Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-17
TAKING BOARDERS,

WO1k OUT ner SalVatl0n. And so much money
Ia the family, TOO, taking IL by small and large
Wasn't her Uncle Eben, over at Dover, well q
90, and not chick OF his own to care for, eX
cept the boy he had adopted, who was nc
credit 10 him? IL was odd. now, that a man
with poor relations should,take TO a stranger,
when his own flesh and blood was needy: but
sometimes IL did seem as II folks had more
1ee1ng for others than for their own kfth and
Kin. Then there were cousins fn the city.
forehanGed and fashionable, who never were
worth row OF pins 10 Della; and there was
her Great-uncle Johns widow a-larking on the
Continent gambling at Baden Baden ana
trying the waters OF every mineral spring In
the three Kingdoms for no disease under the
Sun but old age. Shed been known 10 say that
Der own folks were too rich already, and prob
ably she would endow some hospital with her
property Plainly: wealthy relatives were or
no value TO Miss Della. To be sure. she had
never seen her great aunt since she was a
child, when her Uncle John had brought her
into their simple life for months visit with
her French maid and dresses, her jewels and
fallals which won the heart OF her little name
sake Since then Uncle johns widow had be-
come sort of gided creature, always young
and always beautiful; for, though Della had
received little gifts from time to time across
the seas for the last fifteen years she had mel
ther heard nor seen anything OF the being who
had inspired her youthful Imagination and
was quite uncertain Ii S'Icn a person as Mrs
John RogersOn was in the land OF the living
Dead or alive, she seemed TO have made no ma
teT1aI dnerence in Delia'S hHmdrum life A.
ter having nurSed her father throurh a loro
Illness. Della found that he had left heavy
mortgage on the homestead. and her mother
ana herSeI on the high road TO the poorhouse,
unless they should bestir themselves. AS her
mother was already bedTidden. the stirring
naturally fell upon Della, and she advertised
Tor summer boarders:
EGOD BOARD IN THE COUNTRY. by the
Chambers broad piazzas, fine views berries and
new milk One mile from the station. Address
Croftsborough. Maine.
"Cheap enough." commented an elderly lady
who happened upon it. 'Dela RogersOn. An
old maid / suppose, obliged to look ont for
herself. I'VE a good mind to try her brosd i
plazZaS and new milk. II don't Ike therell
be no harm done"
lady. with false front OF hair brown, wrink-
led skin, faded eyes a black alpaca gown and a
hair trunk. Della made her as welcome as il
she had been duchess; lighted woli fire in
Mrs. Clements room. as the night was damn
and brought out her dainteSt cup and saucer.
with the fafnleSS old roses wreathing them
wonderfully kind" reflected Mrs. Clement.
as she combed out her wiSp OF gray hair and
conf1ded the false front to d box. .'Wonderful
kindness for seven dollars week. She's new
10 the trade. She'll learn better. Human ma
ture doesn't change with latitudeS She'll mud
IL doesn't pay 10 consider the comfort Of q poy-
eFty-stricken old creature But. In spite OF
her worldly wisdom, Mrs. Clement was forced
70 confess that Della had begun as she meant
TO hold out though other boartlers came TO de-
mand hee attention. to multiply her cart The
fret and ar OF conflicting telnperaments under
Miss 'freSome complained of the mosquitoes.
with an air as II Miss ROgerSon were RESPONSE
Die Tor their creation; OF the flies. as ii they
were new acquaintance5; OF want of appetite,
as though Della had agreed to supply IT, along
with berries and new milk; of the weather as
III she had pledged herself there should be no
sudden changes to annoy her boarders; of the
SnaOOy house and its antiquated furniture
TOO old for comfort, and not old enough for
faShion"-then Della doubted IL taking boarfierS
was her mission What max you keep us,
when everything and everybody had seemed to
go wrong. Why didn't you ever marry? You
had lover, / daresay?n
% i eS; long time ago."
.'Tell Inc about him-it?"
There isn't much to tell. He asked me to
marry him. He was going to Australia /
couldn't leave mother and father. you know
tthey were both fecble), and he couldn't stay
here. That was all.
<'And yOu-yOu-"
Now all men besides are to me like
shadows. s"
And you nave never heard OF him since?-
Yes. He wrote; but where was the use? Ii
could never come to anything 1t was better
for him TO forget me and marry. was a mill.
stone about his neck. didn't answer his last
letter.
"And, supposing he should return some day.
would you marry him.
:" dare say" laughed Della gently. as il the
fIea were familiar, ''let the neighborS laugh
ever so wisely. I've thought OF IL, sometimes.
sitting alone, when the world was barren and
commonplace. One must have recreation of
some kind, you know. Everybody requires a
little romance little poetry. to flavor every
DAY thinking and doing; Pm afraid you'll
mo. The heart never grows old. Tue skin
ShrfvelS, The color departs, the eyes fade the
features grow pinched; but the soul is heir of
at sweet and twenty Time make amends
for the ravages of the body by developing the
spirit. You didn't tell me your lovers name
Perhaps you'd rather not"
&c
times Captain Seymour runs against him 1n
Melbourne and brings me word how he looks
and what he Is doing, though / never, never
ask, and stephen never asks for me, that l
can hear"
Delia's summer boarders were not success.
TO be sure II they took no money out OF her
exc out her support with copying Tor Lawyer
DunmOre and embroidering for Mrs. Judge
Dorr. One by one her boarders dropped away
like the autumn leaves; all but Old Mrs. Glenn
emit Il believe I'll stay on" she said. I'm
getting too old TO move often Perhaps you
take winter boarders at reduced rates. Eh?S
Doyou think my terms hfgh.'
BY no means. But when ones purse is
low"
Yes: know. Do stay at your own price.
] can't spare you" She had grown sr,ch a
fondness ior the old lady that to refuse her at
her own terms would have seemed like turning
her own mother out OF doors; besides one
month the more would signify. But she found
II hard 10 make both ends meet and often
went hungry 10 bed that her mother and Mrs
Clement might enjoy enough without there
appearing 10 De lust pattern At Christ
mas. however. came a ray OF sunshine for
Della, IN the shape OF hundred-doilar bill
from an unknown friend. 1T can't be meant
Tor me- She cried.
Its directed TO Della Rogerson," said her
mother: land there's nobody else OF that name
now your Aunt Delia's dead"
were not sure she's dead" objected Della.
HOrrorS Don't you know whether your
own aunt 5 dead or alive?" asked Mrs. Glenn
ent. In a shocked tone.
1t isn't our FAULT. She Is rich and lives
abroad. j WAS named for her. used to look
IN the glass and try 10 believe I'D Inherited her
beauty with the name, though she was only
our gTeat-uDcle'S WIFE
She ought 10 be doing something for YOU
How can she, II she's dead? / don't blame
her, anyway. Her money is her ewn TO use ac.
coraing TO her pleasure. Uncle John made II
himself an0 gave ii TO her."
" But II she should come back 10 you, having
run through with it, you'd divide your laSr
crust with her I'll be bound"
Il suppose should said Della
The winter wore away, as winters will, and
The miracles of spring began In fields ana
WaySfde; and Delia's DoarderS returned with
the June roses and dropped again away with
the falling leaves, and still Mrs. Clement Staid
On ana on just now she had been for some
weeks In arrears with her reduced board No
money had been forthcoming for some time
and she was growing more feeble daily needed
the luxurleS OF an invalid and the attentions OF
nurse, Doth or which Della bestowed upon
her, without taking thought for the morrow