The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-03-18

in fields and 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 a
nurse, both of which Della bestowed up
on her, without taking thought of the
| morrow
81 must hear from my man-of-busi-
ness tomorrow, Della. I'm knee-deep
in debt to you," she began, one night.
"Don't mention It'll" cried Della.
"I'd rather never see cent of it than
have you take it to heart You're well
come to stay and share pot-luck with
us; you're such company for mother
and me-"
"Thank you, my dear. I've grown as
fond of you as if you were my own flesh
and blood. There, turn down the light,
please. Draw the curtain, dear, and put
another stick on the fire, please. 1t
grows chilly, doesn't it? You might kiss
me, just once, if you wouldn't mind. It's
hundred years or so since any one
kissed me-"
And the next morning, when Della
carried up Mrs. Clements breakfast,
her boarder lay cold and still upon the
pillows.
The first shock over, Della wrote
directly to the lawyer of whom she had
heard Mrs. Clement speak as having
charge of her affairs, begging him to
notify that lady's relatives, if she had
any. In reply, MIR. Wills wrote: "The
late Mrs. Clement appears to have nc
near relatives. Some distant cousins,
who, having an abundance of this
worlds goods, yet served her shabbily
when she tested their generosity, as she
has tried yours, are all that remain Of
her family. In the meantime, l enclose
you copy of her last will and tesla.
ment, to peruse at your leisure"
"What interest does he think I take
in Mrs. Clements will,' thought Della
but read, nevertheless
| Being Of sound mind, this 10th day oil
June, 1S-, /, Della Rogerson Clement, dc
hereby leave one hundred dollars to each Of
my cousins; and bequeath the residue o.
my property-viz., thirty thousand dollars
invested in the Ingot Mining Company, fifty
Jewels, to the beloved niece Of my first hus.
| band, John Rogerson. DELLA ROBERTSON
OF CrOftsbOrough, Maine. a
| "For was a stranger, and we took me in
hungry, and We fed me; sick, and We minis
tered unto me.''
Goodness alive!" cried the neigh
bors, when the facts reached their ears
"What profitable thing it is to take
boarders! Every body in town will be
trying it. Of course Steve Langdor
will come home and marry her, if she
were forty old maids. You may stick 6
pin in there!"
Della did not open her house to board
ers the next season. She found enough
to do in looking after her money anG
spending it; in replying to letters from
INDECENT people, who seemed to increase
alarmingly; in receiving old friends
who suddenly found time to remember
her existence. And, sure enough
among the rest appeared Steve Lang
don, and all the village said: 81 told
you so!'
"It's not my fault that you and I are
single yet, Delia," he said.
"And we are too old to think of 8
change now, Steve"
Nonsense! It's never too late to
mend. I'm not rich, Dealia; but I've
enough for two and to spare''
I" l wouldn't be contented not to drive
in my carriage and have servants under
me now," laughed Della.
=" Indeed? Then perhaps you have a
better match in view. Capt. Seymour
asked me, by the way, if I had come te
interfere with Squire Jones's interest
"Yesp Squire Jones proposed to me
last week."
Now, see here, Della. Have come
all the way from Melbourne on a FOOLS
errand? There was growing used tc
my misery and loneliness, when the
mail brings me in letter in a strange
hand which tells me that my dear love
Della Rogerson, loves and dreams of me
still, is poor and alone and needs me-
me! And the letter is signed by hel
aunt, Mrs. Clement, who ought to know
l packed my household goods and
came" s
I'm glad you did,"
I" In order that 1 may congratulate
Squire Jones'"
But haven't accepted him. In
fact-I've refused him-because-''
because you will marry your old
love, like the lass in the song, Deliap''
In Croftsborough people are not YET
tired of telling how a woman made
money by taking boarders. Mara
N. Prescott, in the Independent.