Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-09-22


night
Edgar Fasccett, in Atlantic Monthly.
BOARDING. HOUSE ROMANCE.
We have had romance in our board
ing-house. Charley and I are fond of
them, and scent them out, I may say,
long before the matter-of-fact people
think of such q thing. You see, we
had one of our own-comical, tragical,
wonderful, but resulting happily. For,
here we are, middle-aged folks, in the
first heyday of love and its sweetness,
and likely to linger here-since we
starved so long for each other we can
never quite make up the lost days. It
gives us tender and wondering inter-
est In lovers. We have not a shadow
of reason for doubling their truth and
their trials, since we must measure
them by our own standard.
We have been married five years, and
do not "keep house." Charles bust
ness calls him from place to place, and
as we are only happy when together, /
am content to live an Arab life with
him. Indeed, like it for itself.
In those long years, when he seemed
lost to me, / had to take up the lives of
others, and I have formed the habit of
always looking about me for some sor-
row or some JOY can share or bless.
Every place where there is a human
being has an interest for me, and soon
becomes a home. The only drawback
is the breaking up each time, and the
leaving those whose heart life has
touched mine. But at this rate I will
never get to my story.
We came here last December. Such
q time as we had that dreary day,
climbing dirty marble steps, and wait
ing at tardy doors or in dingy parlors
We have come to know the aspect of a
good boarding house pretty well, and
it seemed we we're not to find one in all
Philadelphia.
But late in the afternoon We were
shown into the large yet cozy parlor of
this old-fashioned house, and I knew,
as soon as | looked at Charles face,
that we were suited. We have never
regretted our acceptance of the situa-
ton. We took possession of our " third
story from" /" that very hour, and fol-
lowed Mrs. Jarvey to the tea-table as
though we belonged there.
There is good-sized family of us.
The Betons, the Burtors and the
Browns come down from some mysteri-
GUS regions above us-very nice young
couples, the three, just beginning the
world. The Aliens have the second
story and the only children in the house.
The back corridor turns out some five or
six yourg clerks, an artist. newspaper
man, and an old bachelor who lives on
his means.
The third story back-next to our
room-is now empty. 1t is the nest
from which the romance has just taken
fight with its moving cause-Miss
Atheling. It was empty when we came.
and for week later; then I heard signs
of occupation.
Mrs Jarvey is one of the people every
one takes an interest in, and who claims
that interest. She came into me that
morning, with her round, still-girIish-
at-sixty, face all aglow and smiling
plaeidly.
6 I declare, am a lucky woman" she
safe. do you hear that, Mrs. Smith Z
have let the room for good price to
Miss Atheling rich Miss Atheling,
who has been at 1916, you know. She's
very pretty, really You like pretty girls,
don't you? I've noticed it"
81 think you notice everything, Mrs.
Jarvey." said. laughing-for she does
-" but you are quite right. I do like
pretty girls. and handsome men, and
everything beautiful, or grand, or noble
looking. Like them too much, fear. y
"Then you must have noticed young
Welleston," said Mrs. Jarvey. "He sits
at the far end of the table from you, but
he is handsome and grand and noble
looking, all three-and awfully shabby
looking, poor fellow"
Now, Charlie and had noticed him
at our first breakfast, and had often
spoken Of him since. He was not al
ways, nor indeed, usually, present at
meals; and when he was, sat silent and
preoccupied, as though working away
mentally at the problem Of his future.
He was strikingly shabby, and, rarest
of all things, handsome ard grand
enough to shine it down. When he
rose to leav the room, as he always
did before rhe others, Charlie said be
! withdrew with the air of king little
towearied from the restraints of court
..etjrHette. not as five-dollar clerk hur-
Tying to his desk. ] was not little
pleased that Mrs. Jarvey mentioned
him, for was drawn to him in way
was sure meant he had trouble we
might tighten. The dear old lady wan
dered on in her simple, pretty, kindly
way until I knew all she did of his
past, present and future I was sorry
it could be summed up in so few words
He had come to her year previous
taken her smallest room, and gone on
as we saw him day after day, with nc
change and no Frightening OF his hard
lot.
II am sure, Mrs. Smith, he never has
Dne penny to spare, and how he is tc
manage about his clothes, [ do moi
know. I am ashamed to own how
carefully watch that coat, but then Il
is because I dread to see it giving way
And I think he is breaking down under
something more than hard work and
poor pay. He is heart-sick, you see
There's a girl in it, as sure as you liye.'
With that. she trotted ont as she hai
come In, blithe and sunshiny, and read,
for the next thing that might happsn D
with hearty smile.
/ sat at my desk and dreamed, as
will do. when / ought to be very busy
could believe there was q girl in 1t.
-L1