American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-03-06
VOLUME Xxx

z
Della made her rs welcome as if she had
been Duchess; lighted a wood fire in
Mrs. Clements room, as the night was
damp, and brought out her daintiest
cup and saucer, with the fadeless old
roses wreathing them. Wonderfully
kind" reflected Mrs. Clement, as she
combed out her wisp of gray hair and
confided the false front to box.
Wonderful kindness for seven dollars
week! She's new to the trade. She'll
learn better. Human nature doesn't
change with ATTITUDES. She'll find it
doesn't pay to consider the comfort of
poverty stricken old creature But,
in spite of her worldly wisdom, Mrs.
Clement was forced to confess that
Della had begun as she meant to hold
out, though other boarders' came to
demand her attention, to multiply her
cares The fret and jar of conflicting
temperaments under her roof was new
experience to Della. When Miss Gre
some complained of the mosquitoes, with
an air as il Miss Rogerson were respon-
sible for their creation; of the flies,
as if they were new acquaintances of
want of appetite, as though Della had
agreed to supply it, along with berries
and new milk; of the weather, as if she
had pledged herself there should be no
sudden changes, to annoy her boarders !;
of the shabby house and the antiquated
furniture, s'too old for comfort and not
old enough for fashion''-then Della
! doubted if taking boarders was her mis-
sion. "What makes you keep us, my
dearP" asked Mrs. Clement, after day
when every thing, and every body had
seemed to go wrong. "Why didn't you
ever marryP You had lover, dare
saya"
"Tell me about him-itP''
"There isn't much to tell. He asked
me to marry him. He was going to
Australia. 1 couldn't leave mother and
father, you know (they were both fee
ble), and he couldn't stay here. That
was ALL"
"And you-you-"
"sNow all men besides are to me like
shadows
Sand have you never heard of him
sinceP'
"Yes. He wrote; but where was the
usea 1t could never come to any thing.
1t was better for him to forget me and
marry. I was milestone about his
neck. Ididn't answer his last letter."
"And, supposing he should return
some day, would you marry himP,'
81 dare say" laughed Della, gently,
as ifthe idea were familiar, g let the
neighbors laugh ever so wisely. I've
thought Of it Sometimes, sitting alone,
when the world was barren and com
monplace. One must have recreation
of some Kind, you know. Every body
requires a little romance, a little poetry,
to flavor every day thinking and doing.
I'm afraid you'll think me silly old
e.
"No. The heart never grows old.
The skin shrivels, the color departs, the
eyes fade, the features grow pinched;
but the soul is heir of eternal youth
is as beautiful at fourscore as at sweet
and twenty Time makes amends for
the ravages of the body by developing
the spirit. You didn't tell me your
lovers name. Perhaps you'd rather
not'' --.,
Ellis name was Stephen Langdon.
Sometimes Capt. Seymour runs against
him in Melbourne, and brings me word
how he looks and what he is doing;
though never, never ask, and Stephen
never asks for me, that can hear.''
Beia's summer boarders were not a
success, to be sure. If they took no
money out of her pocket they put none
in. Shewas obliged to exc out her sup
port with copying for Lawyer Dunmore
and embroidering for Mrs. Judge Dorr.
One by one her boarders dropped away,
like the autumn leaves; all but old Mrs.
Clement.
81 believe I'll stay on,'' she said.
"I'm getting too old to move often.
Perhaps YOU take winter boarders at re-
duced rates. EhP''
"Do you think my terms high?"
''By no means. But when ones purse
is low fHftl itfti
sYes. l know. Do stay at your
own price. l can't spare you" She had
grown such fondness for the old lady
that to refuse her at; her own terms
would have seemed kketurping her own
mother out of doors; besides, one mouth
the more would not signify. But she
found it hard to make both ends meet,
and often went hungry to bed, that her
mother and Mrs. Clement might enjoy
enough, without there appearing to be
"just pattern" At Christmas, how
ever, came ray of sunshine for Della,
in the shape of hundred-dOllar bill
from an unknown friend. g 1t can't be
meant fer me-" she cried.
ssIt's directed to Della Rogerson,"
said her mother 80 and there's nobody
else of that name, now your Aunt Delia's
dead . - ~
"We're not sure she's dead" OBJ
jected Della.
Horrorsi Don't you know whether
your own aunt's dead or aIiveP'' asked
Mrs. Clement, in shocked tone.
ssIt isn't our fault. She is rich and
lives abroad 1 was named for her. l
used to look in the glass and try to be-
lieve I'd inherited her beauty with the
name, though she was only our great
uncle's wife"
"She ought to be doing something for
you"
"How can she, if she's deadP don't
blame her, any way. Her money is her
own, to use according to her pleasure.
Uncle John made it himself and gave it
to herr
s'But if she should come back to
you, having run through with it, you'd
divide your last crust with her, III be
bound.''
al suppose should, said Della.
The winter wore away, as winters
will, and the miracles of spring began
in fields aud wayside; and Delia's board
ers returned with the June roses, and
dropped AWAY again with the falling
leaves, and still Mrs. Clement staid on
and on. Just now she had been for
some weeks in arrears with her reduced
board. No money had been forthcom-
ing for some time, and she was growing
more feeble daily, needed the luxuries
of an invalid and the attentions of
nurse, both of which Della bestowed up
on her. without takir1p thouUhf of the