Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-09-08

ter will, and the miracles OF spring
began in the fields and waysides ;
aud Delia's boarders returned with
the June roses and dropped away
again with the falling leaves, and
still Mrs, Clement stayed on and
on. Just now she had been some
weeks in arrears with her reduced
board. No money had been forth
coming for some time, and she was
growing more feeble daily, needed
the luxuries of an invalid and the
attention of a nurse /; both of which
Della bestowed upon her, without
taking care for the morrow.
81 must hear from my man OF
business tomorrow, Della. I'm
knee deep in debt to you," she be-
gan one night.
Don't mention it," cried Della,
"Pd rather never see a cent of it
than TO have you take it to heart.
You are welcome to stay and share
pot-luck with US; you are 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. 1t grows
chilly, doesn't it? You might kiss
me just once, if you wouldn't
mind. It's hundred years or so
since any one kissed me-"
And the next morning, when
Della carried up Mrs. Clements
breakfast, her boarder lay cold and
still upon the pillow.
The first shock over, Della wrote
directly to the lawyer of whom she
had heard Mrs. Clement speak as
having charge of her affairs, beg
ging him to notify that lady's rela-
tives if she had any. In reply,
Mr.. Willis 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 shah
lily when she tested their generos-
ity, as she tried yours, are all that
remain of her family. In the
meantime l enclose you a copy of
her last will and testament, to
peruse at your leisure"
"What interest does he think l
take in Mrs. Clements will" thought
Della; but read it nevertheless:
Being sound of mind, this 10th
day of June, IS, l, Della Roger
son Clement, do hereby leave
one hundred dollars to each Of my
cousins; and l bequeath the resi-
due of my property-viz: thir-
ty thousand dollars invested in the
Ingot Mining Company, fifty thou
sand dollars in United States bonds,
twenty thousand in Fortune Elan
mel Mill, and my jewels, to the be-
loved niece of my first husband,
John Rogerson, Della Rogerson,
of Croftsborough, Maine"
"For was stranger and ye
took me in; hungry and we fed me !;
sick, and we ministered unto me-"
Goodness alive!" cried the
neighbors, when the facts reached
their ears. "What a profitable
thing it is to take boarders +! Every
body in town will be trying it. OF
course Steve Langdon will come
home and marry her, if she were
forty old maids. You may stick a
pin in there"
Della did not open her house to
boarders the next season. She
found enough to do in replying to
letters from INDECENT people, who
seemed to increase alarmingly; in
receiving old friends, who sudden
" found time to remember her ex.
istence. And, sure enough, among
the rest appeared Steve Langdon
and all the village said: 81 told
you So"
It's not my fault that you ant
; l are single yet, Della" he said.
"And we are too old to think o
change now, Stevel"
Nonsense It's never too lat
to mend. I'm not rich, Della, bu
I've enough for two and to spare"
81 wouldn't be contented not t.
drive in my carriage and have ser
wants under me now" laughed De
: liza.
Indeed Then perhaps yo
have better match in view. Cap
Seymour asked me by the way
| had come to interfere with SPUR
.Jones' interest"