The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-05
Our Daily Short Stories
THE NEW BOARDER.
BY SARA BEAUMONT KENNEDY.
copyright. 1901. by Authors syndicate.l

18th This was because she stud
I'd their comforts and often regulated
..o,,. troublesome small arairs; LOT
1ov was a born manager ana
~. "a have a finger in other pies be-
+ba ones baked in her oven. Her
So. was as full of kindness as her
.odv was of soft creases and her
account book of overdue bills Conse-
GENTLY her boarders, who called her
'H,,adomp adored her. These latter
&c curiously assorted company. On
.be first floor, front, were the MISSES
v,l+on spinsters of uncertain ages; be-
Mind them dwelt Mrs. Dow and her tall
niece with a nervous cough. In the
"oor, above bookkeeper and two staid
clerks were established, and across the
hall from these were other clerks and
dancing master and his little old
wife The third story madam called the
war department" for there dwelt
Mai Mills, the Mexican veteran,
nompous relic of by-gone chivalry;
ri Ford, who was with Lee IN Vlr-
Stnia " and Bobby Barton, who had
had a ndnO III Tic idIC swap "iNAA
Snain Many hours did these three
spend going over their campaigns, the
major always carefully explaining that
he was but a boy, only Is when the
war ended
"Only 15-wasn't that very young to
he made a major?" asked one of the
clerks one day And the major fixed
him with his fine eyes and answered,
pravely: "Sir, in the history of war
stranger things have happened" After
that nobody questioned the validity of
his title.
In such a spirit of friendliness did
this household dwell together that
smoking jackets and dressing sacks
came to the dinner table without any
apology, and sometimes when the dane
ing mistress was to play with her hus-
band at a child's party she came down
with her hair still in papers, that her
curls might be crisp for the evening.
Madam declared they were all "lovely
people," but everybody knew that Bob
by and the major were her favorites,
for she always gave Bobby the biggest
piece of pie: and among the other
boarders there was vague belief that
some day she would marry the major
and so square up his long overdue
board bill. This yelled romance was
lllE only thilt6 VI tue hiHl tilC AOuSE-
hold, and had been discovered by Miss
Sally Fulton, and had found her one
day with her darning gourd, weeping
over the state of the majors socks.
Sally. child. doesn't he need a wo-
man to look after him." she had said:
and Sally, child" who was 40, told it
in whispers to the other ladies'. But
that had been five years ago, and mat
ters seemed no further advanced. The
major still sat opposite madam at the
end of the long table, and put his hand
upon his heart each morning when he
bowed to her. but that was all.
Bobby, who was always lazy on Sun
day mornings had hahitsa6i kissing
madam on the cheek for tho warm
breakfast she saved him: y and the
niece who was romantic as well as
nervous, watched thrillingly each Sab
path to see the major call the young
man TO task for his presumption.
His self-control is wonderful, she
said to the Misses Fulton, "but some
morning he'll forget himself and there
VIII be high words, perhaps even a
duel-and We'll all be questioned and
interviewed in the papers"
And so she and Miss Sally winked
at each other every Sunday morning
but their vigil was fruitless, for If the
Major looked up from his paper at
sound of the salute he only grunted
something about 'rewarding laziness,"
at which madam laughed.
rms was the state of things in the
household when one night madam rap
ped on the table, as was her wont
when she wished the attention of the
company and announced piece of
news new boarder was coming.
l hesitated about bringing a strang-
er among us" madam said, but she
works in one of the studios In the
next block, and this location was so
convenient. Besides, this ~right-hand
SIDE of the table needed one more
plate to make things even."
You say she works in a studio?
hope she is not model" said Mrs.
DOW, with scared look at the niece
whose thirtieth summer had run out
It's last golden sand.
Of course not" replied madam,
sunny; do you suppose l would ex-
pose my household to such contact?"
ana Mrs. Dow hastily apologized,
While the Others nodded their salts
faction.
There are many elderly women
VINO do work about the studios; they
are quite a respectable class" said
Miss Fulton.
A haNe 10 put HeT III lDe emu
room IN the war department, but I
shall feel quite safe about her, know
ing she is under such protection"
s sdlu madam. And the three genera
lions OF warriors looked virtuous and
poWeo their acceptance of the trust.
mat night there was little sup
pressed excitement when they gath
GREG about the supper table.
l nope she will not be abnormally
ugly Bobby whispered to the niece,
WIN rueful glance at the chair d.
rectly opposite to him, where the
newcomer was to sit. Then every
nouy grew silent, for madam was
waddling in, and behind her came a
Silh young girl with riotous golden
mar and face like a Dresden shep-
herdess for freshness and beauty. She
was simply but effectively dressed in
Iralllng dark skirt with red-hued
U,ouice' and the flower in her hair was
h1 me me nush of dawn. In that assem-
oy, where not even the niece essayed
"nylhlng brighter than ''just a touch of
maroon this bodice seemed like bit
vi gorgeous tropic color suddenly To-
0u .a the light Of the fiaring gas Jets.
g.. Dear me, she seems very young and
Ip1Iy0lous!" whispered the niece; but
buddy did not hear--he was waiting
thpI,antly his turn to be presented to
me slim girl.
iler advent marked an era in ma
uans household, so that the Others
aIu tnat such and such things hap
~ petore or after the coming of Fe-
~, ROSS. Everybody talked about
wa eFerynody watched her appealing
$50 particularly with the men--and
taeryDody, except the niece, waited on
io vI Inc bookkeeper and his clerks