The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-10-09
A4Boarding House Romance


A Boarding House Romance.
A few years ago, on my return
from India, I was perplexed where to
locate myself foT the winter months.
I Ibid not at all relish the idea of
entering o new house st such an un-
favorable season; 30 my friends ad-
vised me to board somewhere till the
spring of the coming year, and in
the meantime Icould look about me
and arrange my future plans. I re-
solved to follow this advice, and it
was even suggested to my mind that
If / found this style of living agree
able, I might continue it for the
whole year that must ensue before
my husband joined me, in prefer
ence to burdening .eyyssse!lss, whhiiiie
alone, with the responsibility of
house of my OWE.
According to further instructions
from obliging friends, I caused al
advertisement to be inserted in the
Times. to the effect "that lady, just
returned from India, required board
and residence, where she would have
pleasant ;. and select society, and q
comfortable home, in return for libe-
raj remuneration" ~
I was positively inundated with
answers. Some from ladies who
t'merely received few inmates into
their home circle for the sake of
society,"" bu6 who quite repudiated
the notion of keeping boarding
house," some from the widows of
professional men, who were tscom-
PEELED, through the death e.of their
lamented partners, to admit strangers
into the bosom of their families"
but very few who seemed to pride
themselves upon their "old-estab-
ished houses" the excellent table
kept, the patronage of distinguished
foreigners, and sociable whist even
ings; and to none of these latter
would my friends hear of my going
though, for my own part, I scarcely
liked the idea of intruding upon any
of those 'tstrictly private families"
who evidently thought the privilege
very great one, and named the
rem uneration they would kindly
accept at q proportionately high rate.
After useless and innumerable in
terviews, besides host of letters, /
became thoroughly stupid and be-
wildered; 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 pains to impress
me with the fact that her connections
were most "genteel," and, therefore,
"she never took any one into her
houseibnt people of the highest re-
spectability; 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 we'll fur
nished, 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 no.
tion of e 8. Il. as it was possible for
any one to have, if they had studied
the matter all their lives.
When 1 made my debut in the
drawing-room the first evening of
my arrival, shortly before dinner was
announced, in addition to sort of
8ou0iHl lubiOuuCtlOu, IhISs w UilSOu
favored me with an especial one to
the few whom she evidently consi-
dered the creme of the assembly.
They were Mrs. Colonel Stacey, a
tall, stiff old lady, with white hair
and faded but still handsome face,
s and the manner and department of
perfect gentlewoman; but, as I 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
o real colonel's widow, that she yield
ed to her whims and fancies, (not
few and consulted her taste in the
choice of viands. &C.; and Mrs. Sta
cey took good care to keep up this
feeling, and managed to inspire, rot
only MRS. Wilson. but the other
inmates of the establishment, with
certain kind of awe towards her.
She did not receive me with much
cordiality, and think it was because
she had kind of idea that I might
try to usurp her place, on the strength
of coming from India but she vas
slightly re-assured when she heard
that my husband "only" held civil
appointment. Mrs. and Miss Prim-
rose, on the contrary. overwhelmed