The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-10-14
ROOM MATE: A Story
By JOHN NELSON COLI, j.

and tucked safely under his arm was
Fiji.
Miss Matilda let out a squeak OF JOY,
the first squeak OF genuine JOY she
upon Fiji, and smothered her In kisses
and such terms as sweet lamb" and
lamb pie"
IT found her trotting along up on
st. Nicholas Avenue" explained MI. |
Doom, entirely ignorant Of the service
he had rendered. ~and l thought it
looked like yours, so I brought her
along" |
you don't say So" cried Miss Ma
tilda, turning upon him the spot light
OF one OF her tenderest glances Tnen
speeches. with JOY she fell to kissing
Fiji again, while Mr.. Doom looked
on with visible embarrassment.
Mr.. Doom was embarrassed ecause,
as we have said. he didn't understand
women. Mr.. Doom was a mans man
all h way from his tufted hair to his
big dusty shoes. He attended his lodge
dinner once a year, at which he IN
variably went to sleep, and he had
livering this he would rise with stolid
dignity, gaze q moment f1xedly into
space, and when the aus Of ex-
pectancy had fallen upon the assem-
bled company he would raise his glass
and say: "Gentlemen|I wish you
luck"
In returning the lost Fiji to her mis-
tress he felt that he had rendered a
most trivial and unworthy service. He
refused to accept the reduction offered
him on this account. His brain was
absorbed by the roommate idea sug-
gested by Miss Matilda a week before.
and Mr.. Dooin's brain refused to con-
Ia 49, SEE>-~- 10 81 ~ 49,
of a week.
And you haven't had any uck?"
inquired Miss Matilda. after the Fiji
demonstrations had at last come to
an end.
Nope" -
For the first time she noticed that
MI. Doom looked tagged.
Wont you have a cup Of tea to
cheer you p Mr.. Doom? You look
all tired out. Just step right back into
) my sittin rOO No trouble at all;
water will be hot in a couple Of
minutes"
Mr.. Doom had never before slipped
\ afternoon tea with a lady. He sat
Opposite Miss Matilda, his cup bal
a anced on one knee and his hat on the
other. When he saw that she had
poured her own he arose stiffly, gazed
9 out over Miss Matilda's head with dig
t nifty, and raising his cup, said: "Gentl
. I"AdOAOSp i WISH you LUCK WITH IQlS
he drained his share Of scalding tea
I" at three gulps and sat down.
Q And you haven't found nobody who
8 would room with you?" said his
d hostess. The question was simple
y enough, but h tone was unmistak-
n ably cOquettish.
! Nope, nothing stirring"
% Don't you think you could get some
l. one by Saturday."
Il mighty Saturday," The an.
N swer came in q confidential tone.
u maybe you'd drop in tomorrow
n and let me know how you succeed ?
of ventured Miss Matilda.
Maybe" returned Mr.. Doom.
r. h next afternoon she put on IN.
IS dotted swiss trimmed In real lace. Sh
~ gave Ffh a bath, followed by q sprinkl,
of talcum and a drop Of Mary Gar
AZ den to create q proper atmosphere
A green satin bow was tide aroun
Fits neck to lend a note of color
Miss Matilda herself employed othe
Ie. means to secure q note OF color.
be She scoldingiy explained her rea
I'D sons TOR such mid-week formalities.
MI. Doom was to com
ng and find you looking like you'd spen
Il. the night in h coal bin! What woul,
lie he think Of ME?"
IS. For four interminable DAYS Mis-
on Matilda continued to hold herself an,
household In receptive mood and at
.o"Hoeudv' AS she opened the doc
ia tire. She visited the manicurist an,
the halrdresser more than in all tn
at previous thirty-eight years Of he
TO tcnaste existence. From the stand
ng point OF economy she might hav
r. rented the 81 apartment for a an,
d. saved money. But she vr,rr,+ Ia,1H
the game that way.
ng Meanwhile the double room IN,
ng come to look more and more emnt
IN wltnout aim. When she sat down t
IN, meals she thought how cosey It wori
he be to have Mr: Doom on the opposit
to side Of the table. Womb ha ~. -,
ad eggs fried on both sides M .c~.m
ut bled? What business was he IN
:. Would he fancy going with her I
he church?
he Each afternoon she put on he
'if dotted swiss and big haf GU 81,
81 -A SO01