Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-09-29

never asks for me, that [ can hear"
Deiia's summon boarders were not
success, to be sure. If they took no
money out of her pocket, they put
none in. She was obliged to exc out
her support by copying for Lawyer
Dunmore and embroidery for Mrs.
Judge Dorr. One by one her boarders
dropped away like 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 high"
"By no means. But when ones
purse is low
eyes, know. Do stay at your own
price. | 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
month more would not signify. But
she found it hard to make both ends
meet, and often went to bed hungry
that her mother and Mrs. Clement
might enjoy enough, without there APP
pearing to be Gust pattern" At
Christmas, however, came a ray of snn-
shine for Della, in the shape of hun
dred-dOllar bill from an unknown
friend.
at can't be meant for me-" she cried.
cts directed to Della ROgersOn,"
said her mother, 'and there's nobody
else of that name, now that your aunt
Delia's dead"
owe are not sure she's dead" OBJ
jected Della.
Horrors! Don't you know whether
Mrs. Clement, in a shocked tone.
cit isn't our fault. She is rich and
lives abroad. [ was named for her. [
used to look in the glass and try to be-
lieve I'd inherit 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 dead? Idon't
blame her, any way. Her money is
her own to use according to her pleas
| ure. Uncle John made it himself and
gave it to her"
'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"
81 suppose [ should" replied Della.
The winter wore away as winters
will, and the miracles Of spring began
in fields and wayside; and Della's board
ers 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 forthcom.
ing for some time, and she was grow,
ing more feeble daily, needed the lux
uries of an invalid and the attention o.
q nurse, both of which Della bestowed
upon her without taking thought of the
morrow.
81 must hear from my man of bust
ness tomorrow Della; I'm knee-deeE
in debt to you," she began one night.
Don't mention it," cried Della. "I'C
rather never see a cent of it than have
you take it to heart. You are welcom,
|, to stay and share potluck 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 owl
/ flesh and blood. There, turn down tn,
light, please Draw the curtain, dear
and put another stick on tie fire, please
1t grows chilly. doesn't it. You Nigh
kiss me just once, if you wouldn't mind
It's hundred years or so since any on
kissed me-"
And next morning when Della car
ried up Mrs. Clements breakfast, he
boarder lay cold and still upon the pill
| lows.
The first shock over, Della wrote t.
the lawyer of whom she had heard Mrs
Clement speak as having charge of he
affairs, begging him to notify that lady
relatives, if she had any. In reply Nh
Willis wrote: ''The late Mrs. Clemen
! appears to have no near relatives
! Some distant cousins, who have a.
: abundance of this worlds goods, We
, served her shabbily when she teste
, their generosity, as she has tried yours
are all that remain of her family. 1
the meantime [ enclose you a copy {
her last will and testament, to persu
at your leisure"
: "What interest does he think l tax
! in Mrs. Clements will?" thought Della
: but she read, nevertheless:
r Being of sound mind, this 10th day {
: June IS, 1, Della Rogerson Clemen
1 do hereby leave one hundred dollar
+. to each of my cousins; and l bequeath
!, the residue of my property tnirt
2 thousand dollars invested in the lingo
2 Mining company, fifty thousand dollar
; IN United States bonds, twenty thousan
/ in the Fortune Flannel mills, and m
! jewels to the beloved niece of my frs
. husband, John Rogerson, Della Roger
2 son, of Croftsborough, Maine.
' ''FOr was a stranger and We took m
| IN; hungry, and We fed me; sick, an
: We mlnistered unto me-"
Goodness alivem cried the neighbour
S when the facts reached their ear
/ what a profitable thing it is to tax
, boardersI Everybody in town will
: trying it. OF course Steve Langdon wi
: come and marry her, if she were fort
4 old maids. You may stick a PIN i
there!"
Della did not open her house to board
ers the next season. She found enoug
l to do in looking after her money an
spending it; in replying to letters froE
INDECENT people, who scanned to increas
l alarmingly; in receiving old friends
i q.