The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1916-08-11

No one was there to ask II his splnal
meningitis was better or worse.
He hurried upstairs. Mrs. Bowsel
was not lying on the bed with sick
headache and the room redolent with
the odor of camphor He hurried down
to the kitchen and met the cook with a
disconsolate face. She listlessly said
at sight Of him:
Your dinner is ready, sir"
But Mrs. Bowser?" he queried.
"She won't be here"
"She won't be here. But where Is
she:"
Gone, sir; left this morning"
For her mothers"
II think, sir, she has sailed for Eu-
rope. l may be wrong but l think so.
Just before she left the house she was
asking me about the catacombs OF
Paris. l think she has gone to live in
those catacombs."
"And did she leave no note for me?"
mo, sir"
mo word?"
mo, sir-that is, not to you directly.
She said to the cat just as she was
about to go that she hoped the new
housekeeper would remember to put q
little sugar in her milk when she fed
her. That was all, sir, except that she
told NE where the mustard plasters
were II you came home with pain In
your side. will 60 home to stay
nights, sir, and remain during the day
to cook your meals"
Mr.. Bowser sat down at the table.
but after look around he got up, leav
ing his food untasted. 1t was great
shock to him, and it struck to his solar
plexus. He went upstairs and tried to
think. The cat followed him, but in
stead of rubbing against his leg and
purring her satisfaction she stood off
and gazed at him with eyes filled with
reproach. He had driven her mistress
away. Instead Of patting her, the new
housekeeper might give her kick
whenever she came near her.
"By thunder! But why did she do tt
why did she do it?" half moaned Mr..
Bowser as he lighted his cigar and
took two or three puffs and threw it
away. II think she got up in the night
and moved some Of my things around.
| but probably she did it for joke, and
hadn't ought to have got mad about
it. My language must have sounded
very strong to her"
He got up and went outdoors to take
a saunter. but in ten minutes was back
into the house. This was no occasion
for a saunter. He was an abandoned
husband. Mrs. Bowser had gone sew
eral thousand miles away to live In a
catacomb.
IF l knew where Il cablegram or a
wireless would reach her would ask
her to come back" he unused to him
self. II didn't mean half said. In
fact. did not mean any Of it. l was
just looking. But she didn't take 1t
that way. Get new housekeeper!
guess not! Mrs. Bowser is one of the
best little managers in this whole
world."
steps in hopes to see her coming. 1t
was cold and dreary. The wind had Il
moan in it. An owl perched in shade
tree gave Il dismal hoot. The cries of
the orange peddler, who was hanging
on In hopes to sell the last dozen OF his
speckled fruit, came to him like the
walls OF a woman who had no further
hopes in this life. Mr.. Bowser went
back into the house with shiver. 1t
was a silent house. 1t was IL gloomy
house. 1t was the house with the mis-.
tress far. far away and the cook hus-
thing to get out as soon as she could.
Mr.. Bowser lighted eight gas jets. re-
CARELESS OF expense. and walked to and
fro. but he could not bring feeling Of
peace and JOY.
An hour passed away. He heard the
steps Of men and women ON the side
walk. but Mrs. Bowser's step was not
intervals of five minutes the cat gave
a yeowl Of grief, and he felt to pity
her rather than desire to knock her
blamed head off. Mr.. Bowser finally
sat down. One can bear desolation bet
ter that way than standing up. He put
bis head down on the table on his arms
and tried to think. His thoughts were
all mixed up like a Coney Island row.
He was an abandoned husband. His
AOuSC was d AOuSc VI SIOOIu. IL he
continued to live in it he would meet
the ghost Of Mrs. Bowser ut every turn.
What should he do? What would be-
come Of him?
And the folding doors between the
sitting room and library softly slid
back and figure slipped out and stood
beside Mr.. Bowser, and soft hand
laid an h{o cI1nv1llor n1o
ant voice sounded In his ear:
II knew all the time you were only
Joking this morning, and l thought l
would joke with you to even things up
l will stay right here and be your
housekeeper, and If don't manage to
your satisfaction you need not pay me
any salary"
And there was Joy In the house Of
BOwSer.