The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-27
The Passing Of the Summer Boarder
"Poor little fingers!" he said.
BY Temple Bailey.

"Poor little fingers!'' he said.
Nelie's eyes blazed II won't have your
pity, Dave Clinton!" her voice was hushed,
but vehement.
without another word the man turned
away, but she called him back in q
whisper.
II want to see you when I finish. I'll
come down to the orchard seat,
The orchard was spicy with the scent
Of apples, and under the moonlight ths
great red globes showed dark in the shad-
ow of the leaves. Dave sat on a natural
bench made by gnarled trunks Of two old
apple trees and watched Nellie come down
the path. He rose to meet her and put
his arm around her, but she thrust him
aside with a little, impatient gesture.
Then she sat down and looked up at
him as he stood in front of her.
ut isn't that I am jealous" she began.
as if the conversation Of the afternoon had
not been interrupted "but it's because !
can never be the same to you, no matter If
you do think you love me. you have seen
Miss fremont and now, always, she will
be the most beautiful woman In the world
! to you.''
"She is a beautiful woman, he assented
gravely.
Yes, and before she came you thought
my hands were pretty-my little, red,
| rough hands''-her voice broke-"and you
admir- ed my hair and the little dresses
made myself. I am not blaming you," she
went on, "but you had never seen g.
woman like her. hadn't, either, and you
were carried away just as was. But
don't you see that I want to be first with
yOu?'
'You are first, Nelie,'' he said gravely:
But haven't wonderful eyes like hers,
| and can't use them as she does. I can't
| say the right thing as she does in her
soft voice. And her perfumes! Will you
| ever smell violet again. Dave, without
thinking Of her? Will you?''
| He smoothed her hand soothingly and
| said nothing.
| Did you ever see such dresses and
beautiful shoes? I was ashamed all the
| time, and wore my best slippers every
day. She was like rose-one of the big,
beautiful roses that were sent her from
town often"
She went on in sobbing monotone,
| while the mans face was white and set.
and now it will be her that you love
and not me. OF course you will marry me
because you couldn't marry her; you are
not her kind. But I don't want your pity.
That's why I am going to give this back. -
She stripped little garnet ring from her
third finger and handed it to him. ?
He took it and turned it over and over
} in his hand. :
trees, and she watched the tall, strong
figure with the steady, firm tread as she
J leaned trembling against the old gnarled
} apple tree.
Suddenly he came over to her and in
; spite of her protests he lifted her in his
arms to a higher seat in the old tree where
: he could stand beside her and stroke her
hair and watch the moonlight on her face
as he had watched so many, many times
/ before.
MELEE" he said, IT bought this little
3 ring for a woman who was to be my wife,
and there can never be any other
-. Both of her hands were on his big ones
, now, and her eyes were searching his face
wistfuly.
: when she came" he waved his hand
3 down the road as if the summer boarder
i, were still a visible presence, Il had never
, seen anything like her. She fascinated
you; she fascinated me. She is a wonder
3 full dream woman His voice trailed of
into silence.
But I want to be your dream woman
she walled.
, With an effort he brought his eyes dowr
e close to hers and smiled at her tears. 'Yol
D are my real woman he said.
e But she began.
'There are no butts" He lifted he1
down, and they stood together beneath the
3 dark boughs. "She is beautiful, little girl
i but so was the picture that we saw In the
r art gallery when we went to the city, but
r I didn't want to bring the picture home
= and couldn't take her into my little home
: any more than could the picture.
s want the tender, sweet woman who has
. filled my heart since I was boy and who
= fills it STILL
= She laid her head down on his arm witt
a sigh of content.
. But can't help wishing you had never
seen her.
y Into the blue eyes which looked over hel
bowed head and down the long, long roat
n that led to the city there came a shadow
, but Dawes voice was gay as he raised he
face to his hand and kissed her.
d 1.-The summer is ended, sweetheart, ant
the little house is ready. When?'