The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-15
DoubIe-DeaIing of Mrs. Smith.

W. "e~S Wiling lO Pdt any 4SdSOi-oD4S
price for a comfortable, quiet room all
to himself, where he could sleep in the
day-he being employed on a big morn
ing paper during the week, and until a
late hour on Saturday upon a Sunday
paper.
The next morning he came, bag and
baggage; and I must say the little store
room was not bad.
Mr.. Ivry-that was his name-said it
was all very nice, and he drew a long
breath as if quite weary; and 1 noticed
his eyes looked tired and a little sad.
| Well, Mr.. Ivry hal been under my
roof for two weeks. and giving me 10
more trouble than a mouse-not near 50
much, for 1 am mortaIly afraid of a
mouse-when she came. She came in the
evening, when, luckily, l had just I'm
ished setting Mr.. Iyry's little room in
order.
she wanted a room, and the privilege
Of preparing her own breakfasts and
suppers, and she would be away at her
work at a big milliners during the day.
Now every Granny Of my house was
full, unIess-and here the wild plan whicp
| led to such constant watchfulness and
| fIightful anxiety jumped into my mind.
l told her 1 feared the only room l raj
would be too small and 100 PLAN 10 SUI,
but If she would like to look at it-and
\
Il will take the ROOM" she said. with
little sigh of resignation over my
| finty price, and / will come tomorrow
| evening at about II
And at what time will you be going
away in the morning?" 1 asked, as cas-
| ually as possible.
oh, dTeadfuliy early! I must break
| fast at G. and be in my place al
sharp. Will you kindly let your maid
| ~ q barf ocf in -irr7ae I
am so sleepy"
I assured her that 1 would gladly
waken her myself. being always an early
| riser.
She came. and four whole days passed
| before the awful possibilities OF Sunday
| dawned upon me. l felt that l had al
ready a sufficiently narrowing time-re-
modelling the room, so to speak, in the
morning for Mr.. Ivry, and clearing IL up
! in the evening for Miss Hardy. More
| than once 1 had what my dear husband
would have called a 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 a glass of milk
before Mr.. Ivry came up them: and 1
made him wait in the lower hall while,
with some excuse, l hustled Miss Har-
days numerous belongings into my
clothes press.
And one afternoon Mr. Ivry fingered
so long over his acknowledgements
reading or writing, for I heard the rustic
of paper, and the occasional movement
of his coffee cup-that l nearly faint
with fear as l whisked his possessions
away and brought out and arranged the
Hardy properties in their accustomed or
der. Then Mr.. Ivry left his side Of the
hall cupboard ajar on the third evening.
showing plainly a piece of cheese and
the remnants Of sandwiches, which Miss
Hardy must have noticed, for she askel
me next morning II there were other
dodgers on our floor, and 1 was obliged
to vaguely prevaricate. What with false
hood and hard work and wearying
watchfulness, my nerves were already
becoming shaky
And now Sunday was coming, How to
keep Miss Hardy out of her room from
half-past six to half-past five, or longer
was the question. 1 thought Of several
things. l had dear married niece 1iv-
ing out in the suburbs in d pretty little
house. I telephoned her. asking her as
a special favor to take my guest for Sa.-
urday night and Sunday. She answered
With pleasure!" But when l proposed |
the delightful outing to Miss Hardy, hat
young lady thanked me most sweetly
and declined. The only holiday she
yearned for, she said, was to lie in bed
one long, delicious morning.
Then l set about contriving how to
keep Mr.. Ivry away. II isn't pleasant II /
tell a downright fb, so 1 couldn't invent
some dreadful happening that would /
make the room uninhabitable for cay I
or two. 1 couldn't ask him to change |
rooms, for there were none to chanse |
to. There was nothing to be done but /
to boldly ask him for his room over
Sunday.
a friend was comng-and was she no. |
friend?-to stay until Monday morning. |
and l must give her a corner hoping |
he would not be greatly Inconvenience |
Mr. Ivry looked surprised, but answered !
very kindly, Oh, yes, he would make
some arrangement for that little time
| tried TO send Mr.. Ivry out to nv
niece for Sunday, telling him Of the
quiet, the refreshing lake breeze, and the
benefit Of even 4 brief respite from the
heat and uproar of the city. And, almos
in Miss Hardy's words, he replied that
the only respite he needed was a few
hours of solid sleep.
The next Saturday afternoon, at
quarter to 6, Mr.. Ivry went away with
handbag and umbrella and smiling
good-by, and l few to my work of re-
construction with a light heart
l was sitting in our own little room
when the blow fell. Latchkeys had al
ready admitted the frst-foor people ard
so. when I heard the hail door omen and
close and a quick step come boundInx !
up the stairs l knew the end hal come.
Evidently Mr.. Ivry had hastily return
ed for some important forgotten thing,
and, thinking that my guest was not u
arrive until the next day, had tiled 10
unlock the door, which she must have
opened quite violently, for II banged
against the table and made the plates
rattle il
The hall was dimly lighted-for can
not afford dazzling outlay OF gas
What do you mean?" cried N SIS IIar-
dy's voice, in startled intensity
Il beg pardon. but 1 left began Mr.
Tvry
You are mistaken! This is my" j
Excuse me; 1t is my room"
II you don't go away this minute III {
call Mrs SAITH"
will you listen moment? I left .
some papers here
Mrs. Smith"
.osh-" ;
Mrs Smith,
That hangs-or did hang an hour ago
in the corner by the
I got 20 my feet. but weakly sank int
my chair again. BY this time they nus
nave taken look az each ,ther. ard
here came little cry from Miss Hard !
'Faiip-Mr. Ivry,"
hen there was such 4 confusion e
X .aTEa lions that / could distinguish
7othlng fT few moments Fra IL ;
anne few sentences 4. Miss HarIy.s I
,.-ar tut Slightly trembling voice:
i an here because 7 an a. work
Papa died a yta- aeo. He lost all hi. r
MONEY and be couldn't get ever t. g
tn IS poor as YOU are now"