The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-15


I've good mind to get along without any
one this winter. II It wasn't for that driftF'
For old Abiga. had died during the
summer and the starch for her success
sor had been without success. Many can
didates offered themselves; young. middle
aged and old women. anxious 10 secure
such snug winter quarters. But all appli-
cants bad been rejected without hesita-
tion their unftness was so evident. Miss
Roxana sitting between the fire and the
tea table reviewed this part of the stu
alton with frowning face.
IT'S as good as settled" she said en-
phatically, "thaf I'm to spend the winter
somewhere besides at home. The ques-
ton is, shall it be with Lucretia in Bos-
ton or with Helen in Westborough? I've
always wanted 10 see what living in a
city was like, but Helen needs the money
most and shall insist on paying for my
board and feeling independent
A slight cough interrupted her train of
thought. She rose, laid the letters upon
the table, walked across the room and
took down from its place beside the clock
on the mantle-shelf a square bamboo box
with a close cover. The box was lined
with white tissue paper and was nearly
full Of candy, fiat white peppermint
waters, hoarhound and lemon drops and
chocolate creams. Miss Roxana looked ap-
provingly a the display of good things
while she picked out daintily between
thumb and forefnger a plump yellow
lemon drop
This last lot of cough drops is par
ticularly good" she soliloquized, prob
ably because it's fresh
She would have bitten out her tongue
sooner than have owned to so childish a
weakness as a liking for candy. MY
throat feels rough and I shall have a
spell Of coughing if 1 don't take some
thing for it," was her excuse when any
one saw yer open the bamboo box. This
explanation had served her so many
years that any misgivings she may have
fell in her early use of IL had vanished
and she never doubted 1t was the abso-
lutte truth.
When she had replaced the box the tea
table caught her attention and she seated
herself behind the teapot. no longer
stea ming.
The letters living beside her plate con-
tanned many bits Of family news. but the
central point of interest in each was
paragraph referring 10 her dilemma.
Mrs. Lucretia Bennett. the Boston niece,
wrote:
My rooms will seem very small to
you, they are tiny compared to those in
your big house. and the sunshine is cut
off from us on all SIDES but one. l speak
of these things so that you may not be
disappointed when you see my home for
yourself. You will be heartily welcome IL
you decide 10 come. There is a warm
chamber entirely at your disposal You
| speak of paying your board that Is a
matter we can settle after you arrive in
Boston. Whatever arrangement promises
you the most satisfaction will please me
the best
Mrs Helen DrfscolI, who lived In West
| borough, endad her letter in this way:
Il can hardly hope that with the city
and all it's attractions promising you IN
limited enjoyment you will be satisfied TO
spend any length of time with me. We
are very dull here but we are eomforta-
BILE, and there is a sunny bedroom on the
ground focr that you can have il you
come. am not going 10 pretend that the
money YOU propose TO pay for board
would not be mort we1c me. fer you know
how difficult it is for us to keep Eva at
school and yet make the ends meet, but
you must not let that consideration in
fuence your choice. Why not pay Lucre-
tia and myself Zach a FIR nights visit
% begin with; l am sure you owe US
10 hat much satisfacti7n. Then when
YOU have seen Boston ard Westborough
for yourself you can make your selec-
ton"
Miss Roxana ate her cold supper and
sat down to answer the two letters The
writing mat rails were spread broadcast
yer the table ard the bamboo box stocd
beside the inkbotte.
IT'S too ser Gus a matter to be decided
In the da k" sh said 20 re self "He'en S
o!an is a good one and I'm going to fol-
! W it. Two eks from to day 1 shah e
to Bos on, and four weeks from to-day l
hall be in w stborough. G >odness knows
what will happen after that
Until the last day of her visit in West
borough Miss Roxanafn suffered many
pangs of indecision. She inioyed the
noise and stir of the city. The electric
rars whizzing past a corner visible from
Mrs. Bennets parlor windows were a
source of interest that never failed. TIM
hand organs, the changing bells Of the scis-
sors grinders the peddlers who shouted
their wares through the streets, and the
rag and bottle collectors were all delight
Jul novelties. There were, however. a few
hindrances to perfect enjoyment Her
room was so small that when she walked
n the early morning according to her Gus
ton and lay waiting for the first sounds
that should show the family were stirring
she often had a sense of suffoca ton the
walls were SO close to her on every side
Sometimes, too, she felt as if she were a
| prisoner in her niece'S house, for she dill
not dare venture out without a guide: the
! streets were a labyrinth she would not trv
with her every day, and in two weeks had
shown her enough of the city to serve for
conversational purposes the rest of her
| life. II was all delightful, but IL ANNOYED
her that her movements schould be de-
pendent on the convenience of another
persons.
She found Westborough, a little village
a few miles out from Boston, very quiet
and uninteresting. But she could put on
her wraps and walk 10 the postoffice or
go on errands for Mrs. Driscoll as freely
as if she were in her own home.
on the morning of the last day of her
two weeks in Westborough she was out
of bed as soon as there was light enough
for her to dress. Grim determination was
written on her face.
I've been dilly-dallying long enough, :"
she scolded to herself land the thing is
going tQ be settled before breakfast"
Her toilet was made hurriedly and then
she sat down before che bureau to argue
the matter out with herself. A wrinkled
old face glared fiercely at her from the
| mirror above the bureau, and she shook
her head disapprovingly in recognition
Of the culprit.
"You, RoXana Tucker are old enough
TO have some idea of what you want and
yet you haven't got as much mind as a
chickenr
Then she SEE herself seriously to con-
slider the case
so far as the money goes" she mused
y guess Lucreta needs it as much as
Helen does, though she wouldn't own IL