Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-10-25
THE DOUBLE DEALING OF MRS. SMITH.

CJ anu uA AANiAlu oauShNSAt -
if warm, protecting wall between
me and the north wind had been SUD
denly removed.
Fortunately, our house, with It's
pretty garden at the back, and decent
neighbors was left us; and there was
a steady demand for our front ana
back parlors, and the little room OH,
that answered for library, or dress
ing room. Lodgers came and went, ana
very cheerfully added their sovereigns
to the fine growing sum which Kept
tea-caddy.
Well, in the very biggest rush OF
visitors they came. The young man
came frst-a good looking boy OF "a
Of so-who was willing to pay any
reasonable price for comfortaple'
quiet room all to himself, where he
could sleep in the day-he being EN-
ployed on big morning paper during
the week, and until late hour on
Saturday upon Sunday paper.
The next morning he came. bag ana
baggage; and l must say the little
storeroom was not bad, with its clean
mating and fresh curtains at the one
window that looked on the garden.
Mr.. Ivry-that was his name-said 1t
was all very nice, and he drew long
breath as if quite weary; and noticed
his eyes looked tired and little SAD.
l always feel sorry for young people
with sad eyes.
l told him l truly hoped he would be
suited, and showed him cupboard
at the end of the hall where he could
keep his housekeeping supplies. There
were two divisions. with key to
each, and I gave him the right-hand
one Then, thinking of his sad eyes
and maybe also of the tea-caddy-
l offered to furnish cream and butter
very reasonably.
Well, Mr.. Ivry had been under my
roof for two weeks, and giving me no
more trouble than mouse-and not
near so much, for am mortally afraid
of a mouse-when she came. She
came in the evening, when, luckily,
had just finished setting Mr.. 1vry's
little room in order
She wanted a room, and the privilege
Vi pIcpdllHS utl oNh N>,-N
suppcrs, and she would be always at
her work at big milliner's during the
day.
Now every Granny of my house was
full, unless-and here the wild plan
which led to such constant watchful-
ness and frightful anxiety jumped in
to my mind.
l told here 1 feared the only room l
had would be too small and too plain
to suit, but if she would like to look
at it-and l led the way to Mr. lvry's
room.
There was still faint odor Of cof-
fee, and pair of very manly looking
boots peeped from under the bureau.
! caught them up and held them be-
hind me while we talked.
Il will take the room," she said,
with little sigh of resignation over
my flinty price, "and l will come
tomorrow evening at about seven."
"And at what time will you be going
away in the morning?" l asked, as
casually as possible.
"Oh, dreadfully early! must break
fast at six, and be at my place ut
sevcn sharp. Will you kindly let your
maid call me at half past five, for
sometimes l am so sleepy"
assured her that l would gladly
waken her myself, being always an
early riser. And If she would like
home made bread and things of that
sort, with fresh cream and butter,
thought l could make it convenient
to supply them-at reasonable price.
She came, and four whole days
passed before the awful possibilities
of Sunday dawned upon me. l felt
that l had already a sufficiently har-
rowing time-remodelling the room. so
to speak, in the morning for Mr.. Ivry,
and clearing it up in the evening for
Miss Hardy. More than once l had
what my dear husband would have
called Il close shave. Miss Hardy fell
asleep again one morning, after being
awakened and had hardly dashed
down the front steps, without her
breakfast-except for glass of milk,
which | almost poured down her
throat-before Mr.. Ivry came up them;
and made him wait in the lower hall
while. with some excuse, l hustled
Miss Hardy's numerous belongings in
to my clothes press.
And one afternoon, Mr. Ivry fingered
so long over his refreshments-prob-
ably reading or writing. for l heard
the rustic of paper, anG the occasional
movement of his coffee eup-that
nearly tainted with fear as l whisked
his possessions away and brought out
and arranged the Hardy properties in
their accustomed order. Then Mr.. Ivry
left his side of the hall cupboard ajar
on the third evening, showing plainly
piece of cheese and the remnants
OF sandwiches, for she asked me next
morning IL there were other dodgers
ON our floor, and | was obliged to
vaguely prevaricatc. What with n