Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-06-09
THE SUMMER BOARDER.

ut is only Madge Alcott, the uglest
little old maid in town"
And Rosamond Rivers soft laugh
rang out high above the tones ofall the
other girls as she spoke.
| stood and heard it without word.
1t made me vince little, of course,
and yet l knew that the words were
true. l was an "old maid" | was
"ugly." was ''little." Yet was
to blame.
Rosamond Rivers. of course, didn't
know that | had heard her words. She
meant nothing-only lovely, gay
young girl does not always stop to pick
and choose her words when she is
speaking of one whose bloom is over.
And | never was pretty; neither was l
rich, nor accomplished.
So l had quietly made up my mind
to live single and alone in the world,
earn my own living and do my best to
help along those who were poorer and
weaker than myself.
| My Uncle Charles had left me the
little brown farm house under the elm
trees. with the apple orchard on the
side built toward the trout brook and
the sunny pastures where the wild
Strawberries ripened first, and that was
all l had.
Better sell it," advised nay friends.
But had no idea of giving up my
home for the few hundred dollars that
its money value would represent.
| thought it over and come to a con-
clusion: 'I'll take summer boarders. "
And this accounts for Mr.. Paul Cas-
Teton being resident uudsr my hum
BILE roof that eventful July.
He came here with his two gold
haired little girls and their African
nurse, who looked so picturesque with
the big hoops of yellow metal hanging
from her ears, and the rainbow tdrban
twisted about her ebon brows-a hand
some widower
The little girls had dropped in the
sultry atmosphere ot their Southern
home, and he came to seek their health
and welfare more than his own.
Rosamond Rivers had recommended
him to come to the Elm Farm-he was
II friend-nay, l was almost disposed
Ito think him an admirer-of hers.
Il am so much obliged to you,
Rosie" said /, fervently.
"You needn't be-" said Rosamond
81 wasn't thinking of you at all, al
though, of course, Pm glad to have
got you the $25 a week; but you see ii
wouldn't do at all tor him TO have gone
to the hotel"
"Why not?' l asked.
"You silly little goose, don't you
see? Bella Martyr boards at the hotel,
and Dr. Millions pretty daughters, and
They'd any one of them be sure to make
a dead set at Mr.. Castleton. At the
farm, you know, he's perfectly safe. y
1t was true enough what she said
yet 1t cut me to the heart. Bella Mar
ltyn is stately beauty Dora and
Bessie Milton were piquent, coquet-
fish little creatures. l strove, how
ever, to govern myself.
as he your lover, Rosies" | asked
my loverl What nonsense! mol"
and she tossed her pretty head. but
there's no telling what will happen.
lOf course he won't always remain a
lwidower-and he did ask me twice tc
go to the opera with him when | was
in the South last winter. Such an ele.
CANT place in Richmond as he hasl'
listened, not enviously, but sadly
The little russet-wlngcd moth is moi
supposed to be envious of the blue and
lgold butterfly. l knew that Rosa
mond was beautiful and talented-that
it was for her to build all sorts of pria
castles, none OF which was too bright to
he real. AS for Newell, must plod
along as best | could on the shady side
of lite's road
admired Mr. Castleton very much
Who could help il? There was some
thing so chivalrous and noble in hi
way of adapting himself to my poo
little house and home-spun ways, ant
being pleased with everything | did.
The little girls, Bell and Violet, wer'
charming, and old Venus beamed like
the sun of her own tropical cline.
"Didn't never s'pose de Norf was 81
NICE" said old Venus. "Clar to gra
cious it's equal to ole Virginny.'
! And on pleasant summer evening"
I Rosamond Rivers and her brother, tn
, young lieutenant of artillery, woulC
row up as far as the apple trees on tn
river. Rosamond sat on the lawn will
Mr.. Castleton. or made believe to pla,
croquet, until the purplng twilight
warned her that it was time to return
to the village.
"Dat young lady, she's a-makini
eyes at my Malse Paul" said oil
Venus one night, with nod of tn
J head that set her great gold earhoop
= TO rafting; "but faint no usel Mars
n Paul knows better"
l., But Venus did not look at beautiful
L. Rosamond Rivers with mans impas
" stoned eyes, and Mr.. Castleton did
How could he help ii?
1t was very foolish of me TO fall int
= the river. l was reaching out for Vic
let's pocket handkerchief, which ha'
accidentally dropped in, when / los
my balance and fell.
The river was not deep just there
but, of course, was frightened. W
all were frightened. Venus uttered
Of yell which might have aroused tn
81 Seven Steamers. Violet and Be