Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-23

! poverty Of the land; and the greatest
/ concession that Miss Drexel could wiring
from her was the privilege of toiling up
! and down two long flights of stairs with
a hot iron to do the work in her own
room. IF Miss Drexel was invited
to picnic Miss Huldah's cake was Just
out and her bread in the oven, and the
chickens unplucked. When Miss Drexel
aired her rooms Huldah complained that
she was warming the square outside
Miss DreXel endured everything patient
ly for six months or more, thinking Miss
Huldah was oyerworked and made fret
full and faultfnding by the friction of
unhappy circumstances; but at last she
fell into Miss Huldah's trap, and went
out to hunt up a new boarding-place one
| day, but without confiding in her land
lady. Mr.. Jetfreys had been away a
month on business, and the house was
less like home than prison. She directed
her steps to the Soberleys first, who kept
boarders under protest, having had
barOnet among their ancestors who con-
siderably interfered with the arrange
| ment. Mrs. Soberley had a quartet of
| daughters to marry, however, and took
only gentlemen boarders, she said.
| Besides" she added, cit would be so
u4I1C4E4lOOlIl Ill lllC " ldht away Illt
| SparsleyS' boarders; we are good friends
and they are needy women. If you
weren't the Sparsleys' boarder nOw-but
you see how it is! 1t would be taking
the bread out of a neighbor's mouth,
now wouldn't it,"
Disheartened, Miss Drexel pursued her
quest to the Slicers' door; but Mrs Sill
Ger, having a brace of gay sons, enter
tanned only middle-aged, respectable
women"
And am | not respectable, and TWEEN
ty-siX?" cried Miss Drexel.
" If you are, could never reconcile it
to my conscience to steal away the
Sparseleys' boarders," answered Mrs.
SliCer, with holy horror. g should feel
like thief and a robert"
Miss Waxwork's house was full. You
are the Sparsleys' boarders, | believe?"
she said; and though two of her best
rooms would be vacant in month she
shuddered at the prospect of
harboring the Sparsleys' boarders as
if she had been burglar. g
had one of my highest-priced board
ers Wiled away from me once myself, and
l said then I'd never take other folks
away-nO, never-so long as my name is
Waxwork"
Mrs. SlipshOd had room enough cob,
yes; bOarders are none too thick in Mar
athon, ma'am; but, then, it's kinder I'M
handsome to carry off the Sparseleys'
boarders, when they've seen better days.
[ shouldn't never expect to prosper if |
was that unneighbOrly, / shouldn't"
Miss DreXel went back to the Sparsaa
legs, climbed up to her own room, and
sat down alone in tears. Throughout all
= /, ,.-I,o
boarder. The sunshine danced in
tangled on it's way among the vines at
the windows, pranking in the glories of
the lacquered table, touching the old por-
traits till they seemed alive and about to
address the Sparsleys' boarder. Just
then, while the tears were wet on her
cheeks, somebody tapped lightly at the
door and pushed it open.
" A pretty way to welcome your
friends!' said a CHEEKY voice. One
would think you had lost them all"
GIVE lost my identity" said she, half
laughing. I'm nobody but the Sparsleys'
boarder!'
s'Dry your tears. That's something
which can be remedied, if you WILL
I'm not crying, sir"
Certainly not, if you say So"
''Perhaps y0u'd cry if you had lost
your identity I'd be ashamed to laugh
at homeless and nameless girl, who is so
disagreeable that no one will board her"
GLOW? Has Miss Huldah dismissed
you for flirting with your humble ser
vant?"
4 wish she would; but I never did
such a thing"
Then why these tears?"
g [ told you they weren't tears"
+boco
Miss Huldah doesn't approve of sparks"
" [ thought perhaps you'd help me if I
told you my troubles; but you're too
tritling"
ri mend instanter. You've no idea
how serious | can be-"
We'll, Pm afraid [ shall have to leave
town"
"On a wedding tour?"
Don't be frivolous. It's uncomfortable
in this house Miss Huldah harries me
night and day. I'm running my digestion
from being kept in a constant state of
misery. I've tried every boarding house
in town, and every one has refused ad-
mittance to the Sparsleys' boarder. |
should think they were all in league
together against me if there was any rea-
son. l thought perhaps you'd know of a
nice private family who would like to
take Ally and me-"
Certainly. I know of a private family
that will take you and Ally, and bless
the stars for the chance. And, what is
odd, | came to propose that you should
enter this very family; but then you may
not fancy it when you know"
"Beggars shouldn't be choosers. Tell
me about them Where do they ive?"
Well, at present the family consists
of but one member, and that one will live
wherever you should choose"
"Too obliging to be human. What's
her name?n
"Hjs name, pardon me, is Benedict
Jeffreys, at your service"
"Oh, Mr.. Jefreys, what do you
mean?"
Haven't I made it plain enough?
You've lost your identity, and I've lost
my heart. Let us console each other. In
short, l beg to endow the Sparsleys'
boarder with the ancient name of jeff
reys."
S'There is the sun soaking all the color
out of the carpet again, Miss DreXel!'
sung out Miss Huldah, putting her head
in at the door. Goodness, you here,
Mr.. Jeffreys?"
And so the Sparsleys lost their
boarder. -Harper's Bazar.
My Neighbours Dog.
My neighbor keeps dog-my nearest
neighbor. Other neighbOrs keep other
dogs, but it is this neighbor and this dog
I sneak of The npirh hOr is all right