The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-05-21
THE Ally
SHORT STORY
Mary's Boarder.
BY LINCOLN RoTHsLyM.
(copyrigh,, 1920, By the Mcclure
Newsoaper S,rd;cate.)

nothing could be palmer than
- Mary. And she was very PLAN
TO look at; the sort one passes III q
crowded street or busy department.
store without even o sapcpnsc.oIs
second thought. But with her ilaniet
and appearance ended Marys plain
ness. kesplendent as flaming tofca.
her character Of sacrificing unseltish'
ness shoae forth.
Nlary's mother, having set Tor ner
daughter the example, had quietis
gone 10 her last rest; quite as calmly
and meekly as she had served herI
husband and four SOILS during tne
five and twenty years past. Hers
had, indeed, been a service INNER
aided and unacclaimed. Many as.
sumed the role thus vacated without
rnurrnur or thought Of protest ana
IN equally silent FASHION the head Of
the household and It's four male
heirs took for granted that 1t was
proper and fitting for Mary 70 serve
and meet their wants: took 1t iot
granted with Gus. y1lary masculine
complaceiicy.
strtcted earnings necessitated the I'd,
dViopal income that could be derived
from a boarder, Mary uttered no
syllable Of complaint tina. her WORK
would be thus increased. :.
Il was one OF llose hot alsats y.
Inv wnen even tie settlAs u me sun
seemed 70 bring no surcease from Tue Tue
iiorrid humidity OF the Gay. FROM
ine gtoye, steaming with the even
inEsl supper, May larleu par.
4 b0ded counteaance as the uoof was
Z showed wider open ana Ms lasnet
entered with the "boarder, VINO, 10
he tfmidly followed into the roon''
gingerly deposited his very new
yalise close 10 the door, as II 70 navs
i Immediately ready should inc
course OF events deem hasty uepH
tlire expedient. .a .o,,
Mays father hung his hat and coat
an 4 nearby hook, reached Tor ms
smoke.blackened meerschaum rom tae
shelf above the sink, cleared MS tnfoa'
and said by way OF introduction.
.Mary this is the boarder." Then ne
trudged from the room, leaving mur'
II traces Of mortar across tne 1ioor
to testify to his profession.
Mary encouraged the fire WIN an,
other blocx OF wood and aggravated
the not OF stew by vigorous stirring,
which filled the kitchen with ollloWs
Z .:This way to your. room," she mo,
l,otonously droned, and reached 70
rick 10 the valise. The man looked
lis surprise at the action and inter.
cepted her movement to carry inc
cumbersome baggage. Physical ana
natal relief that the effort was de-
MED her demanded no attempt 70
understand the reason, and, followed
BY the boarder, she started up tne
stairs-rickety and squeaking their
complaint Of every step placed upon
the age.worn framework.
She threw open the door leading into
q small and clearly furnished bedroom
and. after informing him that the quar-
tiers, however close, would be shared
with the youngest member OF the
family, declared. "Suppers at 6 when
they're here"
Evidently that night they were
.tall here" but supper proved itself
10 be a dreary affair, enlivened only
By Mary's constant trips between
tahle and stove for additional guam
titles Of foods, which were as hastily
consumed as served. The boarder ate
sparingly and watched Mary avidl. j
Z ously. As the meal was concluded IN
record time and the father and
brothers walked out onto the NINA,
ture piazza, where the air, however
heavy, was less sitting than the
kitchen atmosphere, the boarder, IN.
noticed, remained seated at the
table and watched, with sympathetic
interest, the process Of its being
cleared.
Don't you eat any SUPPER" he
finally permitted himself TO ask as
be witnessed the deposit Of the dishes
into pans provided for their cleans
Mary looked up, startled at being
addressed. "Why-er-why-' she
stammered, I'm generally a little
tired 10 eat" She turned back to her
!. work, and as she attempted to lift the
kettle Of hot water from the stove she
gazed with incredulous amazement
Ipon the boarder as he performed the
heavy task for her. His question fol.
lowed On the heels Of his action.
MAY ] help with the dishes?" And
quite before Hary had time to think
what to answer, the boarder was wip-
ing and polishing the cups and plates
{ as fast as she could wash and rinse
them. In silence they worked, and
the sun had not yet dropped out Of
sight when the kitchen was set in or.
!. der fQ the night.
Don't the boys help you as a ruler
be asked.
II sort Of don't expect them to-"
came the tardy response, half apollo,
gehcally. Mary had not realized how
tired she was. and a sof. and swift
THANK you" preceded her hasty
flight from the room as she ran to,
the lonely alcove which served in
neu Of bedroom to try and think
out this most unusual conduct Of a rep.
resentative OF the sect called men"
AS she fell asleep she decided tina: she
thought him nice"
Whether the following evening the
father and boys were too occupied
with the extra delicacy or two added
ITO the table, or II It was their Gus
tomary neglect Of the only woman in
the household, 1t cannot with certainty
be said; but to the boarder alone was
Il apparent that within that twenty.
four hour period a change had taken
place in Mary. A jaunty, Spanish.fash.
Toned comb, with the rhinestones con-
spicuously absent, adorned her hair,
al stray locks now neatly held in place
with sufficient hairpins; an apron, its
Bingham expanse unsoiled, covered a
housedress equally stiff and clean, and
napkins, folded triangular.wise, re-
posed during their papier.mache life.
time beside each plate.
But this evening the boarder had
hardly anticipated Mary's query,
''Would you like to help with the
Dishes" Indeed he would and the