The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-03-27
"And, supposing he should return
1890 49, xx~on,,Ald 49,, ~, a ,.-xy him pif

81 dare say" laughed Della, gently,
as if the idea were familiar, :" let the
neighbors laugh ever so wisely. I've
thought of it sometimes, sitting alone,
when the world was barren and COM
mon-place. One must have recreation
of some kind, you know. Everybody
requires little romance, a little poe
try, to flavor everyday thinking and
doing. I'm afraid you'll think me a
silly old maid, Mrs. Clement
ssNo. The heart never grows old.
The skin shrivels, the color departs,
the eyes fade, the features grow pinch
ed; 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"
ssHis name was Stephen Langdon.
Sometimes Captain Seymour runs
against him in Melbourne, and brings
me word how he looks and what he is
doing; though I never, never ask, and
Stephen never asks for me, that can
hear"
Delia's summer boarders were not
success, to be sure. If they took no
money out of her pocket, they put none
in. She was obliged to exc out her
support with copying for lawyer Dun
more and embroidering for Mrs. Judge
Dorr. One by one her boarders drop
ped 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. Ehpn
''Do you think my terms high?"
"By no means. But when ones
purse is low"
'Yes. 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 like turning
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 APP
pearing to be "just a pattern" At
Christmas, however, came ray of
sunshine for Della, in the shape of
hundred-dollar bill from an unknown
friend. "It can't be meant for me-"
she cried.
"It's directed to Della Rogerson,"
said her mother; "and there's nobody
else of that name, now your Aunt De-
lia's dead"
"We're not sure she's dead" OBJ
jected Della.
Horrors! Don't you know whether
your own aunt's dead or aliveP' asked
Mrs. Clement, in q shocked tone.
cit ism our fault. She is rich and
lives abroad. was named for her. 1
used to look in the glass and try to be-
lieve I'd inherit 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 dead? I
don't blame her, anyway. Her money
is her own, to use according to her
pleasure. Uncle John made it himself
and gave it to her."
"But if she should come back to you,
having run through with it, you'd di-
vide your last crust with her, I'll be
bound"
81 suppose / should" said Della.
The winter wore away, as winters
will, and the miracles of spring began
in fields and wayside; and Della 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 grow
ing more feeble daily, needed the luxu-
ries of an invalid and the attentions of
a nurse, both of which Della bestowed
upon her, without taking thought for
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 itr' cried Della.
"Pd rather never see a 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 itP You might
kiss me just once, if you wouldn' mind.
It's hundred years or so since anyone
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 di-
rectly 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, Mr.. Wills wrote: The
late Mrs. Clement appears to have no
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 take
in Mrs. Clements WILL" thought Della
but rea d, nevertheless: