The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-11-18

never complained or reproved them
when they shut themselves up in their
rooms to read novels and moan over
their poverty, leaving to her the work
and care CT the home. But it was not
in Helen's nature to find fault, and
though she saw the selfshness of her
sisters, she did not know how to check
it.
The advertisement for boarders was
duly inserted in several of the city pa
pers, Helen giving her full name and
address, much to the horror of Louisa,
who declared that now all the world
would be conversant with their pitiable
poverty.
A Mrs. Darby was the first arrival.
She was an old lady with false teeth, a
false front, small, piercing gray eyes and
a mind above the frivolties of fashion.
She wore dresses of the scantiest and
plainest make, and bonnet so antigua
ted in style that Josie could with diff
Guilty repress a peal of laug liter when
she saw it. But Helen greeted the old
lady with the greatest kindness, and as
signed her to one of the pleasantest
rooms in the house, attending to her nu-
merous wants with such cheerfulness
and readiness that Mrs. Darby was alb
solutely charmed, and blessed the good
fortune which had led her to this abode.
A few DAYS mere, and the four spare
chambers were all full, and Helen was
kept so busy that she hardly had time
to talk to Tom when he came, which
fact caused her keen regret, for she al
ways felt better and brighter after a
conference with him, o. stroll in the
cid orchard.
Tom mourned because Helen's eyes
were less bright, her face less blooming,
and her step less elastic than formerly,
but she laughed at his fears that she
would make herself ill, and was so cheer
full whenever he came that he did not
suspect her of concealing a hearache,
and guessed nothing Of the tears Of utter
WEAKNESS she occasionally shed in the
silence of the night, when body and
brain were 50 overweight that sleep was
impossible.
The venture paid, however. The
boarders were delighted with the old
fashioned house, the big orchard, and
the quaint garden, with its lilac, rose
and almond bushes, and neat, box-bor-
dered walks. They stayed until the
chilly days of October, and then left
Helen with enough money in bank to
carry her through the Winter. Mrs.
Darby did not go away with the other
boarders. She said she had no hcme,
and if Helen would keep her all Winter
she would be much obliged. OF course
Helen consented, much to the dissatis-
faction of her sisters, who thoroughly
disliked the old lady, and were decided
ly averse to her lectures on sel6shness
and frivolity. But they were obliged to
make the best of her presence, since
Helen had decided she should remain.
SO the Winter passed, Mrs. Darby
having several attacks of rheumatism,
through which she was tenderly and
faithfully nursed by Helen, who felt
fully repaid for her trouble when the old
lady one day looked at her with tears in
her eyes, and said gratefully:
you're the best and most unselhsh
girl ever knew. You've been daugh-
ter to me, and you'll get your reward
sooner or later, in Heaven, if not on
earth
Summer came again, and with it the
boarders, and Helen worked on as cheer
fully and indefatigably as ever, having
again a good sum laid by in the bank
when Fall came as the result of her la
bors.
Mrs. Darby still remained fixture in
the old house, though she had ceased to
be remunerative.
81 can't pay you any longer she said
to Helen, "and OF course you can turn
me out, if you choose. l could hardly
expec. you to keep me without money
and without price.
But Helen had kissed her affection
ately, and said she might stay as long as
she lived, and begged her not to worry
about her money difficulties
Naturally, Fanny, Louisa and Josie
objected to this arrangement, and de-
clared Helen was taking the bread out
of their mouths to feed stranger.
"a cross, imbecile, lecturing old wo-
man, said Josie, savagely, 6" wish we
had never seen her"
But Helen remained firm in her reso-