Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-10-21
THAT CITY BOARDER.
Why tho Mardons Are Glad They
Took Her for the Summer.

more coy home in the whole county
than the Mardon cottage on this bright
summer morning. The swayine
branches Of the Rnarled old apple tree,
beside the open kitchen door, held full
many a feathered warbler, whose mu-
sic, fresh and sweet, seemed calling all
to rejoice.
But the mistress of the little home
needed not the invitation. These sum-
mer mornings were very trying to her,
In more ways than one. The kitchen,
although picturesque to the beholder,
was decidedly warm and uncomforta-
bic; there was an ironing and some
baking to attend to, besides dinner to
prepare for the hungry harvesters
"Only one pair of hands to attend to
all this; no wonder feel tired. Plenty
Of men in the field, but no girl to help
In the house. II were a girl again, I
believe"
/ A loud shrek from baby interrupted
her soliloquy. and hastily making her
way to the sitting-room. sad trial of
her patience awaited her. The little
boy, on awakening had, grasped the
tab2ecloth in order to gain his some
what unsteady feet, and frightened
by the havoc he had made, screamed
Justify.
'Oh dear! almost time to begin pre-
pairing dinner; will this child never
stop crying?"
At last, after. many efforts on the
mothers part, Freddie ceased fretting,
and establishing his bsbyship on the
floor with a basket of playthings, Mrs
Mardon started for the kitchen and
was soon busily engaged in the prosaic
work of preparing vegetables.
'Milly. have letter from Mr.. Col
burn; he wishes to send his daughter
here for q few months. He will pay
we'll for her board and we need the
money. want to begin laying away
something to buy farm for Steve; he
would be good deal steadier if he had
something of the kind to look forward
to, think"
A look of Impotence, blending into
sorrow, came into the wife's face. To
her the prospect of boarder was any
thing but pleasant, and at the mention
OF Steve her heart was filed with
sharp pang, the keen sorrow which
mother feels as she realizes that the
hopes which have for years sustained
her, that Of her son taking an honored
and useful place in the world, are to be
dashed to the ground.
"Weu, I had better write and tell
her to come. Her father says she didn't
want to 60 to the seaside with the rest
Of the family. She is pretty particular,
and you better fix up the spare cham.
Der, I guess"
"I Win do the best can, but there
Is 90 much work to do now it seems
impossible for me to do more. But I
suppose we must take her to board"
"Why, OF course, Milly; ready money
isn't so plentiful that we can afford to
miss the chance Of making a little ex-
ira when we can"
He was soon on his way to the field.
Alone with her thoughts, Mrs. Mardon
indulged In some bitter reflections.
The prospect of fastidious young lady
boarder was anything but pleasant to
the weary, overworked wife and
mother.
Frank is so anxious to make money
he thinks of nothing else. If he had
been different, more Ienient with
Steve's boyish pranks, it would have
been better. Perhaps if I had spent
moro time talking with him and en-
couragtng him he would have been
steadier; but I've always been too tired
to take the time when my work was
done, and now the children seem grow
ing away from me. Meta is determined
to keep up an intimacy with the Down
ings, and Tom Downing is not the man
should want her to marry. am sorry
she went to learn trade, for her work
takes her around too much, and need
her help at home"
Light footsteps were now heard and
the subject Of the mothers reflections
entered, a fair-haiEed, laughing girl of
eighteen years.
"Deari how warm this kitchen is.
Do hurry with the dinner, mother.
Father Is coming with the men from
soon as can"
Dinner is ready, daughter. Can't
you help me q nttleP"
1T have got to sew a rufne in my
dress Where is Lizzie? I should think
she might help; she has nothing to do
but go to school, while I am at work
all the time"
Lizzie hasn't come from school yet.
think I can get along now very WE'LL"
and the foolishly indulgent mother
hurriedly dished the food as the me
entered the kitchen
Naturally selfish and indolent, Meta
shirked all the household tasks posi-
BILE She was not utterly heartless, but
so accustomed was she to seeing her
mother at work, that it seemed quite
the proper thing to have her assume all
the work and responsibility. 1t was
seldom that Mrs. Mardon required any
service Of her daughters, and when this
was the case, important duties usually
demanded their attention elsewhere.
To be sure she had entered feeble
protest when Meta wished to learn the
dressmaker's trade; told her she need
cd her help at home, but In the end the
girl carried her point It was natural
she should want to earn money to buy
the pretty dresses, the Thousand and
one trif1es in which a young girl de-
lights, 80 the mother reasoned.
The guest chamber was in readiness
for the expected occupant by the next
evening, and was as inviting as clean
illness and simple. dainty furnishing
could make it.
Meta was to 60 to the station for the
guest, an GRAND which she performed
with alacrity.
It was twilight when Desiree Colburn
reached the farmhouse and, as she
went directly to her room, the family
saw little of the stylish young lady
whom each confidently expected.
"She has beautiful travelling dress
and brought two trunks with her."
Meta announced when they were alone.
"Humph! q stuck-up city girl likely.
who thinks country people are no.
body" Steve retorted, as he started on
his regular evening walk to the one
store the place afforded. With a sigh
his mother looked after him.