Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-06-11
Pretty Mrs. Graham.

| IoU 10 WItdO Suil iiCt W. biAS
day, and in spite of all that's come and
gone, it's her true title, for | do believe
she was the prettiest creature l ever
laid eyes on.
And she was dressed with such eX.
quisite taste, too, it set off her dark
bright beauty 50 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 thought him wrong in that,
much as I 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 (ine old-fashioned
home, good supply of solid, old-fash-
ioned furniture and silver and house
hold linen, good old fashioned SER
want who had lived with us since Bess
was baby, eighteen years ago, and
very litt3 ready money.
So. as 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 good home.
| Well, we found two, just what we
wanted Miss Burton, an elderly
maiden lady, and Mrs. Wootton,a wild
ow 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 board
ers, but all have quiet home togeth.
| er.
So we were just houseful of women,
you see-not a man On the place, un-
less we except Tom. the half grown boy
| who milked 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 melting hot day, when car
liage brought her to my front door,
with 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 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 50 fascinated by
the little widows loveliness and liveli-
ness that she gave consent to her COM
ing at once.
So then we consulted Mrs. Wootton
you remember our agreement with
them made it necessary and she, too.
was quite won over, and so the result
was that we made pretty Mrs. Graham
an exception, 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 certain
ly delighted US with her beauty, and
her bewitching ways, and her lovely
toilettes, 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 Indifferent one, such musician
was great treat.
Dick came down to take tea on Sun
day, as he generally did, land then he
met our new boarder...
| After supper I asked him.lf he did
not think her lovely.
"Yes, she is pretty-that can't bt
denied" he said slowly
"Well, what fault can you find ?"
said, seeing he kept something back.
"Nope, perhaps but don't liAe
her, and wish you hadn't taken her
Mary. believe she is little adven
turess, that's ALL"
"Why. Dick, her references wer'
unexceptionable, and she Is member
of st. Johns church. and teacher il
the Sabbath school,"
SIS she ? Well hope she is good
ope," said Dick dryly, and there th'
subject dropped.
She had been with US about sil
weeks, when one Saturday afternoon
received from our business agent eight
hundred dollars, the proceed of the IL
terest i'm coal mine belonging to Bes
sic and me.
It was too late to take it to the bank
where our cash was deposited. and |
being half unwilling to keep so mucl
money two nights in lonely house full
of women. felt strongly inclined to g(