The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-06-11
MARY'S
BOARDER
By LINCOLN RoTHBLUM
%. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate

She had plain name. Surely moth
ing could be palmer than Mary. And
<She was very plain to look at; the
sort one posses in a crowded street
or busy department store without even
subconscious second thought. But
with her. name. and appearance ended
Mary's plainness. Resplendent as a
flaming torch, her character Of sacri-
ticing unselfshness shone forth.
Mary's mother, having set for her
daughter the example, had quietly
gone to her last rest; quite as calmly
and meekly as she had served her
husband and four sons during the
five and twenty years past. Here
mad, indeed, been q service unher-
aided and unacclaimed. Mary as
sumed the role thus vacated without
ID '"mur. or thought of protest and in
oily silent fashion the head of the
household and it's four male heirs
took for granted that it was proper
and fitting for Mary to serve and
meet their wants; took it for granted
with customary masculine complac-
ency. -.
And so, when rising costs and re-
Stricted earnings necessitated the ad-
ditional income that could be derived
from a bOarder, Mary uttered no ssyl-
liable of complaint that her work would
be thus increased.
1t was one of those hot nights in
July when even the setting of the sun
seemed to bring no surcease from the
torrid humidity Of the day. From the
stove, steaming with the evenings sup
per, Mary turned a par-boiled counte-
nance as the door was showed wider
open and her father entered with the
"boarder," who, as he timidly follow
ed into the room, gingerly deposited
his very new valiSe close to the door,
as if to have it Immediately ready
should the course of events deem
hasty departure eXpedient.
Mary'S father hung his hat and coat
on nearby hook, reached for his
SmOke-blackened meerSchaum from the
shelf above the sink, cleared his throat
and said by way of Introduction:
Mary, this is the boarder." Then
he trudged- from the room, leaving
murky traces of mortar across the
floor to testify to his profession.
Mary encouraged the fire with an
other block of wood and aggravated
the pot of stew by vigorous stirring,
which filled the kitchen with pillows
of steam. ..
"This way is your room," she mo-
nOtonOusly drOned, and reached to
pick up the valise. The man looked
his surprise at the ,.ction and inter-
copied her movement to carry the
cumbersome baggage. Physical and
mental relief that the effort was de-
MED her demanded no attempt to I'M
derstand the reason, and, followed by
the boarder, she started up the stairs
-rickety and squeaking their COM
plant of every step placed upon the
age-worn framework
She threw open the door leading
into a small and cleanly- furnished
bedroom, and, after informing him
that the quarters, however close,
would be shared with the youngest
member of the family, declared: "Sup-
per's at six when they're all here"
Evidently that night they were "all
here" but supper proved itself to be
a dreary affair, enlivened only by
Marys constant trips between table
\ and stove for additional quantities of
foods, which were as hastily con-
7sumed as served. The boarder ate
sparingly and watched Mary avidi-
ously. AS the meal was concluded in
record time and the father and broth
ers walked out onto the miniature
piazza, where the air, however heavy,
was less sitting than the kitchen at
mOsphere, the boarder, unnoticed, re-
manned seated at the table and watch
ed, with sympathetic interest, the
process Of its being cleared.
'Don't you eat any supper?" he
finally permitted himself to ask as he
witnessed the deposit of the dishes
into pans provided for their cleansing.
Mary looked up, startled at being
addressed. "Why-er-why-" she
stammered, I'm generally a little
tired to 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 amaze
ment upon the boarder as he perform
ed the heavy task for lIer. His ques-
ton followed on the heels of his ac-
ton.
MAY I help with the dishes?' And
quite before Mary had time to think
what to answer, the boarder was WHIP
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 for the night.
Don't the boys help you as a ruler"
he asked.
81 sort of don't expect them to-"