Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-20
TAKING BOARDERS.


at was a SCANDAL" the nsizhbors said,
"that Miss Della should be obliged To take
toars.ers after all shell been through. and
hsagen knows that boarders didn't help a
body TO work out her salvation. And 80
much money In the family, too, taking it by
and at large Want Der uncle Eben. over
At Dover. we'll 10 do, and not a chick Of his
own 20 care for, except the boy he had
adopted. who no credit TO hinf IL was
odd, DOW, that man with poor relations
should taks TO a stranger, when his Own hesh
and blood was needy, but sometimes It did
seem rs II folks bad more feelings for others
than they did for their own kith and kin.
Then there were cousins In the city, fore
handed and fashionable, who were never
worth a row Of pins to Della. and there was
Der great uncle Johns widow larking on
the continent, gambling at Baden Baden,
and trying the waters of every mineral
spring Ia the three kingdoms, for no disease
under this sun but sjd age. She'd been known
to gay that her own folks were too rich al
ready, and probably she would endow Sorne
hospital with her property
Plainly, wealthy relatives were Of no value
To Mis- Della To b.. sure she mad never seen
her Uncle John had brought her into their
simple life for IA month visit with her French
maid and dresses. her jewels and fallals,
which won the heart Of her little napesake.
Since then her Uncle Johns widow had been
a sort Of gilded creation, always young and
always beautiful; for though Della had re-
eeived little gifts from time 10 time across the
sea for the last fifteen years, she had never
seen or heard any thing Of the being who had
inspired her youthful Imagination, and was
quite as uncertain II such a person as Mrs.
John Rogerson in the land Of the living.
Dead alive, she seemed TO have made no
difference In Delia's humdrum life After
having nursnd her father through long i'll
ness Della found that he had left heavy
mortgage I'll ihc homestead, and her mother
an herself on Tic hi n road to the poor house,
iunless they should l,estir themselves As her
lmother ~a- already bed ridden, the stirring
jnaturaliy l14 np0a Della, and she advertised
for SUIT ,.'r 'st.r'lcrs:
/ GOul u0er. ia Use country by the riverside. at
s,-geo '..4,- ID w-'k Large chambers, broad pl
Ialxa,. T. ,t-r4. berries and new milk. One mile
'rori t-'r, Nalress
ci--A .-.,geisoN, Croftstorough. Maine
"tA,Ap enough" commented an elderly
lady t-hp happened upon it. Della Roger
son AI Oh maid, suppose, Obliged to look
out Tor hcrcf | have good mind 10 try
her broad l,iii2zas and new milk II don't
like it therc'll be no harm done"
And so Delias first boarder arrived-an old
lady with false front Of hair, brown,
wrinkled skin faded eyes, black alpaca
gown and hair trunk. Della made her
welcome as il she had been duchess, lighted
wood fire in Mrs. Clements room, as the
night was damp and brought out her dainti
est cup and saucer with the faded old roses
wreathng them.
Wonderful kind reflected Mrs Clement,
as she conibed out her whisp of gray hair and
c0nfded her false front to box. Wonder
full kindness for seven dollars "a week. Shes
new 10 the trade. She's new to the trade.
Human nature doesn't change with ATTITUDES
She'll fluid it doesn't pay to consider the com
fort Of poverty stricken old creature"
But. in spite of her worldly WISDOM Mrs.
Clement was forced to confess that Della had
begun as she meant to hold out, though other
hoarders carne to demand her attention and
to multiply her cares The fret and jar of
conflicting teiapcraments under her roof was
a new exrerienc, to Della When Miss Gre
sotne complained Of the mosquitoes, with au
air as ii Miss Rogerson was responsible for
their creation, Of the flies, as If they were
new acquaintance; Of want of appetite. as
though Della had agreed To supply it. along
with the berries ami milk; of the weather, as
il she had pledged herself that there should
be no sudden changes to annoy her boar'lers,
of the shabby bouss and antiquated furniture,
too old for comfort and not old enough for
fashion''-then Della doubted If taking board
ers WINS her mission.
"W hat makes you keep us, my dearf'
asked Mrs. Clement. inter day when every
body and everything had seemed to go wrong
why didn', you ever marryf You had a
lover. dare sayF
Yes, long, long time ago"
Tell mo about hint"
There isn't much to tell He asked me to
marry him. lie was going to Australia /
couldn't leave mother and father you know
they were both feeble), and he couldn't stay
here That all"
And you -you"--
Now all men besides are to me like shad-
owns"
And have you never heard of him SINGER
YES he wrote: but where was the usel It
could never come to anything 1t was bet
ter for him to forget me and marry. l was
mill stone about his neck. didn't answer
his last letter
But suppose be should return some day:
would you marry himf
II dare say laughed Della gently, as II
the idea was familiar, "let the neighbors
laugh ever SO wisely I've thought of 1t
sometimes sitting alone, when the world was
barren and commonplace. One must have
recreation Of some kind, you know Every
body requires a little romance, little poetry
to flavor everyday thinking and doing I'm
afraid you Will think me silly old maid.
Mrs Clement
No The heart never grows old. The
skin shrivels the color departs. the eyes fade,
the features grow pinched; but the soul Is
the heir of eternal youths as beautiful at
four score Us at sweet and twenty Time
makes amends for the ravages of the body
by developing the spirit. You didn't tell me
your lovers name Perhaps you'd rather
not"
His name was Stephen Langdon. Some
times Capt Seymour runs against him in
Melbourne, and brings me word about how
he looks and what he is dong; though never,
newer. ask. and Stephen never asks for me,
that can hear
Delas summer boariers were not a sue
cess. to be sure. If they took no money out
of her pocket, they put none in. She was
obliged to che out her support with copying
for Lawyer Dunmore and embroidering for
dropped away, like the autumn leaves. all but
old Mrs. Clement
II believe III stay on" she said. I'm
getting too old to move often Perhaps
you'll take winter boarders ar reduced
rates EhT
DO you think my terms highf'
by no means But when ones purse u
low
Yes, know. Do stay at your cyn price
can't spare you"
She had grown such a fondness for the old
would have seemed like turning her mother
out of doors; besides, one mouth would not
signify But she found it hard to make both
ends meet, and often went hungry to bed that
her mother and Mira Clement might enjoy |
much, without there appearing to be Just |
a pattern" At Christmas, however came q |
ray of sunshine for Della in the shape of |
hundred dollar bill from an unknown |
friend
at can't be meant for me, she cried
Its directed to Della Rogersou," said her |
mother, and there's nobody else by that
name. now your aunt Della is dead"
I'VE are not sure she's dead" objected
Della
"Horrorsi Don't you know whether your
aunt is dead or alivefs asked Mrs. Clement in
a shocked tone.
at isn't our fault She is rich and lives
abroad was named for her. used to
look in the glass and try to believe I'd inner
tied her beauty with the name, though she
WAS only oar pra,e unsfsss