The Worthington advance., 1881-11-10

A. =. lEILLEB,
Editor and Proprietor.
TAXING BOARDERS.
1T was o scandal" the neighbors said
that Miss Della should be obliged to take
boarders, after all she'd been through; and
heaven knows boarders did not helpa body
to work out her salvation. And SO much
money in the family, too, taking it by small
and large. Wasn't ber Uncle Eben, over
at Dover, well-to-do, and not chick of his
own to care for, except the boy he had
adopted, who was no credit to him? 1t
was odd, now, that a i4-.-u ~,>- poor ra,a-
tions should take to u stranger when his own
flesh and blood was needy; but sometimes
it does seem as it folks had more feeling
for others than for their own kith and kin.
Then there were cousins in the city, FORE
handed and fashionable. who were never
worth row of pins to Della, and there was
her great uncle Johns widow a-larkin on
the continent, a-gaming at Baden. Baden,
and trying the waters Of every mineral
spring in the three kingdoms, for no disease
under the sun but old age. She had been
known to say that her folks were too rich
already, and probably she would endow
some hospital with her property" Plainly,
wealthy relatives were Of no value to Miss
Della. TO be sure, she had never seen her
great aunt niece since she was q child,
when her Uncle John had brought her in
to their simple life for months visit, with
her French maid and dresses, her Jewels
and fallals, which won tho heart of her
namesake. Since then Uncle Johns widow
had become sort of gilded creation. always
young and beautiful; for, though Della had
received little gifts from time to ii ne across
the seas for the last fifteen years, she had
neither heard nor seen of the being who
had inspired her youthful imagination, and
was puite uncertain if such a person as Mrs.
John Rogerson was in the land Of the liv-
ing. Dead or alive, she seemed to have
made no material difference to Delia's hum
drum life. After having nursed her father
through long sickness, Della found that
he had left heavy mortgage on the home
stead, and her mother and herself OH the
high road to the poor house, unless they
bestir themselves. As her mother was al.
ready bedrldden, the stirring naturally fell
upon Della, and she advertised for summer
boarders:
Good board in the country to the riverside,
at seven dollars q week. Large chambers,
broad piazzas, fine views, berries and new
milk One mile from the station, Address
DELLA RoGERsoN,
Cr0ftsbOrOugh, Maine.
''Cheap enough! commented an elderly
lady who happened upon it. Della Rog-
erson. An old maid. suppose, obliged to
look out for herself. I've good mind to
try her broad piazzas and new milk. If I
don't like it, there'll be no harm done."
And so Delia's first boarde- arrived an
old lady with false front hair, brown,
wrinkled skin, faded eyes. q black alpaca
gown and hair trunk. Della made her as
lighted fire in Mrs. Clements room, as
the night was damp, and brought out her
dsntiest cup and saucer, with the fAde]ess
old roses wreathing them. "Wonderfully
kind" reflected Mrs. Clement, as she
conlbes out her whisps OF gray hair and
contidedthe false front to q box. "Wonder-
full kindness for seven dollars Il week!
She's new TO the trade. She'll learn better
Human nature doesn't change with ATTITUDES.
She'll find it doesn't pay to consider the
the comfort OF a poverty stricken old crea-
ture." But in spite of her worldly wisdom
Mrs. Clement was forced to confess that
Delia had begun as she ment to hold out,
though other boarders came to demand her
attention, to multiply her cares. The fret
and jar of ofconhicting temperaments under
her roof was q new experience to Della.
When Mrs Griscame complained of the
were responsible for their creation; of tn
flies, as # they were new acquaintances; of
want of appetite, as though Delia had
agreed to supply it along with berries and
new milk; of the weather, as if she had
pledged herself there would be no sudden
changes to annoy her boarders; o: the shabby
house and antique furniture, too old for
comfort and not old enough for fashion,
then Della doubted If taking in boardera
was her mission. "What makes you keep
us, my dear?" asked Mrs. Clement, after
day when everything and everybody had
seemed to go wrong. why didn't you
over marry? You had lover. I dare say?'
Yes; a long, long time ago."
"Feli me about him-it?"
"Theic isn't much to tell. He asked me
to marry HIM. He was going to Australia
couldn't leave father and mother yon
know (they were both feeble), and he
couldn't stay here. That's all"
And you-you-"
:" Now all men beside ere to me like
shadows
And have you heard of him since?;
yes. He wrote; but where was the use?
1t could never come to anything. Il was
better for him to forget me and marry.
was millstone about his neck. I didn't
answer his letter.
And supposing he should return some
dly, would you marry him?"
Il dare say" laughed Della, gently, as if
the idea were familiar "let the neighbors
laugh ever SO wisely, I've thought of it
sometimes, sitting alone, when the worl !
was barren ard comm onplace. One must
have recreation of some kind. you know.
Everybody requires a little romance, a lit
tic poetry, to flavor every day thinking and
doing. I'm afraid you think ME silly old
maid, Mrs. Clement.
"No. The heart never grows old. The
skin shrive]s, the color departs. the eyes
fade, the features grow pinched; but the
soul is heir Of eternal youth-it is as beau
tiful at fourscore as al sweet 2O' Time
makes amends for ravaees of the body BY
developing the spirit. You didn't tell me
your lovers name. Perhaps you would
rather not.
His name was Stephen Langdon. Some
times Captain Seymour runs against him in
Melbourne, and brings me word how he
looks and what he is doing; though never
ask, and Stephen never asks for me that l
can hear"
Delia's summer boarders were not sue
cess, to be sure. If they took no money
out of her pocket, they put none in. She
was obliged to exc out her support by copy
ing. for Lawyer Dunmore and embroiderine
for Mrs. Judge Dorr. One b. ono her
boafders dropped away like autumn leaves;
all but old Mrs. Clement.
II believe I'll stay on" she said. I'm
getting too old to move often. Perhaps
you take winter boarders at reduced rates.
Eh?"
DO you think my terms high?"
BY no means. But when ones purse is
low"
Yes; know. Do stay at your own price.
can't spare you" She had grown such a
fondness for the old lady that to refuse,he1
It her own terms would have seemed like
1rA A{SArp hAvr> -