The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-03-21
$Giss Martha Bascom
Summer Boardc;
"Bc you my boarder?"
leasure.

49, ""I "n t'iiuscu 'ooh IL L for the
Martha Bascom, then be-"
The other woman drew 10 low ar,h
Oh reilet. was SO afraid, quaI'ai
that something would hi IN to
hender your coming. Now, jus as soon
asuthe cars are out of sight, I'll bring
around the horse, and we will(go home.
It's Deacon Kinds horse, and he's
dreadful afraid of railroads."
Disappearing behind the ST tion for
a moment, she presently camd leading
very mecl1-looking animal. She
held him by the bit, at arm'$ length,
and seemed very much afraid he
would step on her. It wins quite
evident Martha did not feel lat home
with horses.
The small trunk was placed in the
back of the open wagon by thd, station
master, and climbing up beside her
driver, the boarder, whose ndme was
Marcia Ames, presently found herself
riding down most beautiful country
road
1t had been a warm June dhy, and
the sun was still hot on the little depot
platform, but as they turned into the
shady highway, q cool breckc met
them, laden with all the fragrance of
the pines and other sweet odorsI of the
wood. The wild roses made pink all
the hedges. On one side Marci;L saw
meadow white with daisies lilsk sum-
mer snow; and when Martha Bhscom.
on meeting carriage, turned lout to
let 1T go by, her wheels crush9d the
mint that grew by the roadside. and
the strong fragrance came to Marcia
like welcome. She sighed with con-
tent. II am glad | answered that queer
advertisements" she said to herself,
and L Will stay here all sum1@er, if
things are bcarablc."
What lovely road" she said Ito her
companion.
"Aint it?" replied Martha. "3Somc-
times when I'm worried most to death,
| walk down the depot road, as WE call
it, and my cares all fade away. and
things don't seem worth mindingl"
Miss Ames looked at her. ga char
acter," she thought, 'and one that
shall like to study"
She saw Il straight figure that dis
dained the support of the back of the
seat; careworn face with grave Erav
eyes and Il smiling mouth that did not
seem to belong to the rest of the face.
She was dressed in brown chcalzcd
bingham, as clean as possible; Iyou
could see the folds where it had lbeen
ironed. She wore a shade hat With
strings, which were tied in prim bow
under n rather square chin.
She looked up and caught Mard.ias
glance.
II hope" she said, "you won't laAgh
at my hat; 1 can't bear bunnctsl l
know hats ere for girls; but 1 but
strings on this and thought Il hey
would take the curse Off"
81 am not girl" sal ID Marcia, pldas-
antly, and 1 have hat in my tru ak.
hope you won't insist on my putting
strings on it."
oh" replied the other, you c hn
wear what you have mind to; L dol t
care.
"You need not be surprised" she
went on, 'if folks looll pretty sharp hit
you. You see didn't tell anybody |
was going to take n boarder, and they
don't know who you can be. 1 hobo
you will be contentcd. haven't gpt
much room, but 1 can give you a gold
bed. And I've bought Il hammock ftbr
You. All the summer boardcrs evdr
heard of loved to set in them"
And Marcia assured her She lovcd
hammoclss, and did not care for room,
as she intended to live out of doors
most of the time.
People did stare when they met thems
and presently the horse was brought tt5
n standstill by Martha before the Cata
of low, red house on the side OF HILL
and She told her companion she had
got home. You go in the front door,'1
said she, land will get somebody to}
help me out with the trunk, and carryl
the horse home. Go ia and turn to thc{
left. 1 won't be but q minute"
Marcia followed directions, and found
herself in large front room The
floor was painted yellow, and was so
clean it shonc; various worn places
wercitrying to hide undo. braided mats,
and everything was spotlessly clean
Between the two front windows n table
was set for two. Her dining-room,"
she said to herself, cor her Kitchen as
she caught sight of Il small cook stove.
a door opened between the side win
dows, and Marcia saw piazza with a
hammock in shady corner. There
was a homemade lounge in one part of
the room, and She sat down on it,
thinking she would not remove her
bonnet until she went to her room
And then Martha came in; she united
her hat-strings with nervous hands.
81 don't know how to tell YOU" she
said. but this is all the house I've got
/ know it's ridiculous for me TO think
Of taking Il boarder, but I've got TO
earn some money somehow, and there