The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-08-15

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| could not have looked tireder, hotter or
dustier than he did when finally he an-
peared at her front door. 1t was an at
tractive front door--that is, 1t would
have been II II had been standing open
| irto the wide hall. with the breath of
June and June roses blowing through IL.
But at the moment it was shut fast, and
when his knock was finally responded
to there was an ominous and thunder
Gus r.nbarring of bolt, implying that
Jure rose would have hard work to
send IL even a Whit through crack.
But behold! When it did open the
June Rose lad been behind it all the
time. 1t was cad in pink, and it had
cheeks like girl, and it was good to
look at.
Excuse me-" he stammered. u am
the new boarder."
Excuse me-" she said, sweetly. But
you can't be, for l am the new boarder
myself"
"Oh," he said. family. This, then,
was not his hostess. Then | think l
must be newer boarder."
81 will call Miss Matilda" said the
June Rose, incapable of coping with
this logician. Would he come in?
OF course he would come in. He had
come to stay
The June Rose walked across the
hall.
miss Matilda, another boarder has
come"
"very WELL" said the unsurpassed
Miss Matilda, rolling up her knitting.
"I expected him."
For Miss Matilda was not one Of those
who advertise and wait. She knew
that all that would be necessary was
for her to announce that she woul1
take boarders. OF course, they would
come if they were once permitted.
Good evening"" she said, politely, as
she entered the south parlor.
In half an hour they were all at the
tea table, luXuriating in the pleasant
sense of stimulating novelty. The
cold ham was pink and thin and de-
licious, the biscuit had risen" prop
erly, and the waffles were done to a
turn. Miss Matilda was the only UNI
excited person present. Things had
turned out exactly as she had intended
they should, and she was content.
The June Rose was agreeably stimu-
lated by the prospect of more fun than
she had anticipated Mr.. Grahame
johnson believed himself in Paradise.
And Hiram? Hiram was surprise.
Grahame had expected lean, lank
countryman, devoted to corn; and be-
hold, he was a student from western
college, merely seeking rest and recrea-
ton in the friendly tilling OF his aunt's
pastures as diversion. Mr.. johnson
felt little afraid of Hiram. His name
was against him, but everything else
appeared to be in his favor. Why Mr..
johnson was not agreeably surprised at
finding the other young man attractive
seems unreasonable; but it had a rea-
son.
After tea they walked in the garden
the sweet, old-fashioned rose-scent-
ed garden, and the June Rose explained
to him the programme for the season.
i've found out her idea. She wants
| to give the town ii bicycle. And she
means to pay for it by her boarders.
Not out of the profits, mind you, she
isn't going to charge herself with the
expenses; she is going to turn over to
the town every cent we pay her. She
says: Lor, child! What with all this
garden sauce, and the well, and the
apples, and the corn, it won't cost any
thing to keep YOU What troubles her
is the meat question. Meat in the coun-
try is dear and not always to be had
even at that. So you must tell her to-
night that you never eat beefsteak for
breakfast, but prefer just coffee and d
biscuit Then we must manage to be
away great deal at dinner time-bi-
cycling, you know
"Together?' interrupted the young
nan, joyfully.
"And then we can come home to an
early tea"-the June Rose ignored his
allusion to companionship-"a have
cold ham and sardines. You see she will
get on beautifully"
"She," murmured Grahame.
| les, snt. II NJ uldtttI dDoub us
am determined the town shall have
that BICYCLE mean, those bicycles
for she wants two. Then we must ar
range to stay till very late in the sea
SON"
81 will" asscnted Grahame, eagerly
"And then, when we GO ready to go
we mus. present her with our bicycles!
At this elimination the June RIOS,
looked triumphantly at the newer
boarder, as If she had achieved master
piece of diplomacy.
"Well. really"
ayes, really. We can assure her thai
they are in good condition, and In
sure she will net mind their being
secondhand, she admires them 30
Papa is going to give me new bicycle
for Christmas, anyway; and I'm per
fectly sure you will never be satisfied
with 'o6 when you see hat improve
ments '97 will have; so you see we
might us well be generous with the OLD
ones"
Perhaps she would want 'o7, too,
murmured Grahame, feebly.
"Oh, no! I'm quite SURF she would be
satisfied. And if you shouldn't want to
give yours away, surely you would lei
her have it very cheap under the circum-
stances?"
Certainly, certainly"
Then it's bargain" and the June
Rose tripped away-to ask Hiram about
something.