The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-03-04

amends for the ravages of the body BY
developing the spirit. You didn't tel
me your lovers name. Perhaps you'd
rather not"
His name was Stephen Langdon.
Sometimes Captain Seymour runs
against him in Melbourne, and brings
me word how he looks and what he il
doing; though l never, never ask, and
Stephen never asks for me, that l can
hear"
Delia's summer boarlers were not
success, to be sure. IF thew took M
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
dropped away, like the autumn leaves:
all but old Mrs. Clement.
:" believe Ill stay on" she said.
I'm getting too old to move often.
| Perhaps you take winter boarders at re-
duced rates. Eh?''
do you think my terms high?''
"By no means. But when ones
purse is low
"Yes: l know. Do stay at your
own price. 1 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 work to make
both ends meet, and often went hungry
to bed, that her mother and Mrs. Glenn
ent might enjoy enough without there
appearing to be ''just a pattern" At
Christmas, however, came ray of sun
shine for Della in the shape of hum
dred-dollar bill from an unknown
friend. cit can't be meant for me-"
she cried.
Its directed to Della Rogerson,"
sai0 her mother; land there's nobody
else OF that name now your Aunt Delia's
dead"
"We're not sure she's dead" OBJ
jected Della.
Horrors! Don't you know whether
your own aunt's dead or alive9'' asked
Mrs. Clement, in shocked tone.
"It isn't our fault. She is rich and
lives abroad. 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, 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 divide
your last 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 and wayside; and Delia's
boarders returned with the June roses,
and dropped away again with the fall
ing 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 1uxuries
of an invalid and the attentions of
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.
"rd 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't
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, bella wrote di-
rectly to the lawyer of whom she had
heard Mrs. Clement speak of as having
charge of her affairs, begging him to
notify that lady's relatives, if she had
any. In reply, Mr.. Wills wrote: 1.-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, inclose
you a copy of her last will and testa-
ment, to peruse at your leisure"
"What interest does he think take
in Mrs. Clement WILL" thought Della;
but read, nevertheless:
Being of sound mind, this 18th day of June,
leave one hundred dollars to each of my cous-
ms: and be4ueath the residue of my proper
ty-viz. thirty thousand dollars invested in the
ed States bonds, twenty thousand in Fortune
Flannel Mills and my jewels, to the beloved
DELLA ROGERSON,
"Of Croftsborough, Maine."
"'For was stranger. an6 We took me in;
hungry, and We fed me; sick, and ye ministered
"Goodness aliver' cried the neigh
bors, when the facts reached their ears.
what profitable thing it is to take
boarders! Everybody in town will be
try wing it. Of course, Steve Langdon
will come home and marry her, if she
were forty old maids. You may stick
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 and
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!''
3" It's not my fault that you and l are
single yet, Della" he said.
"And we are too old to think of q
change now, Steve"
Nonsense! It's never too late to
mend. I'm not rich, Della: but I've