Smyrna times., 1875-07-21
Our Parlor Boarder.

Young ladies' said Miss Scrimper,
solemnly, addressing the inmates of Rem
ington Female Seminary at the close of
their midday meal, "you will now retire
to your rooms for an hours study, after
which you may enjoy the half-holiday
usual upon Wednesdays
Then Miss Scrimper bowed to the file of
maiden> ranged upon her right and on her
left and withdrew her majestic presence
from the scene.
Il say, Bess,' said Helen Ransom, the
parlor boarder, mysteriously, to me, as we
encountered her on our way across the
hall. you and Annie come to my room
after study hour, will yOu?''
Now our parlor boarder was whole ro-
nance in herself. and the distinction of an
invitation to her private apartment was
about as exciting an event to us other mem
bers of the seminary as a command to visit
the Queen would be to the ordinary
Englshman.
The reports that were current among
the girls about Helen Ransom We're as
numerous and contradictory as those usually
circulated about distinguished individuals.
One said that She was the ward of an i'll
tempered uncle. who was determined to
keep her at school until his own ugly
daughters were married and out of the
way another, that she was placed under
Miss Scrimper's care to keep her out Of
the way of designing young relative who
was trying to get possession of her fortune
and herself; another, that she had once
tried 10 elope with this same young gentle
man, but the attempt was frustrated by
stern papa, who had caught her in the ac
of descending from third.story window
by means of a rope-ladder, after which h,
placed her under the charge of Miss Scrim
per, with orders that the strictest surveill
ance was to be exercised.
All agreed, however, that there was
lover, and this fact at once made our parlo
boarder an object of admiration an
reverence to every member of Remingto
Female Seminary.
'Now. girls, remarked this heroine {
mystery and romance. as Annie and mad
our appearance. according to appointment
sit is too hot to 20 out. Lets have som
lemonade
"Gloriou.!'
"Hip-hip-hurrah = chorused Annie, Will
Helen produced a supply of lemons,
sugar bowl, and bottle Of Champagi
from the depths Of the closet.
"Suppose we get caught?'
ave won't
"What about ice p
If we could only get hold of Bridget
At this moment there is knock at Il
door.
"WhO's there
"Me. num- 1t is Brdget's dulc
voice that answers.
"Now, girls, said Helen, "isn't tn
convincing proof Of the theory that there
possibility Of magnetic communicate
between distant souls? Bridget knew
wanted her, and she came.
What have you got, Bridget p
"A nosegay, mum.
"Look at it, Bcss! calls Annie. "Bridl
is reader OF Tennyson. Witness
arrangement.
The red cries, She is near, she is near :"
And the white weeps. she is late;"
The Iarkspur listens. II hear, hear
And the lily whispers. g wait
There they are all four"
"where did you get the flowers, Bridge
"Picked thin in the tin-acre lot, by
ould three"
"Oh, wicked, deceitful, mendaciC
intriguing Bridget Moss-roses in the n
die of a ten-acre lotI'
al think there's more ov thin the
suggests this innocent Irish maiden,
attends to the chores at Remington Fen
Seminary.
The heiress starts, and repeats, dream
"And the lily whispers, wait Girls
won't have any lemonade" The cor
of Annie's mouth drop, so domino. ~
90 to the ten-acre lot"
"It's out of bounds.
"Never mind. We can get off witt
being seem"
The heiresss command Is law. we
so fiattered by her desire for our 500
that we are equal to anything in the
of breaking rules. Miss Scrimper is ia
her midday nap. Innocent, unsuspi'