Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-05
A GENTLEMANLY BOARDER
Mr.. Romney : Romney's Little
Scheme, and How it Ended.

Scheme, and How it Ended.
Mrs. Harrington Williams was we'll
known as one of the most fashionable
and comfortable boarding-houses in
Folkestone. It stood close to the
Lees, with a large semi-public garden
at the back, and a glimpse of the sea
in front. The house had whatever
might be called a"superior' air. Mrs.
Harrington Williams herself was the
widow Of a country parson of good
family. From him she derived an un-
usually valuable collection of pictures,
furniture, and household effects gener-
ally, including a quantity of old-fash-
ioned plate, bearing the Harrington
Williams crest, and a pair of massive
silver candelabra, which, on special
occasions, gave her dining-room a a1s-
tinguished air, beyond the ordinary
style of clearinghouse.
Although, however, the house was
nearly always full, andthe guests most
ly of a good paying class, the business
did not return a large profit. The ex-
penses of an establishment of this kind,
especially when conducted with such
.liberality as Mrs. Williams, are neces-
sarily high. Added to this, Mrs. Will
liams was encountered with three
daughters, the youngest of whom was
10Y eighteen, and neither she nor the
young ladies had much notion of econ
romy. After three or four years, there
core, at Virginia House, Mrs. Williams
position had begun to cause her some
The Misses Williams were stylish,
g%ood-looding girls. They added inn
mensely to the attractions of Virginia
House, and secured an unfailing supply
Observation-Disclosures of apeculiarly prof
itable kind. In the course of a season
they would have half a dozen promis-
ing firtations among them; but ome
how they had never yet got beyond
filtration. This was a disappointment
TO Mrs. Williams, who, when she con-
descended to start a clearinghouse,
had been greatly influenced by the
prospect of finding an opening in life
for her girls; and the disappointment
was specially keen in the case. OF Miss
Bertha, the eldest, and, in point of
looks, at least, the flower of the flock.
Bertha, indeed, had made one con-
quest. When Messrs. Filey & Tape
man were professionally engaged in the
settlement of the Rev. Harrington Will
liam's affairs, Mr.. Frank Bartlett, their
managing man, had been much smittel
by Miss Williams charms, and had
subsequently, on two occasions, spent
his summer holiday at Virginia House:
But though a good-looking fellow and
a promising solicitor, Bartlett was far
from being an eligible party in the eyes
either of Miss Williams or her mother.
There were obvious reasons for encour-
aging him up to a certain point, bu,
the Young lady took good care that that
point was never passed.
Some little excitement was conse'
euently caused among the Williams's,
When, toward the end of August, a let
ter was received, dated from a Illustrate
West-end club, inquiring whether &C
commodation could be a at at once pro
vided for MI. Stuart Romney-RomneJ
and one servant. An answer IN Iis
affirmative was promptly dispatched
and a couple of days later the tnree
Misses Williams, from the shelter OF 9
convenient curtain at an upper Windo"
beheld MI. Stuart Romncy-Romney
drive up, accompanied by a highly re.
spectable man servant and an enormou:
pile of luggage. The new arrlVa
turned out to be a gentlemanlike man O
two or three and thirty, with keen
dark eyes,, and fairly good features
rather spoilt by a low forehead, acres H;s
which his hair was brushed fiat. I'M a
manners were at first somewhat als'
tant and reserved. This, however
wore off ON closer acquaintance AM an.
after a few days he was unanlmou ~,
voted a decided acquisition W 's
house. ,,v 6
From the first there was natuIali y,. .
good deal of speculation as 70 WIN
Romney-Romney was. 1t nappeWlIiH VIZ
that there were then staying az an:
ginia H:,use two maiden LADIES na a.au
Hornc4stle, sisters Of a plospeMnD;e ME-.
banker in the West Of England. n M,S'
H~orncastle, being not only on he,
oat coming of a county fanny w ~ to a.
mothcr's Side, was looked up ~ GO
rather an authority on quesuons 18th he,
cial status. In consultation WIN d as'