The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-09-28

"How can she If she's dead? I don't
blame her, anyway. Her money is her
own, to use according to her pleasure.
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"
"I suppose I 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 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 growing
more feeble daily, needed the luxuries
of an invalid and the attention of
nurse, both of which Della bestowed
upon her, without taking thought for
the morrow.
ct must hear from my man-of-busi-
ness tomorrow, Della; I'm knee-deep
in debt to you," she began one night.
OOu ~ CIl6u O6llds
"Pd rather never see cent of it than
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,
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 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 pill
lows.
The first shock over, Della wrote to
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:
"The late Mrs. Clement appears to
have no near relatives. Some dis
tant cousins, who have an abundance
of this worlds goods, yet served her
shabbily when she tested their generosi-
ty, as she has tried yours, are all that
remain of her family. In the meantime
inclose you copy of her last will and
testament, to peruse at your leisure"
"What interest does he think 1 take
in Mrs. Clements WILL" thought Della
but read, nevertheless:
"Being of sound mind, this 10Th day
of June, 18-, I, Della Rogerson Gle
ment, do hereby leave one hundred
dollars to each of my cousins; and
1 bequeath the residue of my
property--viz., thirty thousand dollars
invested in the Ingot Mining company,
fifty thousand dollars in United States
bonds, twenty thousand in Fortune
Flannel mills, and my jewels, to the
beloved niece of my first husband, John
Rogerson, Della Rogerson, of Crofts-
borough, Maine"
For I was stranger, and ye took
me in, hungry, and ye fed me; sick and
ye ministered unto me-"
Goodness alive !" cried the neigh
bors, when the facts reached their ears.
"What profitable thing it is to take
boarders OF course Steve Langdon
will come and marry her, if she were
forty old maids. You may stick a 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 increase alarmingly; in re-
ceiving old friends, who suddenly found
L Lo,,
sure enough, among the rest appeared
Steve Langdon, and all the village said,
81 told you So"
"It's not my fault that you and 1 are
single yet, Delia," he said.
"And we are too old to think of it
now, Steve"
"Nonsensel It's never too late too
mend. I'm not rich, Della, but I've
enough for two and to spare"
al wouldn't be contented not to
drive in my carriage and have servants
under me noW," laughed Della.
"Indeed Then perhaps you have
better match in view. Captain Sey-
mour asked me, by the way, if I 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 a FOOLS
errand? There was growing used to
my misery and loneliness, when the
mail brings in a 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
meme And the letter is signed by
her aunt, Mrs. Clement, who ought to
know. packed my household goods
and came"
"Tm glad that you did"
"In order that 1 may congratulate
Squire Jones%
"But 1 haven't accepted him. In
fact I've refused him.-because-"
because you will marry your old
Il