Daily Republican., 1884-08-09
MRS. HALLS II OARDER,
BY ALICE DALE,

Mrs. Hall, rOsy-fAced matrOn, bust |
led into the cool sitting.room one bright |
morning, where her only daughter was |
working buSily away at the sewing
machine.
What do you Think" she repeated |
eagerly, we've got boarder."
Hetty raised her pretty face, all dimp-
ling with smiles. to her mothers.
A boarder ?" she queried.
Yes. You know l intended to try
and rent the big spare room for the
summer? Well, a gentleman called |
here just now, q stanger-and such q |
stylish young man, and he has engaged |
the room and board for the season.
Just think of it, Hesty, what help it
will be He looks like prince in dis
guise, and he will be such nice company y;
comes we'll recommended and all
that. My dear, 1t is regular bonan.
zap
Hetty laughed, as she folded her sew
ing and closed the machine.
" it will be nice to have some one
here to enliven the dull old place." she
said, "ail THE girls are crazy for pic
mic at Weston Point; they have appointed
next Thursday; and your new boarder
will prove quite An acquisition, l sup.
pose. What is his nane?"
"Paul Langdon. Pretty, isn't it?"
Very. And when is he coming?"
" He will be here in about an hour.
He went down to the hotel to attend to
his baggage, So, Hetty, we must bus
tie about, and get up somthing nice for
dinner"
Hetty hastened away to the big, airy
kitchen and was soon Immersed in pre-.
parations for the boarder's advent.
A II at once shadow fell athwart the
open window, near which Hetty stood
industriously compromising delicious
" snowflake" pu lding; she lifted her
flushed face, her eyes frightened. For
she saw Tom Farley, a young. farmer,
the son Of a neignbor, and almost
az good as betrothed TO Hetty Hall.
He nodded and smiled, as their
Chances met through the open window,
wreathed about with purple morning
glories.
Busy as usual, you busy bee," he
laughed but, Hetty, what's this |
hear about boarder? Who is he ?"
"a Mr.. Langdon, from Boston,"
answered Hetty. He is coming to
board here for the summer. You know
we have room to spare, and mamma
thinks it will be help to her. 1t will
be "A fine thing quite an addition to the
society of the place.
Toms dark eyes studied the fair face
before him attentively,
Don't go flirting with him, Hetty,"
no p,ead ad
" Non ense, had not thought so far
ahead. You need not be afraid, Tom"
Then suddenly changing the subject !:
the pic.ni at Weston's Point comes
off next Thursday, believe"
Yes"
Toms answer was little mechani
cal.
you'll go with me, Hetty, won't
you 2"
you want me-"
"If?"
| Tom repeated the word laughingly.
"You know l would not 20 without
you. And now | must be off, for l
have to see Morton on business, and
get home in time for dinner and
after that we are going to prepare for
harvesting. A farmers life is busy
one."
Hetty's soft eyes followed her lovers
tall form, and she smiled to herself.
Dear Tom," she whispered fondly
but nobody heard the words, save the
bees and the butterflies lowering over
the purple morning glories, and they
discreetly kept their own counsel.
Tom rarely had never asked Hetty ia
be his wife, but every one expected them
to marry eventually and certainly they
cared for each other truly and sincerely.
But Tom was waiting for the decision
claim which he held, and if he succeed
1 x..1i in .,t,tt hn ha
quite rich man. So he kept his SO
cret in his heart for the present, which
was not altogether wise.
Mr.. Paul Langdon arrived in due
time. A slender, graceful man, with q
languid air, and blonde mustache.-
Very aristocratic, and with extremely
white hands which had evidently never
known labor.
From the very first Tom Farley did
not fancy Mr.. Langdon and as the
days went by, and he found that gen
tleman always at Hetty's side, the
feeling grew into aversion and positive
dislike.
But Tom knew he would be sneered
at as jealous, 80 he said nothing, but h,
he vt his eyes open and watched Mr.
Langdon closely.
That gentleman had made such rapid
progress in his Irritation with Hetty
Hall, that when the eventful morning
Of the pic. mic at Weston's Point ar
rived, foolish Hetty, seated in stylish
buggy at Mr.. Langdon's side, was
driven away toward the scene of the
Excursion.
She looked like picture in pure
white, with broad-brimmed hat, hui
her heart was troubled, and she fell
uneasy, for she knew that she had
treated Tom shamefully aud deserved
punishment.
But she could not resist the tempta
ton 10 make all the other girls wild
with envy, and so she had accepted thi
strangers escort.
Arrived at Weston's Point, they
found the rest of the party already
gathered there. But to Hetty's cen
sternatioD, al, hour later Tom Farley
Iarrivel and with him Nell Seeley, one
Of the prettiest girls in the town. A
strange, sharp pang of regret and re-
morse shot through HeJty's heart.
After a time Hetty wandered away
to retired spot, and seating herself OF
La point OF rock with q pretty back
ground of green trees over which vines
clambered luxuriantly, she gave hersel
Iup to bitter reflection; Tom did no
care for her after all, she said.
A footstep behind her made he
glance up with start, and she saw Mr.
lLangdon. He threw himself down a
her side with lsnguid grace, and tool
t one of her hands in his own,
b dearest Hetty," he said, softly, hi
! blue eyes upon her blushing, downcas
: fac, "torgive me ] have followed
YOU here but could wait no longer
), must tell you of my love, and plea'
Q | for return The devotion OF a lifstim
a /! is yours. oh, my hearts darling !"