The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-05-19
THE PAYING GUEST.


The Graysons were annoyed, and
they had good reason to be. Their
expenses insisted upon exceeding
their income 1t was not the fault
of the Graysons-it was the fault of
the income. Nor could they find any
solution to their problem. Pa Gray
son had been in the same position at
the railroad Office for fifteen years
and the likelihood was that he would
be there till he died. His salary was
not elastic. 1t remained the same
yesterday, today and forever. If the
wants of his family had been as fixed,
all would have been well. But as
Marcia and Odele, the two handsome
daughters, grew older and the social
position of Mrs. Grayson became
more assured, it was difhcult-nay,
impossible-for the Graysons to live
on the same amount that they had in
the comfortable old days when the
girls were little and the only thought
that Philip Grayson and his wife had
was to give the little things a few
simple pleasures and a common edit
cation.
1t would be unfair to accuse the
Graysons of extravaganza. The girls
contrived their own frocks, and Mrs.
Grayson was a wonderful cook, so
they managed with a minimum of
help. But still the bills crept up till
the three women came to have feel
ing that they were turning poor Pa
Grayson into dray horse. They
did not like that idea. They wanted
Pa Grayson not for his power of drag
gNg heavy loads, but because he was
II sr own dear pa.
lPpose neither you nor pa would
Ito me working in store. And
Yhayent a talent in the world, un-
less it is for being amusing and the
only way I could get anything out of
that questionable accomplishment
would be to go upon the stage"
"Why, Marcia" said Ma Grayson
reproachfully, "you really must not
talk so recklessly. You almost shock
me, my dear"
"Oh, if didn't quite do it, NAM
ma, you will forgive me, feel deep
ly. I must express myself with ve-
hemence. You say we are two months
behind with the rent ?"
Ma Grayson nodded dejectedly.
cit must have taken great deal
of sympathy on your part, dear MANI
ma" cried Odele, kissing her mother
to take the sting out of her words,
''to succeed in making two girls as
utterly useless as we are"
''You are far from being useless, .
returned Ma Grayson, with dignity.
"You are simply not commercial.
Your father and I are deeply panied
that you have to be made acquainted
at all with our embarrassing condi-
ton
The girls laughed at mas dignity.
They told her she was dear old goose
and they rumpled her hair up and
pulled her tie around under her ear
and teased her until she begged for
mercy.
1t was the evening of the day on
which this conversation occurred
that Odele came running down tc
the dinner table with the paper il
her hand.
Listen to this p she exclaimed
"Wanted-A refined and cultured
home where a gentleman can live a:
a paying guest and where no boarder'
are taken" i"
"Well?" asked Pa Grayson rather
coldly. He was altogether too PROUD
for man with nonelastic salary.
"Well, dear dad, that is for us
The paying guest was designed fol
our needs. Of course you and m;
would never take boarders-not OF
any account. But paying guest
why, it would actually be a distinc
ton. He can have the big from
room with the alcove off. Marci;
and will be just as comfortable IL
the back room, anyway we like t
get the southern outlook. Come, b
dear ducks and let me answer this ad
vertisement "
"But he might not like us, Odele
and then think how mortified W.
would be-" objected Ma Grayson
who. it is unnecessary to explain
was accustomed to meet only with tn
polite phases of life. Odele threv
back her big blond head and laughed
IT shall answer the advertisement
at once" she announced.
Ten days later the paying guest
moved into the Grayson second from
with alcove. The moving was seri
ous undertaking, for he was possess
ed of a great deal of impedimenta, in
cluding a large germ destroyer waite
| filter. His name was Lighton Hol
niger.
He was sixty, perhaps, an inch owe
six feet in height, very thin, triti
bald, very graceful. His voice wa
low and musical, and he spoke wit
noticeable carefulness. His toile
was irreproachable. He greeted M
Grayson with every evidence OF gra'
| itude.
81 cannot sufficiently thank you,
he said, bowing low over her hant
"for your goodness in extending yor