Daily Republican., 1886-05-28
Betsey KestIeIs Boarder
BY GERALDINE FLEMING.

Law sakesl If you aren't cryinpt
declare | should never have beliey,
you could cry, Betsey Kestle-you wi
are always so chirruping and so alb
10 noe your own rev with the best
Them" neighbor said as she peere
curlously at the brisk little woman wi
sat smelling peas in the airy porch ,
the little country kitchen.
II never was the kind to whimne
about nothing" Mrs. Kestle answered
as wlth some unnecessary energy sh
tossed handful of emptied pods int
the basket beside her
we all know that, Betsey Kestl,
we all know that" the visitor said
with solemnity which did not lack
modlcum OF the keenly inquisitiye
but each heart knoweth its own sol
rows best; and l shouldn't wonde
now. if you are having more than YOU
share OF the sorrow and worries. ;"
Mrs. kestle flung another handfu
OF pods into the basket, and the,
turned rather sharply to her visitor.
what 90 you meanW she asked
with a sudden color Pickering over he
round olive cheeks.
'Oh, | don'tmean anything specially
nor IN particular" the other hastenec
to say soothingly. "But all folks ar'n't
made blind, Betsey Kestle, and some
lew folks can't help seeing how things
might be amiss with you since YOU took
that girl from the city to board for the
summer"
II never wanted her here" Mrs
Kestle declared incautiously
"Of course you didn't, poor soul-we
all know that, the neighbor said with
pious sympathy. "And Ezra Kestle
didn't do the right thing when he set
his will against the objections of his
own wifel-and good wife, too. Won
have always been to him, Betsy Kes-
tie"
II have tried to do my duty" muir
INJURED Mrs. Kestle, struggling to SUP
press the agitation already painfully
perceptible on her plump, comely fea-
lures.
Law sakes! there is nobody as
would dispute that" the other averred
with solemn fervor. "And consider.
ing all your dutiful daily life, Ezra
kestle is doing the wrong thin -set-
ting his foolish ways against the feel
ings of your heart and indulging all
the giddy whims OF beguiliDg girl
who is only your boarder. People do
say as how she sent for him Just af ar
gong out somewhere yesterday, ard
as how he hurried away without a
word, and hasn't come back since. |
NOW, never put trust in a story
which disfavors anybody, but Pm
thinking, poor soul, how nobody can
blame you If you might be afeared YOU
Will never lay eyes on him again. !"
-! shall blame myself if should
heed any malicious and ridiculous tat
lle about my own husband" said Mrs
hestle, bridling with true wifely in
dignation. And | do not know as |
have any hankering for the company
of people who would belittle their bet
lers,' she added with spirit and with
a look which one even more obtuse
Than her offlcious neighbor could not
easily mistake.
Law sakes, Betsy Kestle, if you
aren't actually nettledW the caller
CALCULATED as she arose at the uncere-
nonious dismissal and moved some 1
What disconcertedly away; land l 1
iidn't mean anything specially nor in
Particular either. And you had
warming enough afore, too, about CITY
girls like Fanny Jerome. After YOURS
ore trouble about your own son mar
ylng against your wish and will, and I
eaving you tor vain creature with +,
ntlcIng ways, you shouldn't have {
AIKEN one like her to board and to be- i
azzle poor Jerry's father under your !
wn roof, as | might say; but | won't /
i have too much feeling for you
ven if you do flare into temper at a ! 7
1T OF Christian advice" =,
And with that extremely feeling and t
retaliation, she walked ma.
estically away; and poor Betsy Kes I
e was lett to reflection and unshelled S
cas-. ;,
And that her reflections were not
eaceful was eyinced by the piteous
uiVering of her lips, by the cleaning I
ears which would bubble up from the i
Tired depths of her heart, despite all I a
he restraint she had imposed upon her h
citation.
Had her otficious visitor suggested f
lything so impossible after all? she h
'ked herself. Were not those hate n
Il illusions and suggestions but the n
hoes OF her own distrust and dread? h
light not tine husband of her youth h
ave outlived his love for her nowlb
lat there were silver threads amongI
er jetty tresses, now that there were W
Ely little wrinkles lurking about the m
Ark eyes which were once so spark re
ng and bonny? But could Ezra, her
aid, dignified, still handsome old ce
IRA, have been really allured by the Of
RI who had been beneath her roof for 81
arcely more than one brief summer I
onth? she questioned doubtfully, de- Ida
lite the strange new jealousy which all
as growing within her bosom.
Mrs. Kestle, born and reared amongI
mely country associates, had herj
IN opinion OF cities and the denizens W
ereof. But, somehow, Fanny Je. Pa
me had seemed very different from "a
nat she had believed the typical city o.
1 to be--certainly and decidedly g. g.
terent from what must have beenl %
selfish and useless creature for tai
lose sake their only son had become A
them as a stranger. m,
Their summer guest was fair as o. U.
wer and shy as wild bird. Shell
d voice OF music and smile like tho
lshine; and she had dainty, SER
cable little ways which even the NJ,
'Judiced Mrs. Kestle admitted were n
" M ,1nI 10