The Democratic advocate., 1908-08-21
The First
BOarder.
Nv Temple Bailey.
o,vr,ghted, 1908, by Associated
Cop' Literary Press.

ros so different from the usual
nmpr boarding place that Denton
Suu, sud short and eyed doubtfully the
'Ial .Ia lawn, the massive stone house
0ad tbe garden flaming with June
roses. ,+ os+;4
that sauntered toward him with sus-
pciOus eye Gotta 60 ro
on in q fairy tale, or is this just an
everyday fact?"
mike come here" called clear
,,oo and the dog bounded back to
the porch.
Denton followed him.
ava Won the princess?" he asked of
ao owner of the clear voice.
~ The Girl flushed and stared.
81 don't understand she stam-
HT nonton laughed. 81 beg pardon"
:. onoIogized, "for boring you with
~ fancies. But this place is so beau
.fnI ~ that thought 1 had stepped out
~ ~ roal life into fairyland and that the
" Saa was the monster that guarded the
I've i've ond that you were the enchanted
princess" ~ .,,r, not
,,ircnss" she told him. "Tm your
andlady."
Something Of a disappointment crept
into Denton's expression.
"Then you are Mrs. Carter"' he haz-
arded
GWiss Carter" she corrected, and
ba looked relieved. 'In the letter that
wrote you 1 signed myself Mehita-
bal Carter, and I suppose you thought
had gray hairs and wrinkles"
nTbe name did suggest them," he
mused, watching her sparkling face.
every one around here calls me
RplIe" she explained. "But of course
when one writes letters to prospective
hoarders one realizes that digniied
name is an asset"
Certainly" he agreed and settled
back In his chair, content to listen and
look
But his hostess was more energetic.
IIl show you your room," she said
and led the way through the spacious
hall and up the stairs to the second
story.
When Denton came down a little
later and found his landlady walking
in the rose garden he said to her:
"You needn't tell me. This is an en-
ehanted castle. Who ever heard Of
white bathtubs and nickel trimmings
and pond lily friezes and Circassian
walnut furniture for $40 week?"
A little anxious frown burrowed Miss
Carter's forehead. II was afraid I
vas charging too much," she said.
"YOu see, you are my first boarder."
1t appeared on further conversation
that there were to be six other board
ers, and they were to arrive at 7:30.
Five of them are maiden ladies' -
Miss Carter explained, "and / told
them they might bring their cats and
PARROTS
And the other one?" Denton de-
nalded
i is man." said Miss Garter, land
be wants to bring his automobile"
/ Denton gazed pensively across the
garden toward the purple hills. "Alas," !"
I be sighed, "and brought only a type
4 writer, The automobile is the dragon
4 that must slay."
4 She stiffened little at that.
4 I don't think l quite understand"
q she said.
4 Of course not" Denton agreed quite
vaeerfully, "as q writer of stories I
zeal much in metaphor. 1t isn't to be
expected that you would understand.
Out you wll-some day."
de switched to other topics and
earned that the beautiful house, with
S beautiful furniture, had been the
salS summer home. That the failure
uer rather in business and his alb
%lve 10 tll position in another city
uale her decide that the house must
support itself or be sold. So she had
sv'eFtlSed for bOarders, and, with two
:" anu trusted servants, she was 60
~S 10 make it pay.
we raise all of our vegetables" she
ma, ,rIuea' ard we have cur COWS and
%1 D' outter, and there are plenty of
'4,Sens and eggs
Don say any more" Denton
vi,i SSyu ! am hungry enough as it is
"a, u a"I uearlng Of real milk and but
Me- laughed. THE train is due
~' She said; las soon as the other
ra,r ,'e'S get here we will have sup
ss snluaFy to Denton's expectations,
M Oa maids proved to be delight
scs'p"h% Three of them were
s,. ~lttS one of them wrote for the
apa ",.:aS' M one, having private for
h Nv, %'S something of a globe trot-
hainaal tne sixth, being domestically
hi 1ao brought the cat and par.
hGs W n,F man was the object of Den
Nas yalaI speclaI observation. His name
Oesto, mikes " me think of a pudding"
Tdo,,e Unmarked to Miss Carter.
ali v,a mink be looks that way at
aht T,ss hs Carter said Indignantly. 81
sotp " very handsome. if he is
M rpmoN uOn I mean his looks" Den
Sues marked reslgnedly. "but his
rey ue' however, proved to be