Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-08-11

MISS GRIMP'S BOlRDERS.
lCoNTINUED FROM YEsTERDAr.1


country people, "who kept harness.
maker s shop in Boynton-any relation OF
yours
Mr.. Ellis thought not, and added that
he had very few relatives.
81 M expectin' another boarder." volun-
teered Miss Selma. presently; "a young
lady from the city,"
II am sorry to hear it," was the unex-
pected reply. 81 hoped to be here alone,
and don't like young ladies'"
Miss Grimp regarded the speaker with
"a puzzled air. He was awful queer, that
was certain.
IL guess she won't be in your road
much" said she, soothingly. 'She's
very nice girl-my cousins husbands
niece-and it's likely she'll Just stick
round the house, and read and sew
Mr.. Ellis wished the nice girl in Jeri-
cho he was quite sure she would prove
a regular nuisance.
Miss Selma was Just dying to ask her
boarder if he painted pictures for living,
and how much he got for them but there
was something about him that prevented
her. In fact, she admitted that, although
he was as smiling as a basket of chips,
she was awfully afraid of him.
Meanwhile he settled down as naturally
in his new quarters as though he had
always lived there; was as easy as an
old shoe, his hostess reported, and didn't
give mite of trouble. By degrees
Wilkins Cove got accustomed to seeing
him prowling among the rocks on the
shore, and taking views-a proceeding
which it had at first regarded disapprov-
ingly; and it finally came to accept MIN
aS hal. nf OF
ashore by the tide.
Mr.. Ellis had been at wilkins Cove
about week, when he came in from
his days work to find gray figure op-
posite him at the tea table. This, of
course. was the young lady; and he was
formally made acquainted with Miss
Sellingwood who struck him as being
stiff and uninteresting, appearing to pos
sess the sole merit of being quiet.
Miss Selma quite took to the shy girl.
There was something wishful in the
young face-a sort of hungry look. as if
tor love and sympathy. that appealed to
her kind heart; and when, after address
ing her alternately as "cousin" and "Miss
Sellngwood the spinster became hope
under the circumstances-the girl said SO
YOU ?" the worthy woman took her right
in her arms and kissed her.
Il thought you would be all alone,
Cousin Selma said Juliet, the day after
her arrival, "and that we should have
such nice, cozy times together"
$50 did l, my dear" was the reply
"But Mr.. Ellis begged so hard. and he's
really very pretty behaved young gentle
man."
Il don't like young gentlemen" re-
marked Miss Juliet.
Miss Grimp was on the point of saying
rejecting just in time that this would not
talk OF something else.
Miss Sellingwood did ''hang round the
house, and read and sew" just as her
than was good for her; and Mr. Ellis kept
his promise of living out-of-doors.
Once or twice, however, he found him.
self watching the pale young face with
some interest He believed it might grow
pretty if she would only let the fresh air
blow on it, and get up little animation.
"Do you never go out at all P' he asked,
one day
Not very often" was the reply; 81
am so accustomed to staying in the house,
and get tired walking"
THAT is because you don't practice it
enough" he continued, in quite fatherly
way. This is such fine afternoon that
am sure you would feel better for walk
ing down TO the beach. There is quite
pretty little cave almost in straight line
from here, where you can rest when you
eLa L~
you there, but my work takes me in a
different direction
This last clause was particularly art
'ul one, for he had settled conviction
that the young lady could not have been
induced to accept him as an escort; and
he even thought it possible that the fear
of encOuntering him would keep her in
doors.
From which it will be seen thar, for a
man, our artist was not at all conceited.
This conversation took place at the din
ner table, and when everything had been
put in order after the meal, Juliet succeed
ed in beguling Miss Selma into accom-
panying her for walk. That worthy
lady equipped herself in scanty dress of
alpaca, green-sprigged shawl. and a
wonderful structure of a bonnet-her usual
ouHudy ulluc, lOI Win ntt, Walk was
solemn and extraordinary undertaking,
and daily "loafing" on the sea-shore was
a style of existence that met her unqualified
She held that reasonable be-
ings were sent into the world for better
and cake making for in
stance, and washing and cleaning up.
Julets sundown soon hung suspended
on her neck, having been lifted from its
proper place by the playful zephyrs, which
cut up such impertinent antics with Miss
Selina's scant drapery that she was re-
duced to the necessity of holding her
skirts down with her parasol, and even
found herself saying. go away do" as
though some saucy terrier were swapping
at her ankles.
The hsless city girl felt her pulses stir
with new life in this invigorating air, and
a color came to her cheeks. and bright
ness to her eyes, as she moved on with
elastic step and drew long breaths OF en-
joyment.
Her companion was more resigned thai
joyous. and she peered grimly into the
cave before settling herself for rest, ex-