San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-01-03

Mrs. Judge -Dorr. One by one her boarders
dropped away, like the autumn leaves, all but
old Mrs. Clement.
81 believe I'll stay on," she said. "Tm
getting too old to move often. Perhaps
you'll take winter boarders at reduced
rates. EhF
'Do you think my terms high"
by no means. But when ones purse is
lew"- ;.
YES know, Do stay at your own price.
/ can't spare you"
Sue had grown such fondness for the old
lady that to refuse her at her own terms
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 Mrs. Clement might enjoy
much, without there appearing to be Just
a pattern At Christmas, however, came a
ray of sunshine for Della, in the shape of
a hundred dollar bill from an unknown
friend
1T can't be meant for ME" she cried.
ITS directed to Della Rogerson," said her
mother, land there's nobody else by that
name, now your aunt Della is dead"
I'VE are not sure she's dead" objected
Della.
Horrors Don't you know whether your
aunt is dead OF alivel' 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 inher-
tied her beauty with the name, though she
was only our great uncle's wife"
''She ought to do something for you"
How can she, if she's deadl don't blame
her anyway. Her money is her own to use
according to her pleasure. Uncle John made
it himself and gave it to her,"
But if she should come back to you, hay
ing run through with it, you'd divide your
crust with her, I'll be bound"
Il suppose should" said Della,
The winter wore away, as winters will,
and the miracles of spring began in fields
and waysides; and Delia's boarders returned
with the June roses and dropped away again
with the falling leaves, and still Mrs. Clement
staid on and on. Just now she had been for
some weeks in arrears with her reduced board.
No money had been forthcoming for some
time, and she was growing more feeble daily
needed the luxuries Of an invalid and the at
tentions of a nurse, both of which Della be-
slowed upon her without taking thought of
the morrow.
II must hear from my man of business to-
morrow, Della Pm knee deep in debt to
you" she began one night.
Don't mention it," cried Della. II had
rather never see a cent Of it than have you
take it to heart. You're welcome to stay and
share pot luck with US, you're such comfort
to mother and ME-"
THANK you, my dear. I've grown as fond
of you as if you were my own flesh and blood.
There, turn down the light, please. Draw
the curtain, dear, and put another stick on
the fire, please 1t grows chilly, doesn't iti
You might kiss me just once, il you wouldn't
mind It's hundred years or so since any
one kissed me-"
And the next morning when Della carried
up Mrs. Clements breakfast, her boarder lay
cold and still upon the pillows.
The first shock over, Della wrote directly
to the lawyer of whom she had heard Mrs
Clement speak as having charge of her af
fairs, begging him to notify that lady's rela-
tives if she had any. In reply Mr.. Willis
wrote:
THE late Mrs. Clement appears to have no
near relatives. Some distant cousins, who,
having an abundance of this worlds goods,
yet served her shabbily when she tested their
generosity, as she tried yours, are all that re-
main of her family. In the meantime | in
close you a copy of her last will and tesla
ment to peruse at your leisure"
What interest does he think take in Mrs.
Clements will"' thought Della, but read new
ertheleSS:
Being of sound mind this 10th day of June,
49,, l, Della Rogerson Clement, do hereby leave
one hundred dollars to each of my cousins; and
bequeath the residue of my property, viz: Thirty
thousand dollars invested in the Ingot Mining
Co., fifty thousand in United States bonds twenty
thousand in Fortune flannel mills, and my jewels
to my beloved niece of my first husband. John
Rogerson DELLA ROBERTSON,
Of Croftsborough, Me.
For l was a stranger, and ye took me in; hun.
cry, and ye fed me; sick, and ye ministered unto
me-"
Goodness alive" cried the neighbors,
when the facts reached their ears. What a
profitable thing it is to take boarders! Every
body in town will be trying to. OF course
Steve Langdon will come home and marry
her, if she were forty old maids You may
stick pin in there"
Della did not open her house to boarders
the next season She found enough to do in
looking after her money and spending it; in
replying TO letters from INDECENT people, who
seemed to increase alarmingly; in receiving
old friends, who suddenly found time to re-
member her existence And sure enough,
among the rest appeared Steve Langdon, and
all the village said:
II told you So"
cts not my fault that you and are single
yet, Della" he said.
"And we are too old to think of change
now, Steve"
"Nonsensel It's never too late to mend.
I'm not rich, Della, but I've enough for two