The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-02

of doors beside one mouth more would
not signify. But she found 1t 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 ray of
sunshine for Della, in the shape of hun
dred dollar bill from an unknown friend.
| =" It can't be meant for me-" she cried.
ats directed to Della Rogerson," said
her mother; "aud there's nobody else of
that name, now that your Aunt Delias
dead"
ave are not sure she's dead" objected
Della.
Horrors Don't you know whether
your own aunt is dead or alive 7" asked
Mrs. Clement, in shocked tone.
"It isn't our fault. She is rich and
lives abroad. was named for her. l
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,"
"She ought to be doing something for
you"
"How can she, if she's dead don't
blame her, any way. Her money is her
own, to use according to her pleasure.
Uncle John made it himself and gave it
to her."
"But if she should come back to you,
having run through with it, you'd divide
your last crust with her, I'll be bound"
al suppose should,' said Della.
The winter wore away, as winters will,
and the miracles of spring began in fields
and wayside; and Delia's boarders re-
turned with the June roses, and dropped
away again with the falling leaves, and
still Mrs. Clement stayed on and on. just
| now she had been some weeks in arrears
with her reduced board. No money had
been forthcoming for some time, and she
was growing more feeble daily, needing
| the luxuries of an invalid and the atten-
ton of nurse, both of which Della be-
slowed upon her, without taking thought
| for the morrow.
81 must hear from my man-of-business
tomorrow, Della. I'm knee-deep in debt
to you," she began one night.
| "Don't mention it cried Della. {" I'd
rather never see cent of it than have you
take it to heart. You are welcome to stay
and share pot luck with us you are such
company for mother and me-"
"Thank you, my dear. I've grown as
fond of you as if you were my own flesh
and blood. There, turn down the light,
please. Draw the curtain, dear, and put
another stick on the fire, please. 1t
grows chilly, doesn't it ? You might kiss
me just once, if you wouldn't mind. It's
a hundred years or so since anyone kissed
me-"
And the next morning, when Della car
ried up Mrs. Clements breakfast, her
bosrder lay cold and still upon the pill.
lows.
The first shock over, Della wrote di-
rectly to the lawyer of whom she had
heard Mrs. Clement speak as having
charge of her affairs, begging him to
notify that lsdy's relatives, if she had
any. In reply, Mr.. Willis wrote: "The
late Mrs. Clement appears to have no near
relatives. Some distant cousins, who,
having an abundance of this worlds
goods, yet served her shabbily when she
tested their generosity, as she has tried
yours, are all that remain of her family.
In the meantime enclose you copy of
her last will and testament, to peruse at
your leisure"
"What interest does he think take in
Mrs. Clements WILL" thought Della but
read, nevertheless
/" Being of sound mind, this 10th day of June,
49,, ], Della Rogerson Clement, do hereby leave
one hundred dollars to each Of my cousins and
| bequeath the residue OF my property-viz.
thirty thousand dollars invested in the Ingot
Mining Company, fifty thousand dollars in
United States bonds, twenty thousand in For
tune Flannel Mills, and my jewels, to the be-
loved niece of my husband, John Rogerson.
DELLA ROBERTSON Of Croftsborough Me.
"For / was stranger, and ye took me
in ; hungry and ye fed me; sick, and We
ministered unto me-"
Goodness, alive " cried the neighbors,
when the facts reached their ears. What
profitable thing it is to take boarders
Everybody in town will be trying it, OF
course Steve Langdon will come home
and marry her, if she were forty old
maids. You may stick pin in there p
Della did not open her house to board
ers the next season. She found enough
to do looking after money and spending
it; in replying to letters from INDECENT
people who seemed to increase alarmingly
in receiving old friends, who suddenly
found time to remember her existence
And sure enough, among the rest ap
peared Steve Langdon, and the village
said &C. told you 3d."
It's not my fault that you and 1 are
single yet, Della" he said.
"And we are too old to think of O
change now, Steve"
"Nonsense Never too late to mend
I'm not rich, Della, but I've enough for
two and to spare"
81 wouldn't be contented not to drive in
my carriage and have servants under me
now" laughed Della.
"Indeed Then, perhaps you have a
better match in view. Captain Seymour
asked me, by the way, if had come to
interfere with Squire Jones interest"
eyes Squire Jones proposed to me
last week."
"Now, see here, Della. Have l come
all the way from Melbourne on FOOLS
errand There l was growing used to
my misery and loneliness, when the mai
brings me in letter in strange hand
which tells me that my dear love, Della
Rogerson, loves and dreams of me still, il
poor and alone, and needs meme And
the letter is signed by her aunt, Mrs
Clement, who ought to know. packed
my household goods and came"
"Pm glad you did,"
"In order that | might congratulate
Squire Jones ?"
"But / haven't accepted him vat Tn