The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-04-01
0UH BoARDER.s STORY.
By IRoS DOMINO.

'sHow long has your husband been
dead, Mrs. Clcrris?" asked our Mag,
with 4 bluntncss that made us all
ashamed.
"Hc is not dead" was the quiet
reply, but a quivering Of pain min
gled with the patient look of her
face, and it did not need that moth
cr should shake herhead at us, there
by implying that no more questions
were to be asked, for we were awed
into silence and were very sorry that
Mag's impertincncc should have Civ
en- us the clue to 4 story that was
evidently so sad. We knew compa-
ratively little of Mrs. Clcrris, but
she was the friend of acquaintances
and through them had desired to
,Sbare,the quiet Of, our1eoalstsxa ass,e.
as 4 boarter during the few weeks Of
her summer vacation from town.
The panied look did not leave her
face all that day, and when after all
the work was done and mother sat
alone upon the steps of the porch in
the twilight that was fast giving
place to darkness, Mrs. ClerriS went
out and sat beside her. She buried
her face in her hands and cried qui-
city few moments while her frame
trcmblcd and shook violently. At
last mother ventured: "NIrs. Clcrris,
YOU must forget Maggie's impertin-
ent question this morning. 1t was
only mere thoughtlcssncss and l am
very sorry"
at does not NATTER she said, ''for
| am going to tell you all about it
Perhaps l Should have done so be-
fore"
no you need not!7 persisted moth
er. 1T is not necessary and, | as
sure you, there will be no unpleas-
ant conclusions drawn from what We
have so, inadvertently learned"
But this was the story she told,
giving no heed to mothers assuran-
ceS:
q was but eighteen when l be-
came the wife of Miles Clcrris-an
inexperienced girl who knew little
of life save of its indulgences and
pleasures. An only child, my faith
er's means had been sufficient to
crafty all my little whims and ca
prices and petted all my life by lov-
ing friends, sorrow and disappoint-
mcnt had been terms almost un-
known. 1t was considered 4 very
fortunate thing for me when an op-
portunity arose of becoming the
wife of the rich contractor, who had
at first made mere business visits to
our village; and l remember with
what .unconcealed satisfaction moth
Grand father regarded the marriage
preparations. To be sure he was
much older than I-bcing nearly so
years of age, but mother said Inecd-
cd some one to stake care" of me, /
was so young, while to ME he SEEM
ed a very compendium Of wisdom,
and, of course, goodness. So with
many congratulations and the envy
of half of my young friends, | start
ed under the most favorable auspices
for my new home many miles away.
1t was an old place and the Clerriscs
had held it for years. There was an
air of substantial comfort about it,
which only wealth can give, and no
wonder my girlish heart thrilled
with pride as | looked upon it for
the first time and thought that | was
about to be its mistress. I soon
found, however, that although Miles
was the only son and heir | was
hardly acknowledged even a nomin-
al sovereign. The household as it
was had been of many years stand
ing, and did not very cheerfully ac-
cept the new rule of an inexpcrien-
ced girl. Mrs. Clcrris, ST., was still
living and, though scarcely able to
leave her room, was always queru-
lously intrusive and fault-fnding.-
A spoiled child myself, who had an
ticipated great glory in the manage
ment of her own household, l could
lily endure her interference and l
had not been many weeks wife be.