Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1885-09-11
A TRAxsFERABLE AFFECTION.

and seated herself in an easy chair by
the window with the expectant curiosi-
ty of woman.
Dinner was over and Mr.. Heath, one
of the hoarders, had asked a private in.
terview. She felt little nervous at the
request. What could it mean!
Was he dissatisfied? That could
hardly be; he had been there for three
years, and she had often remarked that
he really seemed, almost, like one of
the family; and as Mrs. Clemmer was
widow, with neither kith nor kin, her
neighbors smiled significantly at the
oft-repeatcd remark. and one even ven.
tured to surnise that Mr. s4eath might,
If he chose, fill the vacancy in the Glenn
mer family that had been left by Mrs.
Clemmer's husband, the departed Jere
miah.
Mrs. Clenlmer was only forty, a
stout. fair, good.natured woman, at
peace with herself and the world gen.
orally, and the gray cottage with its
rose.wreathed windows and verandas
that had been left to her by her deceased
husband, was free from incImbrance.
In a financial point of view Mrs. Clem.
mer was very capable, and her half
dozen boardcrs furnished the means to
meet her household expenses, besides a
surplus that went to increase her bank
account.
Early in the spring .kere had been an
innovation upon her long established
rule, which had hitherto read, "For
gentlemen only" and she had taken a
lady boarder.
Gentlemen paid more, they made less
trouble, and they had invariably filled
her rooms, until Mrs. Hartelle, a slen-
der. delicate woman, had applied for
board.
She had sweet. winning face, low.
musical voice, and large, dark eyes, full
of pathos. She was widow, though
several years had elapsed since her hus-
bands death and she had laid aside her
weeds; yet she still chung to subdued
| lavender tints, that reminded one of
trouble at some past time.
She had really, with her charming
ways, taken Mrs. Clemmer's heart by
storm, and she was installed in pleas.
ant, horne.like suit of rooms with a
southern and western outlook, where
the graceful elms hung their leafy
branches, protectingly, about her case
ment, and from their nests, on the
swaying boughs, the twittering sparrows
came down and took crumbs from Mrs.
Hdrtelle's dainty fingers.
She had such taking way, Mrs.
Clemmer remarked of her, and the quiet
widow was, indeed, general tavorits
with her boardcrs.
She spent the most of her time in her
own room, though sometimes she came
dswn just at twilight to the parlor and
invoked sweet strains from the old
piano.
She sang old Scotch and Engllsh bal.
lads, quaint and homely but full of gen.
uire emotion, and Mr.. Heath would
listen till the tears ran down his plump
cheeks, for he was of English birth, and
those old songs touched tender chord.
In her own room, Elsie Hartelle bus.
led herself with brush and pencils; for
she had artistic tastes, although she
made no pretentions to being an artist;
but her fancies for fine views, and fol
grouping gracefully together flowers and
leaves, found expression On plaques and
panels. and Mrs. Clemmer's brackets
and mantels were filled with her pretty
and quaint designs, while MIR. Heath
had been made the happy recipient of 8
plaque, on which a cluster of English
primrsses were grouped so naturally
that they seemed almost to have beer
transported from his island home.
Highly priced were the flowers fo
the associations they awakened, bu
even more for the sake OF the giver; fo
, with her sweet, ,womanly ways, the quie
| widow had stirred in the bachelor hear
of William Heath, a feeling of deep re
spec. and admiration, and never havin
known aught of the tender passion, b
!, fancied himself in love.
, A man that reaches the maturity q
. fifty years unscathed by cupld's arrow,
y cannot certainly be called susceptible
but may be set down as veritable raa
). avis among his friends; but the iate1
a view with Mrs. Clemmer, which he ha
/, requested, was to usher in the dawn (
6 a new era III his existence.
The object of that interview, howeve
did not seem very plain, for Mr.. Heat
:. cleared his throat, preliminarily, An
" wiped the perspiration from his funir
n brow. and spoke casually of the exec
v sive heat; while Mrs. Clemmer, with
n calmness (which was only seeming, s.
|. in nervous expectancy of what was
,. come.
,s II have been thinking, Mrs. Cler
10 msr," he began at last, "that / ha
,e been one Of your family, SO to spea
D. for quite a long time, three years
1 more, is it not?" and the lady gave
10 affirmative nod, as she wondered if
ID were abeut to propose.
il. Three years is time enough 10 ma
Is one feel acquainted. and / have hi
is opinion of your Judgment, Mrs. Gle
,e mer.".
IN "Don's use fat.ery, Mr.. Heath,
te Of you" she said, blandly. and with
of mental conviction that there was q
o. other man besides the departed Je
ct miah who also appreciated her.