The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-29
REST AND change. "
A Couple Tired of Housekeeping Seek
Comfort In Boarding House.
BY KYLE HARRINGTON.
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Suppose we rent the house and board
for the winter | am heartily sick of this
eternal round of work, with poor help
and often none at all
Mrs. Barker stopped and blew the dust
off the mantel mechanically. IF get Il
good girl, her mother is sure to send for
her because the children are sick, or per-
haps some one offers her higher wages.
Besides, we live too far out to suit most
of the help"
"None too far to suit me, Mrs. B.
| only wish we were two miles farther"
and the man addressed arose and gave his
chest a resounding thump. after being
down town in that confounded smoke all
day it is relief to draw a full breath out
here"
Mrs. Barker transferred her field of
operations from the mantel to the lapel of
her husbands coat and tlicked away an
imaginary grain of dust yesterday |
had an opportunity to rent the house fur
nished, and for my sake. Arthur, | do
wish you would consider it favorably.
The Browns will give us $50 n month,
anu just lHlik HOW ldE lIldl NOulu 20
toward paying our board"
But | hate boarding positively de-
spise it. | had enough of it before l
found you"
She girdled his neck by clasping her
thumbs and fingers around it, remarkng
by the way that she had good notion to
choke him. The man distended his eyes
and went through all the violent symp-
toms of strangulation.
"Oh, yes, we'll board and eat hash,"
he gurgled, 'if you say so; but, then. /
will not stir even one step to find Il
boarding place. That is settled once for
ALL" He unclasped her fingers and drew
her hands within his own.
'Then | will. l would like nothing
better than going out this very morning.
Shall |? Please say yes: there's a dear"
"Of course. Put on your rainy day
skirt and trot all over the city, but mind
one thing. My salary will not warrant
an expensive place"
Mrs. Barker hurried through her du-
ties and was on her quest soon after her
husband left. She was armed with sun
dry addresses which she had clipped from
the morning paper, all of which places
she visited, comparing accommodations
and prices with businesslike dispatch.
1 For a week she kept up an assiduous
hunt and at last found what she consid-
cred most desirable place. However,
before announcing the fact to her liege
she summoned to her aid all the tact she
could command. The old and undisputed
way to mans heart she never ques-
toned, so Il most excellent dinner of his
favorite dishes was set before him. She
believed also in the potency of a cheerful
CRATE fire and the easy chair and slip
perS as adjuncts, not forgetting the
choice Havanas that leaned temptingly
toward him from the quaint smoking jar
at his elbows.
"And so you think, Helen, you have
found an \ No. | home for us, do you?
Where is it?'
"Down town, at the Outlook"
Down town! Didn't | say that
wouldn't go down town under any cir
cumstances?"
"lcs, to be sure; but you must remem-
ber how convenient it will be and how
much car fare you will save. 1t will be
such a decided change" lowering her
voice to its most alluring tone. "and |
shall have time to go to the library and
do so much reading have so lonsed to
do, and, dear Arthur, we will read to-
gether and 20 out together
Have Il devil Of Il time of it,"
She dropped into a low seat at his feet
and looked rcproachfnly up into his face,
which. it must be confessed was in har-
mony with the sentiment expressed. Her
lip tremblcd and her eyelids quivcrcd
There. there. poor tired dear. Yes
yes; Wen have just the cozcst, happcst
times in the world OF course we will !
am an old bear and you are a blessed an
gel' And 10y way of demonstration he
gave her Il regular bears hug. Then he
pushed her back on the low seat and be-
gan all over again.
"Are there many boarders? You know
| hate boarders and boarding and the
whole business, 1t gives me a sty on the
edge of the cyclid just TO read the advcr-
tisements, Wanted. boardcrs' Did you
say the house was chock fulF'
81 am sure there are not very many.
and they are nice ones. too | should
judge from those met in the hall You
know the house has a good reputation
We can be as exclusive as we please
We are not obliged to miN with any Of
them"
mixer. How many rooms have you Sc.
cured?"
"Now, my dear, you must remember
had economy in view, SO engaged only
one room, but there is a beautiful folding
bed with a handsome plate glass mirror,
so can see just how my dresses hang.
and when the bed is swung back we shall
have the pleasantcst. most delightful sit
ting room imaginable. You see. it is a
front room, and the outlook is fine"
zone room with an outlook. Good
heavens. You don't mean to say we are
to be cooped up in one room after al
this? And he waved his hand majestic.
ally, as though indicating an expansive
castle instead of the little ten room house
which it actually was. Perhaps it was
more to his mental vision, since every
mans house is his CASTLE" and Arthur
Barker's title to this one was good.