The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-04-05
MRS. SNAPWELL'S BOARDkR.

'Heared about the old Buttonwood
Place a-being sold?" inquired Mrs. Spar
rowgi ass, who was spending the day
with the Widow Snapwell.
1.-The Buttonwood Place? No! Wal,
that is news! Who bought it?' queried
the widow, eagerly. as she carefully
basted frill of Spanish lace in she neck
of her new polonaise.
why, a man named Flowerdale. they
say. And he's a-goin to repair it up,
Nathan Scudderses wife says. Must be
awful rich if he does, for the old house
is putty we'll run down. It's good
farm, though. Mr.. Sparrowgrass thinks
it's The best one in the hull Big River
Bottom"
The new purchase furnished a sniff
cient subject of conversation till supper
was over, and Mrs. Sparrowgrass had
rolled up her knitting. donned her shawl
and worsted hood, and taken her depar-
ture, with many injunctions from her
hostess to be sure and come back
again" After which, Mrs. Snapwell fell
into brown study over the new polo
naise, while her pretty niece Eustachia
gathered up the tea-things, and gave Sy
Hodges, the hired man, his supper in the
kitchen.
''Put away them crulls and the black
berry-jel first" commanded the widow.
''Sogrum ,merlasses and ginger cake is
good enough for a hired handr
Eyes, it must be him that put in the
advertisement for country board" she
pondered going back to her sewing. Its
the very same name-Flowerdale-
he wants to git board som'ers in the Big
River Bottom. OF course, it's him!"
"a bachelor, the advertisement says.
Prob'bly forty five or fifty years old.
Wal, I'm on the shady side of thirty
myself, and think I'll answer it. It's
about the only chance for lone woman
like me 10 earn an honest penny" she
added, her gray eyes Frightening at the
prospect before her. "I'il answer the
advertisement right off, she declared
"and if he comes, IL can fix the spare bed
room for him TO sleep In. And I'll have
Sy Hedges put mp some more shelves in
the buttery, to set the milk and butter
on It'll take up too much of Eustachia's
time to be a-running out to the spring
house after EN-. Sy is a mighty good
hand to FIX up things, though l hev to
complain and grumble as If he didn't
arm his salt, or he'd be a-wantin' more
wages"
Whatever may have been the Widow
Spapwell's faults, procrastination was
not one of them, and her plans we're soor
carried into effect.
Mr.. Flowerdale had engaged the room
paving months rent in advance, and
Sy Hedges had put mp the shelves in the
buttery, for the accommodation of the
milk and butter.
Sy slept in the top of the house.
"It's mighty cold mp there, these
nights" he confded to Eustachis, as hs
stopped at the stove one morning, when
she was baking griddle-cakes for break
fast.
But the widow was in the pantry in.
spectinQ the plum preserves, IN honor o.
the expected boarder, and her sharp ear
had caught the mans words.
mighty cold, is it?" she snapped out
tartly. "I'll warrant faint patchin Il
what you've been used to, Sy Hedges
and / don't want none of your sassr'
"And you are as much to blame as he
il. miss, she continued, as Mr.. Hedges
slipped out of the kitchen door, with tn,
tin milk pail in his hand. You arr
allus . talkiu' to him, and encouragin
his impudence,
CT didn't say anything, aunt. STAN
mered EustAchia, blushing confusedly
- she thought how frequently she hat
talked 10 Sy, and remembered the admir-
ING chances that had lurked in his homes
brown eyes.
And in truth it was not strange i
Eussachias soft little heart was sligbtly
touched by the owner OF the brown eyes
for she hal small chance OF falling IL
love with anyone else. -,
"You hain't got time to be a-gallivan
lin about WITH beaux,' declared me-
aunt. And il you had, l wouldn't he'
'em a-foolin' around here. Poor giril
lie you hsd hst<sr sttsnd 70 their work
and & Providencs wants EN- TO marry