Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-09-02
CHAPTER I.

shoes showed from beneath the bind
ing of her dress; her hat, plain
black felt was tied on and down with
a veil. but in front bang OF curly
| yellow hair peeped and struggled
through. She had a thin face and
high cheek-bones, and laughing,
nnNious eyc-a curious combins
| alton.
Come up on the piazza" 1 said,
"and sit down. How long do YOU
want it for?"
She entered the gate and covered
the few steps to the house. 1 no.
ticed with what quiet step she
walked, and the thought flashed
through MY mind, "She at least will
not disturb Aunt Jane Mary" She
took Two broad steps upward with
the same silent tread, and spoke in
a low voice, now that we were close
together.
II cannot tell for how long" she
said, answering my question. 81 am
here on particular mission. That
mission may be accomplished in a
week, and it may take six months.
Are You willing to let me have the
| room hy the week?"
Now / had never said that I had
a room for rent, but evidently she
had heard somewhere in the neigh
borhood that ! did let my lower
rooms when / could do so at proper
rates. 1t helped me on with Toms
college bills; and Aunt Jane Mary's
electricity had to be paid for some
| how.
The room is on the ground floor,
suppose" said my visitor II am
very much afraid of fire. I have
had very unpleasant experience. I
wouldn't go up stairs if you would
give me the solar system" She
looked down as she said these words,
and l was afraid she was going to
burst out crying.
Don't cry, my dear" 1 said
don't! Aunt Jane Mary might hear
You, and then"
"oh, have you other people in the
house? / did not know that. Then
perhaps | had better say | will not
take the room. l can't bear a noise
| nor"
Neither can Aunt Jane Mary" said
!, fastening to change the i'm
preston that 1 had given her, for I
really needed some income from
that room. 1t had stood empty now
for two months, and there was Toms
bill for his football suit already sent
in, and | was expecting another dun
every morning. Tom was a good lad,
but l thought that sometimes he
imagined that his mother was made
of money.
My aunt who lives with me-
really. l lived with Aunt Jane Mary,
but that there was no necessity for
explaining, and l thought that /
should retain my visitors respect
more fully if l did not mention the
facts quite an invalid"
Does she never come downstairs ?"
inquired my prospective boarder.
"She never leaves her room,'' said
I. The doctor promises now that
she may be able to get up by the last
of August, but l hardly know"
"Oh, that will be time enough for
my purpose" said the girl with a
short laugh. I'll mean that /
shall have accomplished what l came
for. rest and change, in that time.
Perhaps you would like to look at
the room," l said.
YES" replied the young woman
moving towards the hall door.
l laid my dish-towel down in the
rocker, where L had been seated. and
went into the house. l turned into
the first room on the right. "This
is it," l said.
She entered and surveyed the
premises. The room was corner
one with windows on the veranda-
two in front and two on the side
large, comfortable, old-fashioned
bedchamber. The great mahogany
bed. that had been my dear mothers
stood ready for the next tired occu.
pant. 1t had only to be made UP
with the understanding old sheets
that were laid away in the closet
the pillow cases on top of them, with
sprigs of lavender between.
Its lovely room," said m,
visitor. She opened the closet
doors-without asking If she might
which did not exactly like. Il
shocked my old-fashioned notions
for the room had not been taken by
her yet.
What nice, deep closets! Ant
where does that door lead too" She
indicated Il door near the outer wal
on the side of the room.
This room was once used for the
dining said 1, land those
stairs go down cellar, but we have
another small cellar, and with such
light housekeeping as mine, q sighed
as l thought of dear Toms appetite
i'll the holidays, which was blessing
even if l had to work hard to suppl,
iD we need no other, so this has beer
abandoned"
Il couldn't have people coming in
to my room to go down cellar" sait
she.
och, certainly not answered
IF you take the room, it is yours, O
course. No one uses the cellar
uow."
/ She opened the door and descend
ed the steps. l could not see wha
n she wanted in the cellar, but though
d after all it was natural ihat sh