Morning journal and courier., 1888-02-01
Grandma Bidd1e,s Boarders.

l BY MRS. FRANCES E. HUBBELL.
 In the monday shadows of two ruggst
 oaks, whose foliage glittered in the sunligh
 with the glitter of burnished mettle, sa
 Madeline Miller idly swinging in her ham
 mock, and within earshot of vine clad bay
 window. So very fair was she in her fresi youthfulness that, in the quaint old town O
 Woodville which gave her birth, she was ac'
 counted a masterpiece of nature.
 Our first glimpse of Madeline was that oi a young dreamer, but moment later, witt
 the air of one aroused from 8 deep reverie
 she left her swinging seat and raised her eyes
 with inquiring attention to the leafy screened
 window, where a lady sat enthroned amid her admirers. For an instant their carefully l maintained conversation held her; then she 1 turned and entered the house door, which
 led directly to her grandmother's sitting
 room. The old lady was seated in an easy cushioned chair, taking her usual midday
 nap. Madeline paused and gazed at the l withered, self-contained face, reluctant to l disturb ner. Then she approached tride l nearer, and with smile of infinite protec- tion carefully adjusted grandma's disar- l ranged cap. Mrs. Riddle finched, and with
 dull, half-open eyes, dim with the haze oi
 slumber, became suddenly aware of hel granddaughter's presence.
 "How many times must tell you, child that my half-hour's rest can't be disturbedF
 sighed the old lady huskily. 1 "I beg your pardon, grandma!" and the
 young girl spoke with an accent of great 1 sweetness.
 "Has anything happeneda I hope there
 hasn't been more opposition" l Whereupon Madeline Miller laughed in her light, melodious way.
 ftWhat mean is this, that you won't say
 no second time to Mr. Hill; you can't be
 so unwise as to allow such an offer to slip
 through your fingers"
 l ssHe will not trouble me again. was the
 timid, hesitating reply; ''he is going to leave you with some of your best paying board ers." |.
 "What's thisF' and grandma put her hand
 to her ear; "speak louder"
 Slowly the young girl repeated her infor'
 nation in higher key.
 "Don't raise your voice so; nobody's deaf. | Anything in the world to please you grandma"
 "Then you will marry Mr. Hill;" and 1 grandma looked at her steadily. "Why ii | ever a man loved Q girl he loves you, and l what's more he isn't going to give you IF neither"
 Madeline began to hum waltz under her breath and frightened mereilessly. ssMrs. Rich and her father are going to the Mansion House. That alluring widow is inr | fnitely more fascinating than could possi | bly be- for she has persuaded Mr. Norris and MT. Hill to accompany Ihem."
 Where did you get your information" ''I overheard Mrs. Rich's conversation from the hammock"
 "Ah, in that hammock again! There's ! where you go to dream" 1T was not dreaming" 1 s'No, then you are to blame for the whole | business"
 I Madeline looked at her grandmother in l mild interrogation.
 s'One would suppose by your independent bearing" continued the old lady, ''that you | had gold mine to back you instead of look | ing to my boarders for your bread and but | ter Why, you haven't been civil to Mrs. ! Rich since she's been in my house. '1 cannot be agreeable to those for whom have no respect"
 s'Then cultivate 8 little tact," returned grandma bitterly. 'tI must smile if it does l bore me-"
 The young girl gave little toss of her shapely head and said, II am not running | this house."
 ''Still you understand the necessity of making it pay, for it's your bread and butter. '
 "Oh, grandma, don't introduce the bread and butter question again." "Can you live without thema" ''No, you reason correctly" and Madeline | laughed lightly s'I am selfish of course; all | bup,a1 ,,otura.is.D and sroi1a 1urked in the l corners of her mouth as she hesitated 8 little l before she said, ''I shall try to preside over your establishment, grandma, with grace | that shall leave nothing toFbe desired, since am impressed with the unreliability ot | things in general"
 "You are sarcastic" and grandma waited | for an answer, but none came. 'I am griev- ously disappointed in you, Madeline" she 1 broke forth again, 'but what caps the climax | is your refusing Schuyler Hills offer of mar- | riage. There's not girl in all Woodville he | could not have for the asking, and I've So wanted to see you well settled in life before l leave you. have made this matter sub- | iect of praysr"-here grandma brushed g tear-'sand when felt the Lord had heard me you must show rebellious spirit; now l have you no compunction in saying no to a man of Schuyler Hills stamp" l 4 strange pallor spread over the young 1 girls face as she answered, 'I should like to | make this self-sacri6ce for you grandma" ssFor me? Don't say that;" and grandma's surprise was terribly real. ''You know | want justice every time" | "Is there any justice in selling myself to | the highest bidder?"
 | "Ridiculous talk about selling yourself to l a man who would elevate you and keep you ] like princessi The truth is your heart is l set on someone else. You can't deceive me; 1 but Dr. Woodville will never marry DOT l tionless girl when he can choose from dozen l rich ones."
 l At this moment someone tapped gently at 1 the door, which Madeline answered by nsk- | ing brave effort to appear calm she con ] fr6nted the popular Dr. Woodville, who
 smiled with cheering air of deference.
 "Perhaps am taking too much for grant | ed,' he began, lin supposing you will oblige | me by drawing together this rent" There
 upon the doctor exhibited slightly damaged | game-bag handsomely wrought of twine. "l l do not ask for artistic workmanship" he 1 added.
 Madeline took the bag and examined it's
 broken meshes for a moment effectively: l Then she raised her clear eyes to his and said
 with pretty deprecating look, "Its mis- fortune that was never taught to handle 8 | needle and thread after the most approved
 fashion, but will gladly do my best"
 "Don't be too painstaking," suggested the
 doctor, and his eyes held hers for second, 1 then the latter were prettily yelled from him.
 "Doctor," Mrs. Riddle began something
 is going to happen. Have you heard the
 news2n
 "No, what newsl"
 Madeline turned and looked at Mrs. Bid- dle with sort of wild pleading and passed from the room.
 "Why, thought you'd heard it." and the
 old lady advanced few steps and surveyed i the main pillar of her house refectively.
 The doctor did not answer.
 "Oh, it's real reliet to be able to tell l you, for then I shall feel better. You know
 1 told you was going to lose Mrs. Rich and her father. Their leaving l could stand if they are excellent pay, but she's usin her influence to get my other bosrders away, the unprincipled ereaturei And ever since Mad cline half way refused MT. Hill she's made it uncomfortable all round. Why, she is fairly
 triumphant that my grandchild refused such an offer Of course her motives are plain enough. And now what I want, doe tor, is to bring Madeline round to view this matter sensibly. The poor, foolish child
 doesn't know what's best for her, so she
 must be taught. Her perversity in the mat
 ter is something dreadful. Oh, dearl if you,
 doctor, could only in some way help meF
 exclaimed the old lady desperately.