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

fuse her at her own terms would have seem
ed like turning her own mother out of doors
! besides, one month more would not signify
But she found it hard to make both end
meet and often went to bed hungry tina
her mother and Mrs. Clement might enjoy
enough, without their appearing to DE jus
| a pattern" AT Christmas, however, came
ray of sunshine for Della, in the shape of 6
hundred-dOllar bill from an unknown
friend.
1T can't be meant for me-" she cried.
Its directed to Della ROgerson." SAID
her mother; land there's nobody else OF
that name, now that your Aunt Delia's
| dead"
I'VE are not sure she's dead" objected
Della.
Horrors! Don't you know whether your
own aunt is dead or alive?" asked Mrs. Gle
ment, IN a shocked tone.
cit isn't our fault. She is rich and lives
abroad. was named for her. | used tU
| look in the glass and try to believe I'd in
herlt her beauty with the name, though she
was only our great-uncies wife"
''She ought to be doing something for
| you?r
"How can she, if she is dead? / don't
blame her. anyway. Her money is her
own 10 use according to her pleasure. Uncle
John made it himself and gave it to her."
But If she should come back TO you,
4
your last crust with her, I'll be bound.
Il suppose | should" replied Della.
The winter wore away, as winters will,
and the miracles of spring began in fields
and wayside; and Delia's boarders returned
with the June roses, and dropped away with
the falling leaves, and still Mrs. Clements
stayed on and on. Just now she had been
some weeks in arrears with her reduced
board. No money had been forthcoming
for some time, and she was growing more
feeble daily needed the luxures of an in
valid ard the attention of nurse, both of
which Della bestowed upon her, without
taking thought of the morrow.
Il must hear from my man-Of- business to-
morrow. Della; I'm knee-deep in debt to
you" she began one night.
Don't mention it, cried Della. I'D
rather never see cent of it than have you
take il to heart. You are welcome 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 ii you were my own flesh
and blood There. turn down the light,
please. 1t grows chilly, dOen't it? You
might kiss me just once, if you wouldn't
mind Its hundred years or so since any
one kissed me-"
And next morning when Della carried up
Mrs. Clements breakfast, her boarder lay
cold and still upon the pillows.
lawyer of whom she ha 1 heard Mrs Clement
speak as having charge of her affairs, beg
ing him TO notify the lady's relatives, If she
had any. In reply Mr. Willis wrote: THE
late Mrs. Clement appears to have no near
relatives. Some distant cousins, who have
an abundance OF this world goods yet
served her shabbily when she tested their
generosity as she has tried yours, are all
that remain of her family. in the mean
time enclose you copy OF her last will
and testament, to peruse at your leisure
What interest does he think | take in
Mrs Clements will?' thought Della; but
she read, nevertheless:
Being of sound mind. this 10TH day of June
Is l. Della * Dserson Clement do hereby leave
one hundred dollars TO each of my lusins; and
bequeathe the residue Of my property. viz: thirty
thousand dollars invested i'll the IngOt Mining
ompany, fifty thousand dollars ia United States
bonds, twenty thousand in the Fortune Flannel
Mills. and my jewels. to the beloved niece of my
first husband. John RogersOn Della Rogerson, of
''For l was a stranger and We took me in;
hungry, and ye fed me; sick, and we ministered
unto me =
Goodness alivel'' 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 and marry her. if
she were forty old maids. You may stick
pin in there
Dcild ala not open nef mouse 10 DodruelS
the next season. She found enough to do in
looking after her money and spending it; in
replying 10 letters from INDECENT people, who
seemed to increase alarmingly; in receiving
old friends VINO suddenly found time to re-
member her existence. And sure enough,
among the rest appeared Steve Langdon,
and all the village said: Il told yOq So"
Its not my fault that you and | are single
yet, Della" he said
nd vi ara too old m tbink Of n Oow
Steve"
Nonsense. It's never too late to mend.
I'm not rich, Della, but I've enough for two
and to spare.
Il wouldn't be contented not to drive in
my carriage and have servants under me
now" laughed Della.
"Irdeed Then perhaps you have bet
Ter match in view. Capt. Seymour asked
me, by the way, if | had come to interfere
with Squire Jones interest"
"Yes. Squire Jones proposed to me last
week.
Now, see here. Della. Have I come all
the way from Melbourne on fools Grand?
There was growing used to my misery and
loneliness when the mail brings in a letter
in strange hand, which tells me that my
dear love, Della ROgerson, loves and dreams
of me still, is poor and alone, and needs me
mel And the letter is signed by her aunt,
Mrs. Clement, who ought to know
packed my household goods and came"
I'm glad that you did"
''ln order that may congratulate Squire
Jones'"
But / haven't accepted him. In fact,
I've refused him-because-"
Because you will marry your own love-
like the lass in the song DeliaY"
In CrOfstborough people are not yet tired
of telling how a woman made money by
taking boarders.-Independen