The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-11-05
.she ought TO do something tor you. /"

"How can she, ii she is desd3 dom
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 tn you, hav
ing run through with it, you'd divide your
last crust with her, III be bound"
II suppose | should" replied Della.
The winter wore away as winters viii, ana
the miracles of spring began in fields ana
wayside; and Delias boarders returned win
the June roses, and dropped away again with
the fading leaves aud still Mrs. Clement stayed
on and on Just now She had been some weeks
in arrears with her reduced board. The mon
ey 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,
II must hear from my manor business To
morrow, Della. I'm In ,edecp in debt to you,
she began one night.
Don't mention it," cried Della, nd rath
er never see cent than have you take II u
| heart You are welcome 10 stay and share
potluck with us; you are such company loi
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. II grows
ICnlllV, uOtSut II! 1Ou MSS nv j.
once If YOU wouldn't mind. It's a hundred
years or so since any one kissed me-"
! And next morning, when Della carried W
Mrs, Clements breakfast, her boarder lay cold
and stiff uron her pillows.
The first shock oyer, Della wrote to the law
yer OF whom she had heard Mrs. Clement
speak as having charge of her affairs, begging
him to notify that lady's relatives, If she hac
any, In reply Mr.. Willis wrote:
"The la;e Mrs. Clement appears to have hac
no near relatives Some distant cousins, who
have an abundance OF this worlds goods, ye
served her shabbily when she tested their gene
rosity as she tried yours, are all that remain
her family. In the meantime | enclose you
copy of her last will and testament, to perus'
at your leisure
what interest does he think take in Mrs
Clements WIFI" thought Della; but she read
nevertheless:
"Being of sound mind, this 10th day o
ID une, 1S-, /, Della Rogerson Clement, d.
thereby leave 800 to each of my cousins; an(
| bequeath the residue of my property-viz.
$50, 900 invested in the lngot Mining Com
psny, $4,000 in United States bonds, ,0O'
IN the Fortune Flannel Mills, and my jewel
to the beloved niece Of my first husband
John Rogerson, Della Rogerson, of Croits
borough, Me. tG5
"For was stranger and we took me in
hungry, and ye fed me; sick, and ye minister
+ ed unto me-"
Goodness aive! cried the neighbors, whel
the facts reached their ears. what profit
able thing it is to take boarders! Everybod.
I'm town will be trying it. or course Stew
Langdou will come and marry her II she wer
forty old maids. You may stick pin ii
ithere!'
Della did not open her house to boarder
the next season She found enough to do il
looking alter her money and spending il; II
replying to letters from INDECENT people, whit
seemed to increase alarmingly; in receiving
{ old friends, who suddenly found time to re
member her existence And, sure enough
among the rest appeared Steve Langdon, ant
all the village said, 81 told you So"
"Its not my fault that you and are singh
yet, Della" he said.
And we are too old to think of 1t now
Steve"
Nonsense! It's never too late TO mend
I'm not rich, Della, but I've enough for tw'
and to spare"
II wouldn't be contented not to drive IN m,
|carrlage and have servants under me now,
, laughed Della.
Indeed! Then perhaps you have bette
match in view. Capt. Seymour asked me, b.
the way, if had come TO Interfere witt
( Squire Jones's interest" "
Eyes. Squire Jones proposed to me las
week."
Now, SEQ here, Della, have come all tn
way from Melbourne on FOOLS errand T? Their
was growing used to my misery and lone
illness, when the mail brings IN q letter IN
strange hand, which tells me that my dea
love, Della Rogerson, loves and dreams OF IN
}, still, is poor and alone and needs me! AM
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"
an order that may congratulate SOUR
Jones?"
but haven't accepted him. In fact Nv
) refused him-because-"
, because you will marry your old love, lik
the lass in the song, Della?"
|. In Croftsborough people are not yet tired {
r telling now woman made money by takin
boarders.