Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-11-09
THE DOUBLE DEALING OF MRS. SMITH.

clined. The only holiday she yearned
for she said, to lie in bed one long, de-
Hcious morning.
linen l set about contriving how to
Keep Mr.. 1vry away. 1t isn't pleasant
to tell downright fib, so | couldn't
invent some dreadful happening that
would make the room uninhabitable
Tor day or two. ! couldn't ask him
TO change rooms, for there were
none to change to. And it was already
Sunday morning.
a friend was coming-and was she
! not a friend-to stay until Monday
morning, and l must give her cor
ner, hoping he would not be greatly
inconvenienced. Mr.. Ivry looked sur
prised, but answered very kindly,
Oh, yes, he would make some arrange
ment for that little time. And l car
ried up for his luncheon Il nice cut
OF broiled chicken. | felt so relieved
and grateful, and l am sure he realized
how sorry | was to trouble him.
But there Were more Sundays-per-
haps whole summer of them-to fol-
low, and hardly was his first one over,
and Miss Hardy off to her work, be-
fore the next one began to loom up.
l tried to send Mr.. Ivry out to my
niece for Sunday, telling him of the
quiet, the refreshing lake breeze, and
the benefit of even brief respite from
the heat and uproar of the city. And,
almost to Miss Hardys words, he
replied that the only respite he needed
was few hours of solid sleep, and he
could sleep at home, and he pleasantly
thanked me.
Then | resolved to cast myself on
Miss Hardy's compassion. l told her
| that friend of mine was coming to
spend Sunday with me-a person very
much in need of rest-and l had no
quiet concentrating. in fact, but my
! bedroom, and the liitchen-aud would
she mind giving up her room just for
the day-and as early in the morning
as possible-as Il special favor to me?
Miss Hardy promptly answered Yes"
felt myself grow red with shame
thinking of my deception but l con-
fess | was greatly relieved. with no
conflicting Sunday to consider for IL
days to come.
However, l had suGiciency of
scares during that time. One morning
Miss Hardy, running back for a hand
kerchief, and finding me wildly re-
moving her effects as L engaged in
fire drill, and only able to stammer
something about sweeping day" and
one evening catching me Just outside
her door with the last armful of Mr..
1vry's things fortunately the evening
was dark and rainy. and the hall lamp
not lighted and Mr. Iyry finding a
thimble and Il hat pin which l had
clumsily overlooked, politely handed
them to me, without even thought of
suspicion.
The time fed swiftly. and soon an
other unarranged Sunday confronted
me. 1t was Mr.. Ivry's turn to be di-
verted from the room.
Now l would take Il bold stand, and
say to him that. owing to our cramped
quarters, my daughters illness, and
the fact that we We're to have guest
every Sunday-and weren't we?-he
would be comforting a great favor il
he would find some other room for
just that day, and | would gladly make
a suitable reduction in his rent, and be
Sc much obliged.
made the suggestion to him with
fear and trembling-for there was the
chance that he might take leave al
together-and my voice faltered, and
the tears came into my eyes, in spite
of my effort to be calm and business
like The dear boy! He had nothing
for me but instant compassion and
ready compliance. He said he could
manage somehow, he was sure; and
his room, which mad began to seem
! like home to him, would seem all the
pleasanter for these brief absences.
The next Saturday afternoon, at
quarter to six, Mr.. Iyry went away
with a handbag and umbrella and
smiling good-by, and | flew to my
work of reconstruction with a light
heart. No more threatening, dreadful
Sundays, and only the little minor
risks of weekdays to look out for! No
wonder l hummed as l placed Miss
| Hardy's lamp and books and work.
| basket and fans, and slippers and
dressing case, and calendars in their
usual places.
l was sitting in our own little room
one evening when the blow fell. Latch
| keys had already admitted the first
floor people, and So when l heard the
| hall door open and close. and quick
step came bounding up the stairs, l
| knew the end had come.
Evidently Mr.. 1vry has hastily re-
| turned for some important forgotten
thing, and, thinking that my guest
was not to arrive until the next day,
| had returned to unlock the door l
heard Miss Hardy utter an eXclama-
tlon, and bound to the door which
she must have opened quite violently,
for it banged against the table and
made the plates rattle.