The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-11-26
TAKING BOARDERS.
The independents

at was a scandal" the neighbors said
that Miss Della should be obliged to take
boarders, after all she d been through; and
Heaven knows boarders did not help a body
to work out her salvation. And so much
money in the family. too, taking it by small
and large. Wasn't her uncle Eben, over at
Dover well-tO-dO, and not a chick of his
own to care for, except the boy he had
adopted, who was no credit to him? 1t was
odd, now, that a man with poor relations
should take to a stranger wnen his own flesh
AID blood was needy; but sometimes il does
seem as if folks had more feeling for others
than for their own kith and kin. Then
there were cousins In the city, fJrehanded
and fashionable, who were never worth a
row of pins to Della. and there was her great
uncle Johns widow a-larkin on the Cont
nent, a-gaming at Baden Baden, and trying
the waters OF every mineral spring in the
three Kingdoms, fo- no disease under
the but old age. She had
been known to say that her folks
were too rich already, and probably she
~ould endOw some hospital with her prop
erty." Plainly, wealthy relatives were of
no value to MI Della. To be sure, she had
never seen her great aunt niece since she
was a child. when her uncle John had
brought her into their simple life for a
months visit. with her French maid and
dresses, her Jewels and fallals, which won
the heart of her namesake. Since then
uncle Johns widow had become sort OF a
glded creation. always young ana beauti-
full; for though Della had received little
gifts from time to time across the seas for
the last fifteen years. she had neither heard
nor seen anything of the being who had in
spired her youthful imagination, and was
quite uncertain if such a person as Mrs.
John ROgerson was in the land of the living.
Dead or alive. she seemed to have made no
material difference to Dellas humdrum
life. After having nursed her father through
long sickness, Della found that he had
left a heavy mortgage on the homestead,
and her mother and herself on the high
road to the poor house, unless they should
bestir themselves. As her mother was al
ready bedridden, the stirring naturally fell
upon Della and she advertised for summer
bOarders
Good board in the country to the riverside. at
s7a week. Large chambers. broad piszzas fine
views. berries and new milk. One mile from the
station. Address, DELLA ROGERsON,
Croftsborough, Maine.
Cheap enough" commented an elderly
lady who happened upon it. "Della Rog-
erson. An old maid, | suppose. Obliged to
look out for herself. I've good mind to
try her broad piaZZas and new milk. III
don't like il there II be no harm done"
And so Delas first boarder arrived-an
old lady with false front hair, brown,
wrinkled skin faded ayes black alpaca
gown and a hair trunk. Della made her as
welcome as if she had been Duchess;
lighted wood fire in Mrs. Clements room,
as the night was damp, and brought out her
dantiest cup and saucer, with the fadeless
old roses wreathing them. Wonderfully
kind reflected Mrs. Clement, asshe combed
out her wisps of gray hair and confided the
false front 10 a box. Wonderful kindness
for 81 week. She's new to the trade. She'll
hatt
doesn't change with ATTITUDES. She'll
find it doesn't pay to consider the
comfort of a poverty -stricken old creature"
But in spite of her worldly wisdom, Mrs
Clement was forced to confess that Della had
begun as she meant to hold out, though
other bOarders came to demand her atten-
ton, to multiply her cares. The fret and
Jar of conflicting temperaments under her
roof was new experience of Della. When
Mrs Gresome com planned of the mosquitoes,
with an air as if Miss Rogerson were re-
sponsble for their creation; of the flies, as
If they were new acquaintance; of want OF
appetite, as though Della had agreed to sup
ply it along with berries and new milk; of
the weather as if she had pledged herself
there would be no sudden changes to annoy
her boarders: of the shabby house and anti
quated furniture, too old for comfort and
not old enough for fashion'--then Della
doubted if taking bOarders was her mission.
what makes you keep us, my DEAR?
asked Mrs. Clement after day when every
thing and everybody had seemed to GO
wrong "Why didn't you ever marry? You
had lover, l dare say?'
Yes; long, long time ago.
''Tell me about him-it"'
There isn't much to tell. He asked me
to marry him. He was going to Australia
/ couldn't leave father and mother you
know (they were both feeble) and he
couldn't stay here. That's all"
"And you-you-'
"'Now all men beside are 10 me like
shadows"
"And have you never heard of him
since?"
Yes. He wrote; but where was the use
IT could never come to anything. 1t wa
better for him TO forget me and marry.
was a milestone about his neck. / didn'
answer his letter"
And supposing he should return SOM
day, would you marry himY
Il dare say" laughed Della, gently, as
the idea were familiar, let the neighbOr
laugh ever so wisely I've thought of !
sometimes sitting alone, when the worl'
was barren and commonplace. One mus
have recreation of some kind, you know
Everybody requires a little romance, httl
poetry to flavor everyday thinking an
doing Pm afraid you think me silly oil
maid, Mrs. Clement"
mo The heart never grows old. TIL
fade. the features grow pinched; but tn
soul is heir of eternal youth-it is as beau
tiful at fourscore at sweet twenty.
Time makes amends for the ravages of tn
body by developing the spirit You didn
tell me your lovers name. Perhaps yO
would rather not.
His name was Stephen Langdon. Some
times Captain Seymour runs against him
NeIbourne and brings me word how
looks and what he is doing though neve
ask. and Stephen never asks for me that
can hear
Delia's summer boarders were not SUI
cess. TO be sure. If they took no money OF
of her pocket, they put none IN: She wa
Obliged to exc out her support bv copyin
for LAWYER Dunmore and cmbrOidering fC
Mrs. Judge Dorr. One by one her boarde
dropped away like autumn leaves; all bl
old Mrs. Clement
81 believe Ill stay on, she said. III
aettine too old to move often. Pe1hal
Won take winter boarders at reduced rate
Ehg'
s.Do you think my terms high
.By no means. BIT when ones purse
low"
ives: know. Do stay at your ow
nrice I can't spare YOU" She had grow
sncb fondness for the old lady that to r