Smyrna times., 1885-07-29
Pretty Mrs. Graham.

That is what 1 always call her to this
day, and in spite Of all that's come and
gone, it's her true title, for l do believe
she was the prettiest creature l ever
laid eyes on.
And she was dressed with such ex-
qulsite taste, too, it set off her dark
bright beauty so well, and she was a
dainty, childlike little thing why, even
Dick couldn't help acknowledging her
beauty though he didn't take to her from
the first
But l thought him wrong in that,
much as trusted to his Judgment, for
you see, Dick-well, Dick Fraser and
my humble self have been betrotbed
for several years, and next spring, after
Bessie marries, why, lam going to keep
house with Dick.
But that isn't my story.
When our dear parents died they left
Bessie and me this fine old-fashioned
home, a good supply of solid, old-fash-
Toned furniture and silver and house
hold linen, good old-fashioned servant
who had lived with us since Bess was 4
baby, eighteen years ago, and very little
ready money.
80 as we could not give up our home,
or be parted, we looked about MS for
two or three good old-fashioned boarders
who would stay with us all the year
round and be able to pay well for a
good home
Well, we found two, just what we
wanted; Miss Burton, an elderly
maiden lady, and Mrs Wootton, Il
widow lady, who were glad to escape
from the dust and noise of the city, and
who were well able to pay good prices
for our best rooms.
And this they did, only stipulating
that We should not take other boarders,
but all have a quiet home together.
30 we We're just houseful of women.
you see-not man on the place, unless
we except Tom, the half-grown boy who
MIXED the COW and tended the garden
and drove our little carriage for us.
We had plenty Of applications from
summer boarders but we never took any
until pretty Mrs. Graham came. It was
a melting hot day, when IL carriage
brought her to my front door, with
lively, black-eyed little maid, and she
begged so hard to be taken for inst n
month or two of the hottest weather.
saying we looked SO cool and delightful
out there, and she dreaded the hotel SO
much, that it was hard to resist her.
Miss Burton was in the parlor when
she called, and she was so fascinated bv
the little widows's loveliness and live
iness that she gave consent to her COM
ing at once.
So then we consulted Mrs Wootton-
you remember our agreement with them
made 1t necessary She too, was
quite won over, and so the result was
that we made pretty Mrs. Graham an ex-
ception, and took her and her lively
little maid, Jeanette, into our charmed
household.
She took possession that very day,
coming down with three large trunks
from town. She professed herself de-
lighted with our fine old home and
plentiful country fare, and she certainly
delighted us with her beauty, and her
bewitching ways, and her lovely toilettes
and her wonderful music. For she
made the keys of Bessies piano almost
talk, and as Bessie herself was the only
player among us, and she but am in
different one, such n musician was a
great treat.
Dick came down to take tea on Sun
day, as he generally did, and then he
met our new boarder
After supper L asked him if he did
not think her lovely.
Eyes, she is protty-that can't be
denied, no said slowly.
"Well, what fault can you find p l
said, seeing he kept something back.
None, perhaps; but don't like her.
and wish you hadn't taken her, Mary.
believe she is little adventures, that's
all"
"Why, Dick, her references were
unexeeptionable, and she is a member
Of st. Johns church and a teanhar in
the Sabbath school"
"Is she? Well l hoqe she is good
one" said Dick dryly, and there the
subject dropped.
She had been with us about six
weeks, when one Saturday afternoon
received from our business agent eight
hundred dollars tho proceeds of tho
interest in conl mine belonging to
Bessie and me-
1t was too late to take it to the bank.
where our cash was deposited, and I.
being half unwilling to Loa,, ~ -,