Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-01
PRETTY MRS. GRAHAM.

AdFs anu III spite OF all mat come and
gone its her true title. for do believe she
was the prettiest creature I ever laid eyes
on.
And she was dressed with such exquisite
taste, too. it set Off her dark, bright beauty
SO we'll, and she was a dainty childlike
little thing-why, even Dick couldn't help
acknowledging her beauty, though he
didn take to her from the first
But | thought him wrong in that. much
as trusted to his Judgment, for you see,
Dick-well, Dick Fraser and my humble
self have been betrothed for several years.
and next spring, after Bessie marries. why.
am 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.
good supply of solid old-fashioned furni-
ture and silver and household linen. a good
old-tashioned servant who had lived with
us since Bess was a baby, eighteen years
ago, and very little ready money.
So, rs we could not give up our home. or
be parted. We looked about US for two or
three good, old-fashioned boarders, who
would stay with Us all the year round and
be able to pay well for 4 good home.
Wei, we found two. just what we
wanted; Miss Burton an elderly maiden
lady, and Mrs. Wootton, a widow lady.
who were glad to escape from the dust and
noise OF the city, and who were able to pay
good prices for our best rooms.
And this they did. only STIMULATING that
we should not take other boarders, but all
have a quiet home together.
So We were just a 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 1t was a
melting hot day when a carriage brought
her 10 my front door, with a lively, black
eyed little maid, and she begged SO hard to
be taken for Just a month or two of the
hottest weather, saying we looked 50 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 by the
little widow loneliness and liyeliness that
she gave consent to her coming at once.
So then We consulted Mrs. Wootton-
you remember our agreement with them
made i necessary-an she too, was quite
won OYER, and so the result was that we
made pretty Mrs. Graham an exception
and took her and her lively maid Jean
nette, INTO our charmed household.
She took possession that very day, COM
ing down with three large trunks from
town. She professed herself delighted
with our fine old home and plentiful coun-
try fare, and she certainly delighted Us with
her beauty, and her bewitching ways, and
her lovely toilets, and her wonderful music
For she made the KEYS of Bessie'S piano
almost talk, and as Bessie herself was the
only player among Us. and she but an in
different one, such a musician was a great
treat
Die, came down to take tea on Sunday,
as he generally did, and then he met our
new bOarder
After supper asked him if he did not
think her lovely.
Yes, she is pretty-;hat can't be de-
MED he said, slowly.
Well, what fault can you find?'' said,
seeing he kept something back.
None. perhaps; but | don't like her.
and 1 wish you hadn't taken her. Mary,
| believe she is a little adventures, that 5
all
why. Dick, her references were unex-
ceptionable, and she is n member of st.
John Church, and teacher in the Sab
bath-sChool.'
Is she? Well, I hope she is a good
one, said Dick, dryly, and there the sub
iect dropped.
She had been with Us about six weeks,
when one Saturday afternoon | received
from our business agent $500, the proceeds
of the interest in a coal mine belonging to
Bessie and me.
1t was too late to take il TO the bank,
where our cash was deposited, and |, being
half unwilling to keep SO much money two
nights in a lonely house tull Of women,
felt strongly incliAed to 90 over to the Will
age and deposit it there till Monday morn
ing.
But, on second thoughts, I made up my
mind that was worcestershire afternoon
was warm. | was busy, and the money
would be safe enough in my own drawer.
So I counted the notes to be sure they
were right, locked them in 4 little caSket.
and locked them in my desk. As l opened
the door of my room to 90 down stairs,
met Jeanette, who said she was just going
to knock Mrs. Graham was going to walk
over 10 the village-coull she serve me in
any way? I thanked her, said l would be
clad if She would call at the Postotfice, and
went my way to see about tea.
The next morning we all went to church
except our servant Emma, who remained
at home to have the dinner ready.
In the afternoon Emma wished to 90
out and as l did not like the house to re-
main quite alone | remained at home my
self. Having a slight headache I lay down
upon the sofa in the cool parlor and took a
quiet nap. l sprang up rs soon as l was
&WaheAed, and went up stairs to arrange
my hair, meeting pretty Mrs. Graham
coming down.
Gld not know you were home, said /.
nave this moment come in and taken
of my hat she said with a sweet smile,
and l was coming down for 4 drink of
ice-water
heard her go into the parl or where she
sat for 4 long time PLAYING grand. old.
church music, and singing softly in tones
so sweet that it made me think of heaven
and angels music.
Next morning as we were catherine at
the breakfast table, Miss Burton came in
pale and frightened, saying her room had
been entered during the night by burglar.
and her watch and chain and all her yalu-
able jewelry taken.
We all sprang up in CONSERVATION. and
went to her room, where we found the
window, which opened upon the roof of a
veranda, partly raised and the r'utters
pushed open as if surely indicating =. ny
the burglar had entered
Miss Burton had slept soundly, and
heard nothing, she said, but had noticed
her window when she first awoke, anG
upon searching, found all her Jewels gone
p" We might all have been murdered il
orr beds" cried Mrs. Wootton, pale anC
trembling, while pretty Mrs. Graham fel
to crying like child, declaring she would
not dare to stay another night under a roo
where there was no man in the house,