The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-19

for furnished house suitable for boariers.
sir, and if find this one suits me, and the
rent is not too high"
"But," interrupted the astonished bache.
lor.
"Oh, hope it is not taken The adver.
tisement said to call between eight and
...., ,---,. -.-..,~-A ~.o--s s.~u-. ur.-I
the doorstep"
"Oh, the advertisement! So, so, Master
Rupert This is your doing, is it? Will
you let me see the advertisement, madam ?"
'You have the paper in your hand,
sir" she said, timidy. IT did not cut it
out"
"Oh, you saw it in the paper"
He turned to the list of houses to let;
and there, sure enough, it was.--
''ro let, furnished, three-story. brown
stone 'front.' basement" and rather q full
description of the advantages of the
premises, with the emphatic addition,
Cal oily between eight and nine, A. M"
$50 Us to be sure / am at home, the
rascal" said rupert Smithson, laying aside
the paper. 81 am sorry, madam he said,
that you have had the trouble of calling
upon useless errand."
''Then it is taken! !" she said, in o very
disappointed tone, and the heavy Grape
veil vas lifted to show o sweet, matronly
face famed in that saddest of all badges,
widows cap.
"Well, no, said the perplexcd bachelor,
'it is not exactly taken"
"Perl.aps you object to boardersp"
''You want to take boarders?" he an
swered, thinking how lady-like and gentle
she looked, and wondering if she had been
long widow.
eyes, sir; but would be very careful
about the references"
"Have you ever kept boarders before ?"
''No, sir. Since my husband died, six
years ago, Che failed in business, and
brought on severe illness by mental
anxiety,) my daughter and myself have
been sewing, but we have both been in
poor heath all winter, and I wish to try
some way of getting living that is less
confning. have kept house several years,
but have not capital to furnish, so we
want to secure house furnished like this
ono, if possible"
Quite unconscious of the reason, Rupert
Smithson was finding it very pleasant to
talk to this gentle little widow about her
plans, and as she spoke, was wondering if
would not make an agreeable variety in
ais lonely life to let her make her expert
ment of keeping boarding house upon the
premises. Seeing his hesitation, she said,
earnestly
II think You will be satisfied with my
references, sir. have lived in one house.
and have had work from one firm for SIX
years. and, if you require it, can OBJ
Cincinnati.
Cincinnati ?"
HE was quite well known there. Per-
haps you know Of him, John Murray, -
street,"
John Murray
Rupert Smithson looked searchingly into
the pale, sad face that was so pleadingly
raised to his gaze. Where were the rosy
cheeks, the dancing eyes, the laughing lips
that he had pictured as belonging to John
alurrays wife? Knowing now the truth,
he recognized the face before him, the
youth all gone, and the expression sancti-
fed by sorrow and suffering.
You have children ?" he said after a
ong pause.
"Only one living. daughter seventeen
years old. 1 have buried all the Others"
Il will let you have the house on one
he said, his lips trembling
\ little as he spoke.
She did not answer In the softened
Eyes looking into his own, in the voice
modulated to tender sweetness,
Iome memory was awakened and she only
istened, with bated breath and d;,ating
yes.
''On one condition, Katie" he said, that
7ou come to it as my wife and its mistress.
have waited for you twenty years,
Katie"
1t was hard to believe, even then, though
he little widow let him caress her, and
obbed upon his breast. This ay-haired,
man was 30 unlike the Rupert
he had believed false. But after the whole
,ast was discussed, il was not hard to be-
ieve there might be years of happiness
till in store for them.
Rnpert Smithson did not 'put in an ap-
at his oounung-houso all day,
md Rupert the Second went home to his |
Inner in rather an uneasy frame of mind
egarding that April fool trick of his
II must run over and see if / have of.
ended beyond all hope Of pardon, he said,
IS he rose from the table.
But gruh voice behind him arrested