Richland beacon., 1881-12-10

| dom. Mrs. Clement was forced 10 con-
fess that Della had begun as she meant
to hold out, though other boarders came
to demand her attention, to multiply
her cares. The fret and jar Of co nfiict-
ing temperaments under her roof was
new experience Of Della. When Mrs.
tiresome complained of the mosquitoes,
sith an air as if Miss Rogerson We're re-
iponsible for their creation; of the flies,
Is if they were new acquaintances; of
want of appetite, as though Della 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;
Of tie shabby house and antiquated fur
niture, "too old for comfort and not old
enough for fashion, Della doubted
if taking boarders was her mission.
What makes YOU keep us. nv dear?"
asked Mrs. Clement, after day when
everything and everybody had seemed
to go wrong. "Why didn't you ever
marryi You had lover, dare say?"
"Yes; 4; a long, long time ago."
"Tell me about him-it?"
"There isn't much to tell. He asked
me tomarry him. He was going to Aus
tralia. 1 couldn't leave father and
mother, yOuknow (they were both feeble)
and he couldn't stay here. That's all. >"
"And you-you-
Now all men beside are to me like
| shadows.'"
"And you have never heard of him
since?"
Eyes. He wrote but where was the
hsc? 1t could never come to anything.
I; WIS better for him to forget me and
marry. was a milestone about his neck
| didn't answer his letter.
"And supposing he should return
some day, would you marry him?"
II 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 world WIS barren and common
place. One must have recreation Of
some kind, you know. Everybody re-
quires little romance, little poetry, to
flavor everyday thinking and doing. I'm
afraid you think me a silly old maid,
Mrs. Clement"
"No. The heart never grows old
The skin shrivels, thu color departs, the
eyes fade, the features grow pinched
but the soul is heir of eternal youth
it is as beautiful at four-score as
at sweet 90 Time makes amends for
| the ravages of the body by developing
| the spirit. You didn't tell me your low
er's name. Perhaps you would rather
not"
| Ills name was Stephen LangdOn.
Sometimes Capt. Seymour runs against
him in Melbourne, and brings me word
how he looks and what he is doing !;
though 1 never ask, and Stephen never
asks for me, that can hear.
Delias summer boarders were not a
success, 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 copying for Lawyer Dun
more and embroidering for Mrs. Judge
Dorr. One by one her boarders dropped
away like autumn leaves; all but old
Mrs. Clement.
81 believe I'll stay on" she said.
"I'm getting too old to move often.
Perhaps you take winter boarders at re-
dnced rates. Eh?"
"Do you think my terms high?"
"By no means. But when ones purse
is low"
"Ies; know. Do stay at your Owl
price. 1 can't spare you"
She had grown such fOndness for the
old lady that to refuse her at her own
terms would have seemed like turning
her own mother ont of doors beside,
| ohC Aue'tC "Outu Dht
she found it hard to make both ends
meet, and often went to bed hungry
that her mother and Mrs. Clement might
enjoy enough. without there appearing
to be "just pattern" At Christmas,
however, came q ray of sunshine for
Della, in the shape of a 800 bill from
an unknown friend.
ct can't be meant for me, she c: led.
cts directed to Della Rogerson,"
said her mother; "and there's nobody
else of that name, now that your Aunt
| Delia's dead"
1--WE are not sure she's dead" OBJ
jected Della
Horrors Don't you know whether
your own aunt is dead or alive?" asked
Mrs. Clement, in shocked tone.
"It isn't our fault. She is rich and
lives abroad. I was named for her.
used TO look in the glass and try to be-
lieve I'd inherit her beauty with the
name, though she was only our great
uncle's wife"