Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1901-06-21
MYSTERIOUS L0DGER.
BY j. II. SMITH.

In little house, in little street,
lived Mrs. Tubbs, a widow, and her
only daughter, Melinda Tubbs.
Miss Melinda was very amiable,
very fascinating in her general make
up and the rumor was current that
Mrs. Tubbs would leave Melinda a
nice "plum" when she had "shuffied
off this mortal COIL" but notwith-
standing all this the young lady We
still Miss Melinda Tubbs.
She stood a very fair chance OF
passing her declining years in state
of single blessedne.s. But Miss Me
linda did not seem to appreciate the
beauties of that kind Of life, and was
continually casting her sharp eyes
round, seeking a victim whom she
might haul into the matrimonial
moose.
Mrs. Tubbs kept boarding house
'for gentlemen only" as she always
specified in her advertisements.
The number of her boarders gen
orally ran all the way from two to
eight.
Now, of course, these dodgers de-
sired amusement for their spare mo-
ments, especially when rain or any
other obstacle confined them within
doors, and they had it gratis. For
what could be more amusing to men
than to see a woman deliberately
throwing herself at their heads and
using all the arts in her power to en-
trap one of them.
1t was quite amusing to them to
watch her numbering opera at the
wretched piano, and affecting coquet-
fish airs and graceful attitudes, with
a charming air Of not knowing that
anyone was in the room; that was in
expressibly absurd.
AS for being deceived or taken in
by any of the tricks, they laughed at
the idea.
To be sure, there was a wild rumor
in circulation to the effect that ''once
upon a time a boarder had become
enamored Of the manifold charms of
Miss Melinda and had offered her his
heart and hand, and also several thou
sand dollars in government bonds, but
for some cause unknown the wedding
never took place.
Simpkins, the boarder in the Sec
ond floor back, suggested that the I'M
fortunate man had seen his betrothed
'taking herself to pieces" and was
so overcome by the sight that he had
fled in horror and Sought a watery
grave" That was Simpkins' express
sion. And the other boarders gen
orally concurred with his view of the
story, though the majority were du-
bious about the existence of any man
so hopelessly insane as to fall in love
with Miss Melinda Tubbs, and scout
ed the whole tale with scorn.
Fortunately for Miss Melinda's
peace of mind she knew not what 9th
er people thought Of her, and serene
ly kept on her way, while the boarders
came and went, and still she was Miss
Melinda Tubbs.
AT last one morning a gentleman
came, engaged a room from Mrs.
Tubbs, paid a week in advance and
gave his name as Edwin Mortimer,
saying he would send his trunks in
the afternoon, and would take his din
ner out, and then he walked away, ut
terly unconscious of the fact that his
image was impressed on the heart of
Miss Melinda Tubbs, who had been
looking at him through the keyhole
during the interview, and was quite
overcome by his personal appearance.
"Such a handsome manw she
murmured, when she had retired to
the solitude of her room; "such splen-
did eyesl such beautiful black hairl |
and such an elegant air He spoke to
ma as if she were queen. Edwin |
Mortimer What a sweet namel |
wonder who he can beP'
Mr.. Edwin Mortimer soon became