Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-08-29
his glance. For moment she did not


rolled up soft old cloth in one hand,
feather duster in the other. The
woman-hater watched her as she
worked with an anxiety that finally
merged in complacence How well
she knew how to handle q book!
Il feel like criminal" he told her,
laughing. Il know now how men feel
who go off leaving their board bill un-
paid. tried to tell Mrs. Basset this
morning that I would leave, but
lacked the courage The dear soul!
1t will be many day before / find a
place that suits me as this does"
"Why are you leaving, then?" she
asked.
"You may not think mine the best
of reasons. I am leaving because Mrs.
Basset is to receive another boarder-
q woman"
"Yes?" Clearly she expected hin to
say more.
| II understand she is one of those ap-
| palling creatures they call new wom-
en- he went on, unconsciously glad of
a confdante. "She supports herself,
you know, teaches school, and even
writes-books on abstruse subjects"
"Dear! Dearv calculated the pretty
| housemaid
Sympathy is sweet If any one had
told Alexander Freer that morning he
would have been glad of it's gift from
a housemaid he would have been in
| 6.v1o Rv1f 7, h11r in
it to his fiattered SOUL and fishing for
more. He told her how he had never
known real home since his mother
died, when he was boy of ten. After
that there were schools and colleges.
Then travel, hotels and boarding
houses. Here" he concluded, "I've
been comfortably anchored for seven
years. with leisure for my own inter-
ests and pursuits, and quite secure
from interruption. But now I must
give it up. can never face that gaunt
creature in spectacles, who will talk
pendantically to me across the table
three times a day."
"Dces she wear spectacles?"
Freer lifted his head out of the pack
ing case. ''I'm sure she does. They
=! all do-the clever ones. She might
expect me to take her lectures, She
might induce ME to take up municipal
reform. She"-the sweat of fear
breaking out on his might
give me worsted slippers-or birth
day edition Of poems-she might!'
That's so," assented solemn little
voice from the ladder. In the silence
that followed they heard the hall clock
strike.
"Four" Freer exclaimed. $50 late!
Mrs. Basset may be back any minute
Hark! Isn't that her now?" He
stumbled to his feet, looking like a
detected schoolboy. "There! One box
is ready, anyhow. You must let me
thank you, Miss Miss
"Jean," she prompted.
"AIiss Jean-and take this There
was a sound of the door, which had
been opened with a latchkey, swinging
shut again. A heavy step came up the
stairs you are. welcome, but I can't
take any money. Here is Mrs. Bas-
sct."
And there, indeed, was that worthy
woman, leaning against the open door
and staring in wild astonishment at
the scene presented. The packing cases
the heaped up books-the confound-
ed owner Of the latter-the girl on the
ladder.
"Jeanettev she cried. "My dear!
What does this mean"'
81 did not intend coming until to-
morrow" Miss jeanette Wallace had
descended from her elevated seat and
was greeting her friend warmly. Il
changed my mind at the last minute
and came Now I'm going to change
it again-and so away"
'..Mr. Freer," pleaded the embar-
rassed landlady, what is all this
about %
"My blundcr, madam he cried, re
morsefully. "Took this young lady fo1
the housemaid and asked her to help
me pack my books. beg your pardon
I'm sure"
"But-packing! Were you going to
leave? Oh, Mr.. Freer! And all on ac-
count Of
"Of me-" cried Jeanette gayly. but
1 shan't be your boarder, Mrs. Basset'
Mr. Freer will stay
Whereat Mr. Freer Immediately de'
vcloped a most extraordinary contra
dictoriness.
Not unless you do" he declared
stubbornly.
Mrs Basset looked he.pless.y from
cne to the other.
well, it's all right now" said treei
contentedly, "and I'm going to unpach
these books and put them back Where
they belong"
1t was pouring rain one afternoon
a couple of months later when jeanette
Wallace came forth from meeting
OF the Woman's Club. An umbrella
!; was raised as she stepped out, and 9
familiar figure walked beside hej
through the rain
4"rhis is rashn' she cried. @"It i:
IfaImost SIS bad as t;;sing me to lectures
But I haven't given you Worsted slip
4 rers yet-nor a birthday edition O
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