The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-07-26

"Either she or l must CO."
"Couldn't it be managed, sir ?" said
the landlady, half terrified out Of her
Senses"
"No, it couldn't" said Mr.. McCor-
kindale.
At that moment, however, Miss
Milfoil herself made her appearance on
the scene, going down the stairs in u
quiet, determined sort of way, and
facing the indignant elderly entlemang
as he stood there.
"What's the matter?' said Miss
Milfoil.
"The natter said Mr.. McCork.
indale, "is simply this. I have en-
gagged my board here, under the ex-
press understanding that l am to be
the only boarder."
~ see," said Miss Miltoil. "And l
am in the way"
Mr.. McCorkindale was ominously
silent.
"But," said Matte, with an engag-
ing smile, :'if I promise to be very
quiet and refrain from annoying you
in any manner Whatsoever"
"It would make no difference" said
Mr.. McCOrkindale. "I object to Young
women"
"But," cried indignant Matte,
suppose were to object to middle
aged gentlemen on no better pre-
text 2"
"You are perfectly welcome to do
so," said Mr.. McCorkindale, stiff1y.
"You see l am an old bachelor"
"And l am an old maid," pleaded
Matte.
at makes no difference-no differ
ence at all !" said Mr.. McCorkindale.
II am sorry to disappoint you, Mrs.
Sweetclover, but
"Stop!' said Matte resolutely.
"Mrs. Sweetclover, if either of your
boarders leave you, it is I. l came
last and occupy the least remnnera-
tive room. will take my departure
on the noon train tomorrow"
"At all events" said Matte to her.
self, II will get up before daylight to-
morrow morning, and have one more
swim in the surf"
She supposed, when she came out
the next day, in her dark blue bath.
ing suit and her coarse straw hat tied
down over her eyes, that she would
have the coast clear. But she was
mistaken. Mr.. McCorkindalc was
padding like giant turtle, in a suit
Of scarlet and gray among the waves.
He had always wanted to learn to
swim and here was most eligible op-
portunity.
"He doesn't see me-" said Matte,
to herself, as she crept cautiously
down in the shadow of the rocks. "If
he did, suppose he would issue a
proclamation that the whole seashore
belonged to him. But l hope there is
room enough for us both in the Allan
tic ocean,"
And Miss Milfoil struck out scien-
titi''ally, gliding through the waves
like a new variety of fish, with dark
blue scales, and straightway forgot all
about the troublesome old bachelor.
otis very strange" said Mr.. Nc
Corkindale, revolving around like a
steam paddle wheel. "a log floats
but can't seem to manage 1t with.
out the help of my arms and legs.
I've always understood that swimm-
ing was very easy business but
poLff - ah-h-h sh-sh -whust-sh-sh !!
Help! help! Pro-ff! I'm drowning!
The undertow is carrying me out, and
1 can't help myself! Whust shl Oh |!
ah-h help he-eelp"
And Mr.. McCorkindale's voice lost
itself in bubbling cry, while the deaf
old fisherman on the shore went on
whistling snd mending his net, and
the solitary individual who was pick
ing shells with his back toward the
surf never dreamed but that the stout
old gentleman vas diving for his own
amusement.
/ But Matte Milfoil, cleaving her
way steadily through the waves, per-
ceived in a moment that something
was wrong.
Mrs. Sweetclover tainted away when
they laid the boarder on a pile Of
blankets on her kitchen floor.
She was one of those nervous ladies
who always faint away at the least
provocation.
But Matte had all her senses about
hel; and thanks to her courage and
presence Of mind, MIR. McCockindale's
life was saved.
"What is that rattling on the stairs?'
he feehly inquired, as he sat up, the
next day, in an easy chair with a
curious sensation, as if p gigantic
bumblebee was buzzing in his head
and cataracts pouring through his
ears.
Its Miss Milfoil's trunk going
away" said Mrs. Sweetclover, with a
sniff of regret.
"Tell her not to CO. said Mr.. Nc
Corkindale.
"Sir ?" said Mrs. Sweetclover.