The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-16
Mans BOardsr

Must you 60. Nan2 It's only hve."
And my boarder must have his sup
per at six, sharp. and I've toast 70
make a salad to dress, besides a sponge
to set. and my lessons for tomorrow
Nan found her hat behind the couch
where It had fallen. buttoned her
Jacket, picked up her Anabasis, and
was at the hall door before her friend
could make rejoinder.
She looked at Nan now admiringly
you haven't told me about him
yet It's lovely Of you 10 do Il
wish I couldi"
TITS not lovely In me at all, but
just decent. and everyone knows T.
broke in Nan. impetuousiy. And
shouldn't have. then, If It hadn't JUST
fallen into my hands. with my eyes
vide open. They aren't very often.
you know-to things Of that kind!
And Mans brown eyes twinkled as she
hurried on.
.sYou see. it came about in this
way. I've been meaning to tell you.
Ny boots gave out last week. a habit
they have. you know. sole came
straight on. and one OF the uppers had
a yawning chasm across the toe. SO
went TO mothers bureau drawer,
middle one. farther right hand corner
as usual. to get the money for a new
pair. Twas Mother Hubbard over
again, only neither she nor her dog
could have been SO surprised as ! was.
There always had been enough IN that
old wallet for the ineyitables. and
supposed there always would. ! went
to mother about It Immediately. l
didn't know any better. Showed her
my boot. and all. and she didn't say
anything. That was surprising, TOO.
Usually, you know. she contriVes'
and that there could be an emergency
that her contriving couldn't cover
hadn't occurred to me. But someone
called to her Just then, and went on
to my room to think It over. You
know father had his salary cut down
while ago, and the rise hasn't got
around to bookkeepers yet Higher
prices have, though. and there are
Dan, and ], and Hal. and Lou. and the
baby besides him and mother. And
we have to keep Mary OF stop entire
IL. I ciphered TIL ! was dizzy, and
twas a perfect nightmare. But thar
night I overheard father and mother
talking about a letter that had Just
come from Uncle John. We don't
know him very we'll. only Aunt Nancy
saws he's dreadfuIly set in his ways
and-and unexpected
"sYou can't do any more than you
are doing, father was saying. II Nan
was a. home. now. and used 10
things
"Nan can't do any more now SAID
che. And a boqrder does mako
difference. 'Twould be a great help
TO M. though. what he would pay
Why I would about bring things our
even with managingl'
"rd got II. them Shed been at Il
agaia the c0ntriving the only
way 10 get along. square and even, and
have Dan stay in college. and ali. was
for me to take this boarder. For Il
Uncle John did come, could see that
l ould have to be responsible-ior
the work he would make, I mean. or
It's equivalent. and-I was ashamed
I do 50 like to take things eaayl TO
come to breakfast afterwards, and to
lunch when I like, and have all my
evenings besides. ] couldn't, you see,
II he camel
But / went to mother the first
thing next morning, and 7 made her
tell father. / was ashamed again TO
see how they hated to have me. But
he came Monday, and he'll have no
supper II I'm not there to get It.
Come round and be introduced. dol
He isn't bad at an think We shall
ike him. Cood-byl"
Looks as II he'd know It. If he was
neglected or imposed upon. though,
said Nan to herself as she skipped
homeward. They're Just In line for
a scowl, those shaggy eyebrows of his,
though his eyes are ever SO kind when
he's holding the baby, or talking TO
mother, or any thing I don't want
him to get in the way OF finding fault
with thingsi"
But If the boarder had any tenden-
cies toward fault finding, they were
held IN allegiance Queer and set az
they sometimes thought him. they
were all finding something TO like IN
him. Dan had discovered that Uncle
John had ideas Of his own-he pri-
vaiely made note Of some Of his
theories for the next debate. And he
had read-what had he not read? II
made Dan ashamed. with Nan. TO
think Of the splendid college library,
and Of his hours OF leisure. with his
electives and his list Of books for spe-
cial reading, not to mention his other
opportunities. when he saw what this
old man had gathered during work
ful life.
i wanted to know just how It was. "
be would say. when Dan exclaimed at
the range and accuracy OF his informa-
tion. And Dan. thinking Of & after
A..