The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-29

have you forgotten, dear, that you
told me at the last moment that your
salary would not support anything luxu-
riOus! | had that in view when | took
only one room"
You would much better have had an
alcove i'll view at least. to let us out
little. But it is too late now. 1t looks
as though We were in for il.
About 4 week after this conversation
the careful mover" deposited within the
little room Al the Outlook three trunks.
shirt waist box, Il writing desk dress
ing table. vigorous rubber plant and va
rious odd pieces of bric-a-brac
When MIR. and Mrs. Barker finally ar
rived, they looked ut each other in amaze
ment. Mr. Barker at last made a break
Don't be at all backward. Mrs. H. Walk
right in, or fly in. or crawl or wriggle-
any way to get in" The poor woman
sldled III at the invitation. and together
they began to unpack. while Steve. the
man who went ut cverybody's beck and
call edged and zigzagEed the trunks off
to storeroom, while their contents
strewcd the couch, chairs, dresser. man
tel and floor.
What i'll the name of common sense do
you expect to do with all this punder?
4 oAHt'pNNu va ltlltNl our house IululSil-
ed. and here you've brought along enough
to stock up a boarding house"
Mrs. Il. knew better than to argue the
point. She began instead to fill the
drawers of the dresser, which were for
tunately broad and deep.
Il suppose the wardrobe closet is a
good large, square one, with window
and shelves"
"RppllX Artb I ~ Ia,
closet. | never even pcepcd into it,"
Let us see what it is like" And Mr.
Barker opened the door, to be confronted
by a wall only two feet away Then he
made a plunge into it lengthwisc. while
the hooks on either side caught him in
the sleeves and collar and impaled him
by thrusting themselves malicously into
every loose fold of his clothing, shifting
his ears and pulling his hair until smoth-
cred imprecations issued from the dark
ness.
Il swear" he gurgled as he elbowed
and hsted his way out. How are we
ever to get our clothes out of there if we
ever manage to get them in? The only
way TO do is to tack up some labels and
by some electrical contrivancc make them
transparent, then put hook ON ten
foot pole and pitch i'll for them. How are
these gray trousers. tailor made gown,
dress suit, silk petticoat laundry bag
Good gracious, Helen. squeeze in before
you hand up a single dud. Dreyfus' hole
on Devils island wasn't circumstance
TO it. Oh. yc gods and little fishes, What
were you thinking of when you took such
quarters as thescT
Mrs. Barker sank heplessly into a seat,
the picture of mute despair
Il don't know, Arthur. could not
have been thinking at all. Whatever
shall we do? Let us 20 back home"
"Home, Helen, We haven't any. Our
house is rented, and we are without
roof to shield our heads
When the folding bed was let down
that night, Mr.. Barker barkcd his shns
against a rocker and in trying to move
1t out of the way upset the lamp on the
center table, which spilled its contents
over an embroidered table cover and
finally bumped on to the floor. His wife
caught up the first thing at hand to alb
sorb the oil, and it proved to be her best
shirt waist.
During the night hilarious boarder
sang snatches of Il song with the refrain:
Oh, love her love her! will build my house
where the robins nest.
Through the long "witching hours"
these sounds were waited through the
thin partition at intervals until Mrs. Bar
ker heavcd sigh and, throwing up her
arms, walled, "Oh, dear, what shall
do?'
Get up and go out to the front win
dow and revcl in the outlook! Get up
anyhow and fold up the bed and see how
your skirts hang"
She was pretty mad inside by this time,
and she kept so very still Mr. Barker
soon fell asleep, to awaken again at a
fresher dulcet strain.
Mrs. B., is he loving her still and
building his house. only hope his wife
will rent 1t after ne gets it built. Good
Lord, | should like to kick him into
South Africa"
The next morning as Mr.. Barker kissed
his wife goodby he tried hard to smile,
but since he could not he frowncd.
Doesn't it seem kind of good not to
pay out any car fare this morning?" she
asked as she tried to press out the wrin-
kle on his forehead.
"Oh. yes; almost as good as being car
ried off in patrol wagon free of charge.
Helen. forgive me, but what in thunder
are we here for?"
For rest and change" she murmured.
But the same morning she followed up
an address two miles farther out than
their home and secured two good sized
rooms and private bath. 1t is but fair
to add that these convenienccs also in
cludcd a square closet Of considerable
size, furnished with drawers and shelves.
Mrs. Barker wisely concluded it was
not the highest economy to save ear fare,
and 10y way of reminder her husband pre-
sented her with a receipt for a months
board in advance at the Outlook-Cleve-
land Plain Dealer