The Winslow mail., 1899-07-06
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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8 Mr. Phineas MARVEL >
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Mrs. HYDE kept boarders. Mrs.
iVf Hyde was a little, dried-up widow,
with a constitutional toothache and
mild, meek way of taking the world as
it came to her. For so years she had bat
tied against misfortune until the war
fare had become second nature to her.
But there's one blessing that | have
to be thankful for she would say.
''Mr. MARVEL has kept true to me
through it all as the needle to the pole"
From this it need not be inferred that
Mr.. MARVEL was a lover of the little
widow Far from it,. He was only her
best boarder-the boarder who for half
a score of years had occupied her first
floor 'front.'" and paid his bills as regu-
larly as the Saturday night came
around.
He was a bachelor, as may be sup
posed-a man who was as full of whims
and caprices as an egg is of meat, yet
who carried kindly heart in his bosom
beneath it all.
But on this special Friday morning
his eyes blazed wrathfully-the tip of
his nose hung forth a crimson flag of
Indignation, as Mrs. Hyde came meekly
into his presence.
"a months warning, ma am" was all
that he said.
Mrs. Hyde caught at the nearest chair
for support.
Mr.. Marvelll" she gasped.
"Now, ma'am, it isn't at all worth
while to go through any scenes" said
the bachelor, callously. Il am prac-
tical man, as you ought to know by this
time. And I'm not in the habit of vast
ing words. Put up bill. Advertise.
Let your room as soon as you can, for |
move out tomorrow, although, as a
token of respect for your many good
first of June"
La, Mr.. Marvelll" family calculated
the widow. ''How can L possibly have
offended you?''
ASK your own conscience, ma'am!"
sternly retorted Mr.. MARVEL.
Because if it's on account of Patty
and her babies"
Its precisely on that account,
ma'am. was awakened last night by
The screaming OF child.
Its cutting eye-teeth, poor DEAR in
terposed Mrs. Hyde.
''And this morning, on making in
quiries, relentlessly went on the bache-
Tor, 81 learned that you had actually
taken in your widowed niece and her
twin babies Twins, ma am! One would
have been enough-too much, in fact
but when it comes to twins"
Patty had nowhere else to go, sir,''
said Mrs. Hyde, apologetically, land
she'll be useful about the house. Patty's
good girl, sir!"
Il dare say" said Mr.. MARVEL. But
1 can't stay in the same house with
fwins-so, as l before remarked, put up
a bill as soon as you please"
''Piease, sir, I'll put Patty and the
children on the top floor, where they
can't possibly disturb you, if"
Il tell you once for all, ma'am, that |
can't tolerate children, and l won't!
Will you be kind enough to leave me
now?'
So Mrs. Hyde went downstairs to
burst into tears, back of the pantry
door, where Patty Smith, with one twin
tied in the high chair and the other
swarming over the floor, like a magni-
fed beetle, was beating eggs for the
dinner custard.
"Aunty, what's the matter?" demand
ed Patty, still whisking vigorously
away at the custard.
Hes going, my dear"
ssXVb00 Mr. Marvell 2'
s'Yes."
''Well, let him go, aunty," said Pat
ty, cheerfully. She was dimpled, pref
ty little lady, with pleasant black eyes,
and black hair, parted low on her fore
head-not quite 20, in spite of her wild
owhood and her twins! Its cheerful
room-you'l soon fill up the vacancy"
But not with such man as Phineas
Marvell," groaned Mrs. Hyde. 20, Pat
", you don't know him!"
Il know he must be a crusty old piece,
nunty, or he never would object to the
dear, darling little babies" said Patty,
with a loving glance at the twins.
Don't fret now, there's a dearl It'll
all come right, see if it don't. FL write
an advertisement myself and take it
down to the newspaper office this aft
ernoon."
So Mr.. MARVEL packed up his goods
and left, and Mrs. Hyde cried.
1T seems such pity" said she, aft
er ten years!"
Don't mind it, auntie," said the
courageous Patty. I'm sure he must
be selfish creature, or he never would
serve you so.'
Hardly a month had elapsed when a
sour-visaged woman came to the Hyde
house and requested an audience with
the mistress thereof.
'You know of old MARVEL, l sup
pose?" said she.
81 know Mr.. Phineas Marvell,' an
swered Mrs. Hyde, with dignity.
swell, it's all the same," retorted she
of the acidulated countenance. Hes
boarded at our house three weeks and
four days. He's down with the. small
pox."
20, my!" CALCULATED Mrs. Hyde.