The Lamar register., 1923-04-11
A ROOM TO RENT
by BERTHA E. KEYEs

room, but II contained furniture anu
knick-knacks enough TO supply almost
IA whole house.
Yet this room typihed Its owner,
Tryphena Small She was y seam
stress. She had done sewing always
as far back rs she could remember.
And by reason of oyerestimating her
own capacity she was always In the
hnblt OF taking on more work than
she could comfortably do. and thereby
was continually rushing to hnish
something
Poor cramped little soul She had
never had chance TO enjoy life. Al
ways at the beck and call Of her Gus
toners. she fairly worked the flesh
or her bones TO please them. This
lett her face thin and wrinkled, and
about her eyes line network OF
cnretaklng lines,
II was underwear that she was FIN
ishlng now for rich Amelia Westlake.
Tryphena did only plain sewing. She
did not have the necessary skill Ia
make gowns There was time,
though. when she had dreamed OF go
ing to the city 10 take course in
drcssmaking. but that was way back,
years ago
Yes. she was hurrying with the un-
derwesr for Amelia westlake. who
was starting for the South In a week
and must have her work without fail
by Saturday. but that was not the
only reason for the unusually worried
look In Tryphcna's eyes. II was the
fact that Mrs, Marion, her lsndlady.
had Just succumhed TO shock She
fingered only two days after the
stroke came.
such ncshy. norid laxative per
son she had teen. Many a nisht the
little sramstrcSs had gone 10 bed with
her ears ringing and her poor brain
all awhIrl after listening TO Mrs. Mar
don's encyclopedia narration OF the
lives or everyone she knew.
Well, the voluhle tongue was hushed
nov dismal stiffness, except for
the Intermittent rumhlins OF Tryphe-
mas sewing machine. hrooded over
the house all the evening until ten
O'Clock. when Charlie Waite went
down into the cellar TO shake down
fhe furnace and hank the Ore for the
night.
Charlie was the only lcieer in the
house at present. with the exception
q nurse, who was away on a case
Mrs Marion had been unfortunate
with her rooms this season. hut Try
Uhrna and Charlie were always there
Tryphrna had occupied the little
room over the frrui hall for fourteen
wears and Charlie wss there when
size came. Rut Mrs MARION had
mHcnanimously given him the use of
the uncm FOR taking care ef the fur
mace. cleaniag OF the pavement hnc
doine other odd chores about the
house
Charlie did not set much cut Of the
haucsin. hut Re had gone about his
business tcsSeily and was as much
"a part of the house ss the kitchen
stove Or the black walnut bookcase
in the sitting room
rrypheua had never seen much Q,
Charlie hs7etofcre she wss ste-nAlly
80 her sewing and when ne came
home fron work ne always had his
chores ans then the sveaiae paper
Buf now that Mrs MarieE va. lyiae
the-c On he- couch bed no longer AZ
The helm. they had 20 co-ne tSSether
these two solitary tueEei-swsy souls
Mrs Na-ton hsi no relatives There
fore Charlie and Trypheas had te
uske su arrangements
The question wss IN the minds ~
hott - them. They carefully avoided
The sabN,Ct earlier IN the evening as
they arraaec1 the chairs II the SIT
aue rsan Sat st-s!shteaed out the
0'ssg.s ru tAe lower aoor Il readiness
FOR ire service The next Gay
TTypaena = spite ., the pail that
oversqrcst tN- house. fel; ike a az
'crezt person ss sSs ra2ze3 about
ihe house szsylaC Aecselt With little
details q the funeral arrangements
Her quick nervous attle ssit Ess -
p,scei ~ q rree-. sies6ie- svfzs she
had slwSys lived II s1cs snail quar-
se-s. bat aou TIA; She had TIE s-cu1d
- whole Aoase 70 cove-. soz-e-N.-.S
StiAia her sess1ed 70 sc-e.cA A-d
sroW. she fe,g alsss-. .SassaV. more
Important
Tsst evening when al uxs euSei
seaia. they Noth tlac.lvsly went -
the sitting uacn - tals tAfaSs cve-
Chsrlis aoticed q change n se- T--
pAens's ewes Looked sistful snd ths