10 her room
with visiting cards. They were Roman-lettered
cards, and their owners were OF sort TO cause
the little black maid TO take turns with her black
assistant in making trips TO the drawingroom
on imaginary brands. while the guests waited
They came in carriages always and their gowns
were Of the hOpelessy stunning sort which defes
imitation. Invariably. when their hostess had
descended they accompanied her Immediately to
her room, third floor back. in defiance Of stairs
The calls always brief
The landlady was on ,ip-toc with excitement
What there could be, she conhded to her daugh
in such plain ordinary, everyday. dressing and
actng and looking person 70 attract SO many
friends She for het part, couldn't see The day
before the mysterious boarder departed, the land
lady, her face set in stern determination. mounted
the stairs breathing heavily She had never been
TO the mysterious boardcrs room before. but
desperate measures must be- taken. She had spent
the forenoon debating whether it would appear
more natural and lifclike to make her GRAND n
test OF the gas fascnings n sea rCh for imagi-
nary quilt She decided on the latter, and rap
ped boldly
There was a quiet summons TO enter and she
counterfciters apparatus, such she pre-
pared To see; neither was there set on the chif
foncr the outfit Of a la laboratory for the manufac
ture Of ground glass and cold poison. The plain.
moderately young boarder sat before the bed
filling three dress suit cases with assorted brands
Of women's cigarettes
Come in" she said pleasantly "a wonder II
you wouldn't be interested in seeing these"
Then she graciOusly went through them. Hero
was mild, vioetpaper wrapped article. for he
ginners here WAS the sa me, madn in casing 10 be
enclosed in monogrammed paper Here were
Turkish andEgyptan cga rettCs, put up in twenties
and fOtties. and selling for SO and 81 box. Here
was a brand, made Of the finest and most mildly.
favored tobacco, Havana grown, and mixed
yioIets making thG smoke a delightful
like parlor cars and all manufactured OK
preSSly for women. She representing a
Western house, and she was leaving next day for
Washington
Before she had nearly done and before the la nd
lady had gathered together her comments came
there mounted while the landladv peeped from the
third floor front bedroom. yOlley Of rustling
silk and waving plumes. As the door closed the
moderate young woman saying
You are Just in time | am sending my order
in TO day for 1900 OF that same brand"