, 1881-11-11

weat to bed hungry that her mother and
Mrs. Clement might enjoy enough,
without there appearing to be Just
pattern" At Christmas, however, came
a ray of sunshine for Della. in the shape
of ii hundred-dollar bill from an IN
known 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 Della's
dead"
I'VE are not sure she's dead, objected
Della.
"Horrorsl Don't you know whether
Your own aunt is'dead or allve?' asked
Mrs. Clement.
TT 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 III inherit her beauty with the
name, though she was only our great
uncle's wife"
"She ought to be doing something for
you" -
blame her, anyway. Her money Is her
own tO use according to her pleasure.
Uncle John made it himself and gave 1t
to her"
But if she should come back to
YOU, having run through with 1t, you'd
divide your last crust with her, Ill be
bound"
u suppose l should, replied Della
The winter wore away as winters will,
and the miracles of spring began in fields
and Uayside; aud Delia's boarders re-
turned 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 forthcoming 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 thought of the morrow.
81 must hear from my man-of-busl-
ness tomorrow, Della; l am knee
deep in debt to you,' she began one
night
"Dont mention it," cried Della. ''I'd
rather never see cent of it than have
you take it to heart. You are well
come 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, and put
another stick on the fire, please. 1t
grows chilly, doesn't it. You might kiss
me just once, if you wouldn't mind. It's
a hundred years or so since anyone
kissed me-"
And next morning when Della carried
up Mrs. Clements breakfast, her board
er lay cold and still upon the pillows"
ha fi,.gt oh n
the lawyer of whom she had heard Mrs.
Clement speak as having charge of her
affairs, begging him to notify that lady's
relatives, If she had any. In reply Mr..
Willis wrote: 1.-The late Mrs. Clements
appears to have no near relatives. Some
distant cousins, who have an abundance
of this worlds goods, yet served her
shabbily when she tested their generos-
ity as she has tried yours, are all that
remain of her family. In the meantime
enclose you copy of her last will and
testament, to peruse at your leisuie."
''What interest does he think take in
Mrs. Clements will," thought Della;
but she read, nevertheless:
Being of sound mind this the 18th day
of June, 18-, I, Della Rogerson Glenn
ent, do hereby leave one hundred dollars
to each of my cousins; and l bequeath
the residue of my property, wing -vtrr-s,--
thousand dollars invested in tie Ingot
Mining Company, fifty thousand dollars
IN United States bonds, twenty thousand
in the Fortune Flannel mills, and my
Jewels, to the beloved niece of my first
husband. John Rogerson. Della Roger
son, of Croftsborough. Maine.
"For l was a stranger and We took me
in; hungry, and ye fed me; sick, and ye
ministered unto me-"
Goodness aliveI' cried the neighbors,
when the facts reached their ears. 'What
profitable thing it is to take boarders.
Everybody 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 therep'
Della did not open her house TO
boarders the next season. She found
enough to do in looking after her money
and spending it; in replying to letters
from INDECENT people, who seemed to in
crease alarmingly;. in receiving old
friends, who suddenly found time to re
member her existence. And sure
enough, among the rest appeared Steve
Langdon, and all the village said; 81
told you So"
Its not my fault that You and I are
single yet, Della" he said.
And we are too old to think of it
now, Steve"
Nonsense! It's never too late to
mend. I'm not rich, Della, but I've
enough for two and to spare"
AZ wouldn't be contented not to drive
in my carriage and have servants under
me now" laughed Della.
Indeed! Then perhaps you have a
better match in view. Captain Seymour
asked me, by the way, if 1 had come to
interfere with Squire Jones interest"
"Yes. Squire Jones proposed to me
last week."
Now, see here, Della. Have l come
all the way from Melbourne on a fools
errand ? There l was growing used TO
my misery and loneliness, when the mail
brings in letter in a strange hand,
which tells me that my dear love, Della
Rogerson, loves and dreams of me still,
is poor and alone. and needs me-mei
And the letter is signed by her aunt,
Mrs. Clement, who ought to know. 1
packed my household goods and came"
I'm glad that you did"
''In order that 1 may congratulate
Squire Jones ?"
''But L haven't accepted him. In fact,
I've refused him-because-"
Because you will marry your old
love like the lass in tha snDp nalia 2n