Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-04-05


eyes, a black alapaca 4 aslII 4 hair
trunk. Della made h6 81 welcome
ss il she had been 4 M lighted
FIRE in Mrs. Clemens au i tie
night was damp. and b fnt her
daintiest cup and sa viii TIE
fadeless old roses wlf Gains them.
Wonderfully kind aels Mrs
Clement, as she comba ss her wisp
OF gray hair and conf fla false
front to box, wond ksdness
for seven dollars d We She ! new
TO the trade. She's s.kesss
Human nafGfs GosEi cashaa
lattitudes. Shell iine it dessn S
TO consider the comfort Of 8
erty stricken old creature. Bu
spite Of her worldly wisdom,
Clement was forced to eonfeas
Della had begun as she meant 70
out, though other boarders came
demand her attention, to mnlssn
her cares. The fret and jar Of conf
ing temperaments under her roof
new experiences to Della. WhS
Mrs. Gresome complained Of the nc
quItoes with an air as IL Della was II
sponsible for their creation Of thN
aies, as If they were new acquai i
ances; of want of appetite, as thou
Della had agreed to supply it, alone
with berries and new milk; Of tha
weather, as if she had pledged her
self there should be no sudden
changes. to annoy her boarders; Sc
the shabby house and antiquated fne-
niture, too old for comfort and not
old enough for fashion" then Della
doubted If taking boarders was her
mission. What makes you keep a..
my dear?' asked Mrs. Clement, aftef
u day when everything and every.
body had seemed 10 90 wrong. "Why
didnt you ever marry? You had 1
lover, dare say r 81
/, Yes, a long, long time ago"
Tell me all about hint.
There isn't muchto tell. He ask
ed me to marry him He was going
to Australia. / couldn leave father
and mother (you know they were both
feeble) and he couldn't stay here.
That was all. /"
And you-you--"
Now all men besides are to me
like shadows"
And have yon heard of him
since?" 81
"Yes, he wrote, but whese was the
use2 1t could never come to anything.
1t was better for him to forget me and
marry. | was mill-stone about his
neck. did not answer h:s last let
ter"
''And suppOsing he shoald return
some day would you marry him.
Il dare say, laughed Della, gently,
as if the idea was familiar, ''Iet the
neighbors laugh ever so nicely. I've
thought OF it sometimes, sitting alone,
when the world was barren and com
mon-place. One must have recrea-
ton of some kind you know. Every
body requires little romance, a lit
tie poetry to flavor everyday think
ing and doing. I'm afraid you'll
think me a silly old maid, Mrs. Glenn
ent."
No, the heart never grows old.
The skin shriyels, the color departs
the eyes fade, the features grow pinch,
ed, but the soul is heir of eternal
youths as beautiful at four-scors
as at sweet sixteen and twenty.
Time makes amends for the rava-
ges of the body by developing the
spirit. You didn't tell me your loy-
er's name. Perhaps you would ratL-
er not.
His name was Stephen Langdon.
Sometimes Capt. Seymour runs against
hlm in Melbourn and brings me word
how he looks and what he iadoing
though | never ask, and Stephen
never asks for NE that / can hear"
Delia's summer boarders were not
a success, to be sure Ii they took
no money Out5of her pocket, they put
none IN. She was obliged 10 exc out
her support with copying for Lawyer
Dunmore and embroiderlng for Mrs.
Judge Dorr. One by one her board-
ers dropped away like the autumn
leaves, All but old Mrs. Clement.
Il believe Ill stay on, she said.
Il am 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 one )
purse is low
"Yes, / know. Do stay at your
own price. can ( spare you. She
had grown such fondness for the
old lady that TO refuse her at her own
terms would have seemed like turn
ing her own mother out Of doors, be-
side, one month more would not sia-
nifty. Bat she found it hard to max
both ends meet, and often went e.
bed hungry, thar her mother and Mrs.
Clement might enjoy enough. without
there appearing 70 be lust : pat
tern.
AT Christmas, however, came ray
Of sunshine for Della. in the shape i
q hundred dollar bill from "A IN
known friend.
1T cant be meant for ne. shs
cried.
1T is directed to Della Roeernon.
said her mother; .and there nobody
else Of that name. now thai Jour aunt
Della is dead"
I've are not snre she's dad OBJ
jected De.ia.