The Van Buren press., 1895-03-23
A LONELY SOUL.
Miss Martha Basoom and Hel
Summer Boarder.

Miss Martha Bascom and Her
Summer Boarder.
s'Be you my boarder?"
The person addressed looked around
with . smile At her questioner. She
had Just alighted from the cars at q
xayside station among the hills, and
there was an amused look In her dark
eyes, as she answered: "If you are Miss
Martha Bascom, then be-"
! The other woman drew long breath
Of relief. II was 10 afraid" she said,
s.that something would happen to
hender your coming. Now, just as soon
- the 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.
I Disappearing behind the station for
. moment, she presently came leading
3 very meek-looking animal. She
held him by the bit, at arms length,
and seemed very much afraid he
would step ON her. It was quite
evident Martha did not feel at home
with horses.
! The small trunk was placed In the
back Of the open wagon by the station
master, and climbing up beside her
driver, the boardcr, whose name was
Marcia Ames, presently found herself
riding down most beautiful country
road.
/ II had been warm June dav, and
the sun was still hot on the little depot
platform, but as they turned into the
shady highway, cool breeze met
them, laden with all the fragrance oi
the pines and other sweet odors Of the
wood. The wild roses made pink all
the hedges. On one side Marcia saw a
meadow white with daisies, like sum.
mer snow; and when Martha Bascom,
ON meeting a carriage, turned out to
let 1t 60 by, her wheels crushed 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
advertisement" she said to herself,
land / will stay here all summer, II
things are bearable."
"What lovely road!' she said to her
conpanion.
s.Aint it," replied Martha. "Some-
times when I'm worried most to death,
4 walk down the depot road, as we call
it, and my cares all fade away, and
things don't seem worth minding."
Miss Ames looked ut her. "a char
acter," she thought, ''and one that l
shall like to study"
She saw straight figure that dis
dained the support Of the back of the
seat; careworn face with grave gray
eyes and smiling mouth that did not
seem to belong TO the rest Of the face.
She was dressed In brown checked
gingham, as clean as possible; you
could see the folds where It had been
ironed. She wore shade hat with
strings, which were tied In prim bow
under . rather square chin.
She looked up and caught Marcia's
glance.
II hope" she said, ''you won't laugh
at my hat; can't bear bunnets.
know hats are for girls; but l put
strings oY this and thought they
would take the curse off,"
II am not girl" said Marcia, pleas
antly, ''and have hat In my trunk.
i hope you won't insist on my putting
strings ON It,"
''Ohl" replied the other, ''you car
wear what you have . mind 10; don't
care.
"You need not be surprised" she
went on, III folks look pretty sharp q,
you. You see didn't tell anybody
was going to take q boarder, and they
don't know who you can be. I hope
you will be contented. haven't got
much room, but can give you a good
bed. And I've bought q hammock fol
you. All the summer boarders l evel
heard OF loved to set in them"
And Marcia assured her she loved
hammocks, and did not care for room
as she intended to live out Of door
most of the time.
People did stare when they met them
and presently the horse was brought t.
standstill by Martha before the gat.
of low, red house on the side of hill
and she told her companion she hat
got home. You go in the front door,
said she, land will get somebody I,
help me out with the trunk, and carr,
the horse home. Go in and turn to tn,
left. Iwon't be but . minute"
Marcia followed directions, and fount
herself In large front room. TIL,
floor was painted yellow, and was 81
clean 1t shone; various worn place
were trying to hide under braided mats
and everything was spotlessly clean
Between the two front windows tabl,
was set for two. "Her dining-room,
she said to herself, ''or her kitchen" a
she caught sight of a small cook-stove
A door opened between the side win
dows, and Marcia saw piazza with
hammock In shady corner. Their
was homemade lounge in one part o
the room, and she sat down on 1t
thinking she would not remove he
bonnet until she went to her room.
And then Martha came In; she untie'
her hat-strings with nervous hands.
II don't know how TO tell you," sh
said, but this is all the house I've got
know it's ridiculous for me to thin
of taking boarder, but I've got b
earn some money somehow, and ther
didn't seem to be any other way"
She held out her hands, and Marci
saw that they trembled. II will d
well by, you," she went on; "do sa
that you will put up with it and stay
You don't know what it will be to me.
There was something in the woman
face that touched Marcia. ''She is
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