The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-09-10

! Literary Press. (
1t was so different from the usual
summer boarding place that Denton
stopped short and eyed doubtfully the
wide lawn, the massive stone house
and the garden flaming with June
roses.
He even looked at the great mastif
that sauntered toward him with a sus-
picious eye.
Look here, old fellow" he said, "are
you in fairy tale, or is this just an
everyday fact?'
Duke, come here" called a clear
voice, and the dog bounded back to
the porch.
Denton followed him.
'Are you the princess?" he asked Of
the owner of the clear voice.
The girl flushed and stared.
81 don't understand she STAN
mered.
Denton laughed. 81 beg pardon"
u6 dDOlOSlLcO, lOl OO11A6 SOu W ILL
my fancies. But this place is so beau
tiful that 1 thought had stepped out
of real life into fairyland and that the
dog was the monster that guarded the
gate and that you were the enchanted
princess"
The girls eyes twink1ed I'm not
a princess" she told him. I'm your
landlady."
Something of disappointment crept
into Denton's expression.
Then you are Mrs. Carter?" he haz-
arded
Miss Carter" she corrected, and
he looked relieved. I'm the letter that
1 wrote you l signed myself Mehita-
bel Carter, and l suppose you thought
| had gray hairs and wrinkles"
"The name did suggest them," he
unused. watching her sparkling face.
Every one around here calls me
Belle" she explained But of course
when one writes letters to prospective
boarders one realizes that a 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.
| "I11 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-
chanted castle Who ever heard Of
white bathtubs and nickel trimmings
and pond lily friezes and Circassiar
walnut furniture for $40 a week?''
| A little anxious frown burrowed Mis-:
| Carriers forehead AZ was afraid
was charging too much" she said
'tYou 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
give of them are maiden ladies,
Miss Carter explained, land 1 tolt
them they might bring their cats ant
parrots
"And the other one?' Denton de
handed
as a man." said Miss Carter, "an(
he wants to bring his automobile
Denton gazed pensively across thu
he sighed, land l brought only a type
writer. The automobile is the dragon
that 1 must STAY"
She stiffened little at that.
81 don't think I quite understand,
she said.
"Of course not" Denton agreed quit
cheerfully, "as a writer of stories
deal much in metaphor. 1t isn't to b
expected that you would understand
But you will-some day"
He switched to other topics ant
learned that the beautiful house. wit
its beautiful furniture, had been tn
girls summer home. That the failur
of her father In business and his al
sence to fill a position in another cit
, made her decide that the house mus
support itself or be sold. So she ha
advertised for boarders, and, with tw
old and trusted servants, she was &c
, ing to make it pay
f 1--WE raise all of our vegetables" sh
confided, land we have our cows an
make butter, and there are plenty Q
chickens and eggs
: Don't say any more" Dento
begged. 81 am hungry enough as it
without hearing of real milk and bu
= ter and eggs"
She laughed. 1.-The train is du
now" she said; "as soon as the othe
boarders get here we will have sur
per-"
Contrary to Denton's expectation.
the six old maids proved to be delight
fui company. Three of them wer
teachers, one of them wrote for tn
magazines, one, having a private fol
r tune, was something OF a globe tro
l ter, and the sixth, being domesticall
inclined, had brought the cat and pa
rot
The one man was the object of Del