The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10

her boarders; of the shabby house and
 it's antiquated furniture, "too old for comfort and not old enough for fash ion "-then Della doubted if taking
 boarders was her missio1f. ''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, I daresayP" Yes a long time ago." tTell me about him-itp" 1 "There isn't much to tell. He asked l me to marrr sl1rssa He was going to Australia. I 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-"
 "'Now all men besides are to me like | shadows"
 "And you have never heard of him since?"
 "Yes. Hewrote; but where was the
 useP It could never come to anything 1 It was better for him to forget me and marry. I was a millstone about his I LlCShs Il tliS4A stIlS W JI LIS ldSU lGGIGI.
 ''And, supposing he should return some day, would you marry himP"
 '' 1 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 con- monplace. One must have recreation of some kind, you know. Everybody requires a little romance, little poetry, to flavor everyday thinking and doing. I'm afraid you'll think me silly old maid, Mrs. Clement"
 "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 four-score 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"
 His 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 never, never ask, and
 Stephen never asks for me, that can hear"
 | Delia's summer boarders were not a success, to be sure. If they took no money out of her pocket, they mt none in. She was obliged to eke out her SUD- 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.
 II believe I'll stay on, she said. I'm
 getting too old to move often. Perhaps
 you take winter boarders at reduced
 rates. Eh?"
 Do you think my terms highP"
 By no means. But when one's
 purse is low"
 "Yes; I know. Do stay at your own price. I 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 appearing to-be "just pattern" At Christmas, how , ever, came ray of sunshine for Della, in the shape of a hundred-dollar bill , from an unknown friend. It can't be , meant for me-" she cried. I "It's directed to Della Rogerson,' J 7 said her mother; land there's nobody else of that name, now your Aunt Delia's l dead"
 l "We're not sure she's dead" objected l Della.
 l Horrors! Don't you know whether s your own aunt's dead or aliveP" asked y Mrs. Clement, in a shocked tone. r sIt isn't our fault. She is rich and
 lives abroad. was named for her. 7 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 fol
 you"
 n "How can she. if she's dead? don't . blame her, anyway. Her money is hel : own, to use according to her pleasure : Uncle John made it himself and gave il l to her."
 e !" But if she should come back to you
 having run through with it, you'd divide . your last crust with her. I'll be bound. :, s suppose should,'' said Della. 3 The winter wore away, ,as winters will {. and the miracles of spring began in fields d and wayside; and Delia's boarders re n turned with the June roses, and dropped s again away with the falling leaves, and p still Mrs. Clement staid on and on. J us s now she had been for some weeks in ar , rears with her reduced board. Nc d money had been forthcoming for some d time, and she was growing more feeble | daily, needed the luxuries of an invalid 5 and the attentions of nurse, both O 7. which Della bestowed upon her, ,withou ' taking thought for the morrow. .- :. l must hear from my nan-of busi n ness tomorrow, Della. I'm knee-deeI T in debt to you." she began, one night. 8 Don't mention it!" cried Della. ''I'( n rather never see a cent of it than hay, r you take it to heart. You're welcom !, to stay and share pot-iuck with us T you're such Seompany for mother ant