Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-15
A BOARDING HOUSE ENGAGE
MENT.

we'll known as one OF the most IdSH-
ionable and comfortable boarding
houses in Folkestone. It stood close
to the Lees. with a large semi public
garden at the back and glimpse Of
the sea in front The house had what
might be called superior" air. Mrs.
Harrington Williams herself was the
widow of a country parson of good
family. From him she derived an
UNUSUALLY valuable collection of pic
lures, furniture, and household effects
generally, including quantity of old
fashioned plate, bearing the Harring-
ton Williams crest, and a pair Of mas
sivo silver eandelabra, which, on
special occasions, gave her dining
room distinguished air, beyond the
ordinary style of boarding houses.
Although, however, the house was
nearly always full, and the guests
mostly of a good paying class, the
business dId not return a large profit.
The expenses of an establishment OF
this kind, especially when conducted
with such liberality as Mrs. Williams,
are necessarily high. Added to this,
Mrs. Williams was encountered by
three daughters, the youngest of whom
was now Is, and neither she nor the
young ladies had much notion of
economy. After three or four years,
therefore, at Virginia house, Mrs.
Williams position had begun to cause
her some anxiety.
The Misses Williams were stylish,
good-Iooking girls. They added i'm
mensely to tke attractions Of Virginia
house, ana secured an unfaiIing sup
ply of bachelor boarders of a peculiar
ly profitable kind. In the course of a
season they would have half a dozen
promising fiirtations among them; but
somehow they had never yet got be-
yond filtration. This was d disap-
pointment to Mrs. Williams, who,
when she condescended to start q
boarding house, had been greatly in
auenced by the prospect Of finding an
opening IN life for her girls; and the
disappointment was especially keen in
the case of Miss Bertha, the eldest,
and in point of looks, at feast, the
flower Of the flock. Bertha, indeed,
had made one conquest. When
Mcssrs. FIley and Tapeham were pro
fessionally engaged in the settlement
Of the Rev. Harrington Williams af-
fairs, Mr.. Frank Bartlett, their man
aging man. had been smltten by Miss
Williams charms, and had subse-
quently, 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 partner in the
eyes either Of Miss Williams or her
mother. There were obvious.reasOns
for encouraging him up to q certain
point, but the young lady took good
care that point was never passed.
Some little excitement was cOnse-
quently caused among the WiIliamses
when, toward the end of August, 8
letter was received, dated from first
rate West-end club, inquiring whether
accommodation could be at once pro-
cured for Mr.. Stuart Romney-Romney
and one servant. An answer in the
affirmative was promptly dispatched,
and couple of days later the three
Misses Williams, frona the shelter Of
q convenient curtain at an upper win
dow, beheld Mr.. Stuart Romney- Rom
ney drive up, accompanied by a high
ly-respected man servant and an enor-
NOUS pile of luggage. The new ar
rival turned out to be a gentleman
like man of 80 or 50, with keen, dark
eyes, and fairly good features, rather
spoiled by a low forehead, across
which his hair was brushed fiat. His
manners were at first somewhat dis
tant and reserved. This, however,
were off GA closer acquaintance, and
after few days he was unanimously
voted a decided acquisition TO the
house.
From the first there was naturally
a good deal of speculation as to who
Mr.. Romney-Romney was. It hap
pened that there were then staying at
Virginia house two maiden ladies'
named Horncastle, sisters of a pros
porous banker in the west of England.
Miss Horncastle, being not only
wealthy, bnt coming Of a country
family on her mothers side, was look
ed up to as rather an authority on
questions Of social status. In consul
tation with her sister, Emilia, she had
discovered the possibility Of their new
acquaintance's connection with GER
tain family of Derbyshire Romneys.
Mr.. Romney- Romney's answers TO a
few questions delicately put to him on
the subject confirmed this theory: and
when, after this, Mr.. Williams report
ed that her new guests dressing and
travelling paraphernaia were not only
layishly mounted in silver, but en-
blazoned with deerhound's head and
the motto ''Prisca fdes," the matter
was settled beyond much doubt. Miss
Horncastle was particularly gracious
to the newcomer, and in his honor
the two old ladies even went so far as
to display from time to time various
installments of their family jewelry,
hitherto reserved from the gaze of all
but select circle of female friends
upstairs.
But the most satisfactory thing was
that from the first Mr.. Romney Rom
ney paid obvious attention to Miss
Williams. It was at once noticed that
he generally contrived to have Bertha
for 2 mariner at l9wn-tenniS and that