The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-03-24
A COMPANION
BOARDER
IOrfginal.l

who will DC q member Of the family.
play n game Of whist with us occasion
ally in the evening and make herself
generally agreeable"
where do you expect to find such
person. asked Mr.. Trotter.
Leave that to me. We women know
women who know other women. III
ask my friends to help me-"
II don't approve Of the PLAN" said
Mr.. Trotter.
Mrs. Trotter. who was really looking
to slight addition TO the income in
stead Of companionship. would not give
up her point, and her husband at last
yielded. A young woman was found
who wanted a home, and she went to
live with the Trottcrs. She filed the
bill completely. being kind hearted.
cheerful, amiable and paid her quota
rs she had the consideration to call her
board. Regularly.
II told you So" said Mrs. Trotter to
her husband. "You think you know
more about domestic affairs than l.
When man leaves his business for the
household he usually gets beyond his
depth"
Since you are satisfied" said the
satisfied Miss Smcad seems to be a
charming girl
Months went by--months that bore
proof that Mrs. Trottcr was right in
the matter OF Miss Smead. Several
disagrceahlc episodes occurred. but
nothing that could be even remotely
traced to Miss Smead. One OF these
was matter of business. One of Mr..
Trotter's creditors suddenly came down
OH him for the amount due him and
when paid confessed that he had heard
that his debtor was in straitcned cir
culnstances.
One morning when the postman de-
expecting Il letter. was watching fer
him from the parlor window Mr..
Trotter left the house as the postman
came up the front steps> and Miss
Smcad SAW him hand Mr.. Trottcr Il
letter. Furthermore. she was near
enough to see that the address was in
woman's hand. Mr.. Trottcr thrust
the letter in his coat pocket and spoke
sharply to tho postman. who evidently
npologizcd for something and went on
to the next house. 1t was plain that
Mr.. Trottcr was receiving mail that he
had instructed the postman not to
leave ut the house. but Miss Smead
70 I've iv,
family. and the last thing she would
have thought of was revealing the mat
ter to Mrs. Trottcr. Besides. Mrs. Trot-
ter had Il few days before presented
her husband with daughter. and 1t
would be cruelty and might be muir
der FOR any one to excite any suspi-
c:ons at such 4 time.
4 few days later Miss Smead. wish
ing to borrow Il pattern for Il baby's
pinning blanket-for in her kindness of
heart she was making clothes for the
newcomer--went across the street to
Mrs. Prior, who lived directly opposite.
to borrow one.
"Sincc you want the pattern for Mrs.
Trotter." said the lady. ''you are wei
come to it, but that abominable Trot-
ter should not have it on any account"
whats the matter with Mr.. Trot-
ter"
Matter? Matter enough. He's cor
responding with some woman. Didn't
l nee him receive letter from til" post
man the other day. thrust it in his
pocket and scold the postman for de-
livering it at the house,"
Miss Sncad stood aghast. Mrs. Prior.
who had an object in ~iew--to find on,
X the missive We're really from Il wO-
man---went on:
You saw it yourself and We're pear
enough to see that the address was IL
n woman's hand"
Miss Smead was tempted to deny the
fact. but hcsitated. Hesitating. the Sc
cret was lost. the information gained.
Not long after this Mrs. Trotter rc.
rcived an anonymous note in which
tae writer said. You ought TO know
that your husband is corresponding
secretly with woman not his wife,
Then there were tears and orimipa-
,ions in the Trotter family. Mrs. TROY,
ter WAS still in n condition rendering
such an affair dangerous. and her nus
band found himself on the horns of o
dilemma. lie had been receiving let
tiers concerning his wife's mother. who
was dyin. II lingering death. He must
now show the letters or virtually al
NIT that the charge was correct. Hc
produced the letters. Mrs. Trotter stood
the shock fairly well.
The matter was kept from Miss
Smcad till Mrs. Prior had admitted
That she was the author of the anony.
nous letter and had gained the infor.
nation from Miss Smead. The Trot-
tcrs also discovered that when Misc
Snlcad had come to live with them
Mrs. Prior, seeing that they had taken
boarlcr." had inferred that they
were in straitcned circumstances and
had so informed the creditor who bad
called for settlement.
Tho first intimution Miss Smead had
Ut the trouble was curt note from
Mrs. Trotter requesting her to leave
the house. The blow was somewhn
Modified by Mr.. Trotter. who said to
her.
ssya,, /, 80 MT ~ Ill, mo ror 4n;c ,,or q.