South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-03-05
APARTMENTS TO LET.


jokingr
Il am not indeed. am in sad, sober,
earnest
But to let apartments 1t 10 80 de-
gradingr
70 me that this Is the best way in which
We can gain living
oh il is horrible-horribIe r
i fancy starvation would be more
dreadful
Mamma. don't say such thingsp
We must face the truth, dear, and
speak OF things as they are. Our income.
or what is left OF it. is utterly INSULT
cient TO support rs. so we must increase
it. Can you suggest better way than
tho one proposeT
Ada makes no response, but turns to
the window and commences lilly drum-
miug on the panes, an expression Of an.
gry disgust on her pretty face.
Until lately Mrs. .Chantry has been
in receipt of an ample income. But it
is the oil story. Three months ago n
bank failed. and Mrs. Chautry is only
one among hundreds of sufferers. Per-
haps on the whole, indeed, her plight is
not so bad as many others, for a small
pittance remains TO her /; but it is pit
lance utterly inadequate for the support
of herself and her daughter.
Ever sine she heard Of The loss Of her
fortune she has been considering how
best to augment their narrow means
This plan upon which she has at last
decided Is to her very uncongenial
one, but she gives no utteraIce to her
feelings on the point. being fearful of in
any way adding to Ada's dislike.
They live ut Fairshore, n charming
little seaside resort on the south coast.
Their house is large and well furnished,
and it is not long before the apart
ments' are occupied The first dodgers
fulfill completely Ada's doleful prognos-
tications. They are a couple Of spins
tcrs, who have lived most Of their time
in apartments, and whose experience Of
lodging house keepers has bred in them
an ineradicab!e spirit ofsuspicicn. They
are scarcely to blame. They judge by
the rule instead of the exception.
Hannah, who has been in Mrs. Chan
try's service for over twenty years. and
who, now that misfortune has overtaken
her mistress. doygedly asserts her de-
termination 10 stay on, wages or no
. wages has many battle royal with
the Misses Frimp.
Miss Selma Frimp having on one oc .
casion expressed conviction that the
butter has been tempered with, Han
mains honesty is ut once in arms. There.
after sue calls attention to every article
OF food before removing it from the ia
BILE, requesting them oput upon it their
own private mark. in order that they
may assure themselves that it will re-
main in tact till next required.
. Goods left for them by the tradespeo-
pie she ut once presents for their inspec-
ton. and even goes so far as to remind
them of the ACCESSIBILITY of locking all
drawers, desks and other such recepts,
clcs, before she sweeps and dusts their
rooms.
She is exact in the discharge of her
duties toward them, bns woe betde them
II their needs exceed the stipulations OF
their agreement. All the attention that
was contracted for they receive, but not
one iota more.
Ada highly approves OF Hannah's in.
dependent proceedings. She keeps her.
self entirely aloof from tho frtruders.
as she calls them, her sole intercourse
WIN buo o'iBuLcSI anu
haughtiest Of bows when they chance to
meet on the staircase or In the hall.
The Misses Frimp do not make We
ry heightened sojourn at Fairshore. Az
ter the stay OF few weeks they take
their departure. However, the vacancy
, is soon filed up.
This time the dodgers are quite 'an-
other ilk.' They are young people who
have been married about three years
Mrs. Beauchamp is in the last stage oil
consumption. She is fair, fragile crea
ture, with pale golden hair and rensive
blue eyes. She is somewhat older than
, her husband, to whom she is passionate
ly attached. He,on his part, is most at,
tentive to her. studying her every wish
anticipating her every want, and sacri.
fcing his own desires should they inter.
I. lere. with her requirements.
r They quite win lIaunah's heart. She
5 waits upon them untiredly. and con
cocts all sorts Of dainty dishes to tempt
the invalid's delicate appetite.
Such a sweet lady she is; and as for
him, he's the incest and handsomest
gentleman | ever set eyes on
This is her verdict upon them.
J. They deeply interest Mrs. Chantry-
' the poor wife, with the signs Of nearly
approaching death written unmistaka.
, big on her pure, lovely face; and the
young husband, so sacrificing, SO
I self-forgetful. Many excuses does She
make to go and sit and chat with them
and often does she propose that Mr.
e Bcauchamp should go and walk awhile
= and she will keep his wife company dur
!. ing Isis absence not often does he take
:, advantage OF her offer. lie glances ii
his wife. aud though her lips say Go,
her eyes say 'Stay'-and lie stayS.
Ada. who is gifted with fine, koer
c perceptions, speedily divines what het
2 mother and Hannah fail TO perceive
: namely, that there is something lacking
In Ar Rnnnnhntn1,e fnnlinrr in,rnrl LII.