The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-01-23
SELECTED STORY.
A Lonely Soul,
''Be YOU nv boarder?"

WhHelut bldllOu dluODR thO blllS, anu
there was an amused look in her dark
eyes, as she answered, "1f you are
Miss Martha Bascom, then / be-"
The other woman drew long breath
of relief. 81 was so afraid" she said,
"thst something would happen 10 hen
der your coming. Now, just as soon
round the horse, and we will 60 home.
It's Deacon Hinds' horse, and he's
dreadful afraid of railroads"
Disappearing behind the station for
moment, she PRESENTLY came leading
avery moek-loobing animal She held
him by the bit, at arms length, and
seemed very much afraid that he would
step on her. 1t was quite evident Mar
tba 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 boarder, whose meme wss
Marcia Ames, presently found herself
riding down most beautiful country
road.
Ii he'd be en- warm June day, and
the sun was still bot on the little DEF OF
platform, but as they turned into the
shady highway, a cool breeze n ct them,
laden with all the fragrance of the
pines and olher sweet odors of the
wood. The wild roses made pink all
the hedges. On one side Marcia saw
meadow white with daisies, like sum.
mer snow; and when Martha Bascom,
on me etipg a carriage, turned out to let
it go by, her wheels crushed the mint
that grew by the roadside, ,snd the
strong fragrance came to Marcia like a
welcome. She sighed with content.
81 en- clad | answered that queer ad
vertisem DC MT" she said to hers elf, "snd
will stay here all summer, if things
are tearable."
"What lovely roadl" che said to her
companion.
"Aiht III" re piled Msrths. "Some-
tinss ben I'm orried N ost to death,
walk down the depot road, ss we call
it, ard ny cares oil fade away, and
thires don't seen worth mindiDg."
Miss Ames locked al her. "a char
scter," she thought, ''snd one that l
81 all like 10 study"
Size saw a straight figure that dis
dsined the support Of The hack of the
seat; a csre-worn face with grave gray
eyes and a smiling mouth that did not
seem TO belong 10 the rest of the fsce.
SIZE was dressed in a brown checkt d
girehi m, ss clean as possible; you
could see the folds where il be d been
irored. She wore shade bat with
stir gs, which were tic d in prim bow
under rather square chip.
She looked up and caught Maj cia's
glance.
81 hore,' she said, "you won't
laugh al NY hat; l can't bear bunnets.
/ know hats are for girls; but l put
strings on this, and thought they would
take tie curse off.
81 am rot eil," said Marcia pleas
entity, ar d have lat in my Trunk.
/ hope you won't insist on my putting
strings on it,"
"Ob!" replied the other, "you can
wear what you have mind to; don't
care"
"You need not be surprised," she
went Oh, if folks look pretty sharp at
you. You see, didn't tell anybody l
wss going TO take bosrder, and they
don't know who you can be. l hope
you will be coptenttd. haven't got
much room, hut can give you gcod
led. And I've fought a hammock for
you. All the sun mer toarders | ever
heard OF love to set in them"
Ahu ass uISu HGl EuC IONtu
hann ocks, and did not care for room,
as she intended TO live out Of doors
ost of the time.
them, and presently the horse was
fore the gate of low red house on the
panion they bad got home. "You 60
in fYcpt 1oNr enid bo sIo,l 7
will get som tCdy to help me out with
your trunk, and carry the horse home.
Go in and turn to the left. Iwon't be
but minute"
Marcia followe direclio ms, and found
herself in large front room. TIE
floor YVES painted yellow, and was so
clean it shone; various worn places
were trying TO hide under braided mats,
and everything was spotle SLY clean.
Between The two front wiz dows a table
was set for two. "Her dinipg-roo M"
the esid 10 herself, cor her Kitchen"
fs she ctugbt sight of small cook
stove. A door opered between the
side windo VS., fnd Marcia saw piazza
with a ban mock in shady corner.
There was bone made lounge in one
part OF Il e roc 10, and she sat down on
IT, 'bIbf IL eLe WtuIu DCJ II move Der
bonnet until she went to her room.
And then Martha came in; she I'M
tied her bat.strings with nervous hands.
dent know how TO tell you," she
said, "but this is all Il e house I've got.
/ know it's ridiCult us for me 10 think
of taking boarder, but I've got to
earn some money sometCw W, and there
didn't seem to be any other way"
She held out her hands, and Marcia
saw that they tren bled. 81 will do
well by you" she went on; "do say
that you will put up with it ard stay.
You don't know what it will be to me-"
There was something in The woman's
fece that touched Marcia. "She's in
trouble" she thought, land am going
to help her"
She smiled reassuripgly. elf you
don't think l shall crowd YOU" she
said, "pll stay. But you don't mean
Iat 10 10 oil h.,