The Monroe journal., 1910-08-02
the curtains and hangings. the drunk

the curtains and hangings. the drunk
en- cabinet In the corner. for a visible
sign. unable 10 perceive that she wa:
there beside. around. against within
above him. clinging 10 him. wooins
him. calling him so pOignantly through
the finer senses that even his grossel
ones became cogniZant of the call
I Once again be answered loudly. Yes
DEAR and turned. wild eyed. TO gaze
on vacancy. for he could not yet dis
Germ form and color and love and out
stretched arms In the odor OF MI
gnonette. D God. whence that odor,
and since when have odors had a
voice to ealll Thus he CROPPED.
He burrowed In crevices and corners
and found corks ard cigarettes These
he passed In passive contempt Blu,
once he found in n fold Of the mat.
ting a half smoked cigar. and this he
ground beneath his heel with a green
: and trenchant oath. He slfted the
room from end 10 end. He found
dreary and ignoble small records Of
many a peripatetic tenant. but Of her
whom he sought and who may have
lodged there and whose spirit seemed
TO hover there he found no trace.
And then he thought of the house
keeper.
He ran from the haunted room down
stairs and TO door that showed a
crack Of light She came out TO his
knock. He smothered his excitement
as best he could.
"Will you tell me. madam" he be.
sought her. who occupied the room
| have before | Gamer"
Yes. sir. can tell you again.
Twas Sprowls and Mooney. as | said
Miss B'retta Sprowls it was in the
theaters. but Mrs. Mooney she was.
My house is well known for respecta.
bility. The marriage certificate hung,
framed. on a nail over
"What kind Of a lady was Miss
Sprowls-in looks. l meant"
"Why. black haired. sir: short and
stout. with comical face. They left
a week ago Tuesday"
"And before they occupied IT."
"Why. there was a single gentleman
connected with the draying business.
He left owing me week. Before him
was Mrs. Crowder and her two chill
dren that stayed four months. and
back of them was old Mr.. Doyle.
whose sons paid for him. He kept the
room six months. That goes back a
year. sir. and further l do not remem-
ber."
He thanked her and crept back TO
his room. The room was dead. The
essence that had vivified 1t was gone.
The perfume of mignonette had de-
parted. In its place was the old, stale
odor Of moldy house furniture, Of at
mosphere In storage.
The ebbing Of his hope drained his
faith. He sat staring at the yellow.
singing gaslight Soon he walked TO
the bed and began to tear the sheets
into strips. With the blade Of his
knife he drove them tightly into every
crevice around windows and door.
When all was snug and taut he turned
out the light, turned the gas full on
again and laid himself gratefully upon
the bed.
1t was Mrs. McCoors night to 60
with the can for beer. So she fetched
1t and sat with Mrs. Purdy in one Of
those subterranean retreats where
housekeepers foregather and the worm
dieth seldom.
Il rented out my third floor. back.
this evening" said Mrs. Purdy across
a fine circle of foam. "A young man
took it. He went up to bed two hours
ago."
"Now. did We. Mrs. Purdy. ma'ami"
said Mrs. McCool, with intense ad.
miration. "You do be a wonder for
rentin' rooms Of that kind. And did
We tell him. then? she concluded In
a husky whisper. laden with mystery.
Rooms" said Mrs. Purdy In her
furriest tones, care furnished for TO
rent. | did not tell him. Mrs. McCool."
"'Tis right We are. ma'am It's by |
rentin' rooms we kape alive. Ye have