The Irish standard., 1886-07-17

|
| Would raise me-tho' dead
| truly opne
And could it be so
These tales would, alackl
Have long, long ago
| From death called me back.
-[Hugh Conway.
THE SUMNER BOARDER
SIT is only Madge Alcott, the uglies1
| little old maid in town."
And Rosamond Rivers Soft laugh rang
out high above the other girls as they
spoke.
Tstood and heard it without a word
| It made me vince little, of course and
| yet knew that the words were true.
was an sold 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 I never
was pretty; neither was rich, not &C
complished.
So 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 farmhouse under the elm-trees,
with the apple orchard on the side buile
toward the trout brook and the sunny
pastures where the wild strawberries
ripened first, and that was all had.
Better sell it." advised my 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 came to con-
clusion.
''I'll take summer boarders."
!, And this accounts for Mr., Paul Castle
ton being resident under my humble
roof that eventfnl July.
He came there with two goJd-haired
little girls and their Africans nurse, who
looked so picturesque with the big hoops
OF yellow metal hanging from her ears,
!an4l the rainbow turban twisted about
her ebony brows-a handsome, stately
witiower The little girls had, dropped
in the sultry atmosphere of their' south
ern home, and he came to seek their
health and welfare more than his own.
Rosamond Rivers had recommended hin
to come to- the Elm Farm-he was a. friend
hay, was almost dispo ed to think him
an adnirer-Of hers.
II ann so much obliged to you, Rosie" :"
said I, ferventlY.
"you needn't be-" said Bosamond, ~
Wasn't thinking of you at all, although, OF
course, I'm glad to have you get the twen-
ty-fiye dollars week: but yon see it
wouldn't do at all for him to have gone
to the hotel,'
.sWhY uot?'' asked.
stYou silly little goose, don't you see?
Bella Martyu boards at the hotel, and DR..
Milton's pretty daughters, and they'd any
one of them ba sure 10 make dead set
at Mr.. Cast!etGn. At the farm, You know.
he's perfectly safe"
1t was true enough what she said, yet
it cut nae to the heart. Bella Martin was
a stately beauty Dora and Jessie Miltyn
were piqr1ant, coquettish little creatures.
strove, however, to- govern myself.
els he your lover, Rosie?" l asked,
"My lovert What nonsense! MOI" and
she tossed her pretty head. But there's
10 telling what will happen. OF course he
wont always remain a widower-and he
did ask ME twice to go to the opera with
him when was in the South last Winter
Such an elegant place i'll Richmond as he
hasr'
Listened, not enviously, but sadly. The
little russet-winged moth is not supposed
to be envious Of the blue-and-g gold butter
fy. knew that Rosamond was beauti-
full and talented-tbat it was for her to
build all sorts of AERIAL castles, none of
which was too bright to be real As for
newell, must plod along as best l
could on the shady side of life's road.
I admired Mr. Castleton very much.
Who could help il? There was something
so chiyalrous and noble in his way of
adapting himself to my poor little house
and homespun ways and be pleased with
everything did.
The little girls, Bell and Violet, were
charming, and old Venus beame6 like the
sun of her own tropical cline.
"Didn't never s'pose de Norf was so
nice" said old Venus. "Clar to gracious,
it's equal to old Virginny"
And on pleasant summer evenings Rosa
mond Rivers, and her brother, the young
lieutenant of artillery, would row up as
far as the apple trees on the river, Rosa
mOnd sat on lQe 1dWN Will 1MA. CaosACGoA,
or made believe to play croquet, until the
purpling twilight warned her that it was
time to return to the village.
"Dat young lady, she's a-making eyes
at NV Marse Paul." said old Venus one
night, with nod of the head that set her
great gold earhoops to rattle "But
;taint no use! Marse Paul knows better!"
But Venus did not look at beautiful
Rosamond Rivers with mans impas-
stoned ewes, and Mr. Castleton did. How
could he help it?
1t was very foolish Of me to fall into
the river. / was reaching out for Violet's
handkerchief which had accidentally drop
ped IN, when lost my balance and fell.
The river was not deep just there, but,
of course, was frightened. We were all
frightened. Venus uttered a yell which
might have reused the Seven Sleepers.
Violet and Bell shrieked ut the top of
their shrill little voices; and the first
knew Mr.. Castleton had sprung in after
me and dragged me to land.
stMadger' he cried out, breath1essly,
calling me for the first time in my life
by my Christian name, ''Madge, tell me
that you are not hurtp
I was crying with fright and chill-a
very ridiculous thing for me to do, Of
course: but managed to sob out.
''No, not hurt. thank you. liam very
sorry was 80 stupid!''