Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-04-25
Choife Misfellang.
A ROMANCE IN A BOARDING HOUSE..

A FEW years ago, on my return from
India, was perplexed where to locate
myself for the winter months. did not
at all relish the idea of entering a new
house at such an unfavorable season; so
my friends advised me to board some
where till spring of the coming year, and
in the mean time could look about me-
and arrange my future plans. Iresolved
to follow this advice, and it was even
suggested to my mind, that if. found
this style of living agreeable, i might
continue it for the whole year that must
elapse before my husband Joined me, in
preference to burdening myself, while
alone, with the responsibility Of house
of my own.
According to further instructions from
obliging friends, l caused an advertise
ment to be inserted in the "Times,u to
the effect, "that lady Just returned
from India required board and residence,
where she would have pleasant and
select society, and 4 comfortable home,
in return for liberal remuneration.'
I was positively inundated with an
swers. Some from ladies who "meSely
received a few inmates into their home
circle for the sake of society," but who
quite repudiated the notion Of kccpine a
"boarding-house." Some from the Wild
ows of professional men, who were "com-
PEELED, through the death of their lament
ed partners, to add to their limited in
comes by admitting strangers into the
bosom Of their families "; but very few
who seemed to pride themselves upon
their "old-established houses, the excel
lent table kept, the patronage of distin-
guished foreigners, and sociable whist
even ngs," and to none of these latter
ones would my friends hear to my going;
though for my own part, scarcely liked
the idea of intruding upon any of those
ly thought the privilege very great one,
and named the remunera ion they would
kindly accept at proportionately high
rate.
After useless and innumerable inter-
views, besides host of letters, became
thoroughly stupid and bewildered; and
having arrived at this point fell an easy
prey to one who evidently understood the
business most thoroughly. Mrs. Wilson,
my captor, took great painsto impress me
with the fact that her connections were
most "genteel," and, therefore "she
never took any one into her house but
people of the highest respectability; for
she had too much regard for the memory
of the late Mr.. Wilson to act otherwise. ]"
Her house was situated in nice part
of Bayswater; it was well furnished, and
well managed by the clever widow, who
seemed to know how to look after her
own interests; and, in spite of "former
days, when she chad lavished money
recklessly," she had acquired since as
fair notion of the value of c s. d. as it
was possible for any one to have if they
had studied the matter all their lives.
When made my debut in the drawing
room the first evening of my arrival,
shortly before dinner was announced, in
addition to sort of general introduction,
Mrs. Wilson favored me with an especial
one, to few whom she evidently con-
sidered the creme of the assembly.
They were, Mrs. Colonel Stacey, a tall,
stiff old lady, with white hair, and fad
ed but still handsome face, and the man
ner and department of perfect gentle
woman; but, as / soon discovered, one
who was ever on the alert to OBTAIN the
best of everything for herself, and take
out the full value of her money. Mrs.
Wilson thought it such an advantage to
have a real Colonel's widow that she
yielded to her whims and fancies mot q
few, and consulted her taste in the choice
of viands, &c. and Mrs. Stacey took good
care to keep up this feeling, and, manag-
ed to inspire, not only Mrs. Wilson, but
the o, her inmates of the e. tab!ishment,
with u certain amount of awe towards
her. She did not receive me with much
cordiality, and think it was because she
had kind of idea that 1 might try to
usurp her place, on the strength Of COM
ing from India; but she was slightly re-
a sured when she heard that my husband
"only" held civil appointment. Mrs.
and Miss Primrose, on the contrary,
overwhelmed me with civilities, and
might have known me for years. The
former bore the remains of good looks,
and was attired in the deepest of widows
weeds, style of dress which became
her, and was for this reason still worn;
for her husband, I found, had been de-
funct many years. Still she never made
any illusions to him without heartrend-
ing sighs, and even applications to her
eyes of deeply black -bordered cambria
northumberland; and she fastened
her collar with a funeral brooch contain
ing his hair.
Lavinia Primrose was agushing senti-
mental young lady (ofseven or eight and
twenty I should have said, had her
mother not told me that she was just
nineteenl; she was attired in light mus
lin and fiuttering ribbons, and though
not bad-looking, she spoilt herself by an
unmeaning simper, and profusion Of
From advance sheets OF London Society, for