The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-20
(All rights reseryed.)

Mother, 1t cannot be necessary"
! II am afraid 1t Is, dear, or l should
never have made such suggestion"
But surely. If we are very economi-
| cal we have enough to live on"
I'VE should have to be more than
economical; we should have barely
enough for the common necessities If
| life. while as for clothes-can you
| imagine yourself having to manage
with one two guinea frock in two
| years?"
But boarders. oh, mother, I can
| horrid old ladies, and numbcrless for
eigners wiping their fingers on the
table-cloth. and grumbling and com
| planning, and running over the house
as though 1t were their own. l could
not endure it,
| But. darling, we have to endure
something. We cannot live on seven
| ty-five pounds year. You say you
cannot teach. and you would die II you
had to go as a typist, or secretary,
| or companion, and the only plan 1
/ can think OF is this of taking board
ers."
why not say dodgers at once
flashed out Stella. They would treat
syou as lodging-house keeper, and
me as your help Think OF it.-you,
| a baronet's daughter. and papa-oh,
what would our relations say
My dear. they have not taken in
terest enough to say anything so far
except your Aunt Theophila,--and ]
| really cannot see that we are under
any obligation to live on bread and
water in genteel idleness for the sake
of their feelings. Stella, dear, do listen
to reason. l want you to have as
| happy q time as possible, and l cannot
doom you to life of grinding poverty
| on pittance that Is barely enough for
| one"
/ Mother" said Stella, looking up
suddenly after long spell of silent
thoughtfulness. Gould you live on IT.
| alone? Mother" impatiently, "could
| you?"
Yes. dear. daresay, but
Then / have thought of plan.
/ will go down to Wendra to Aunt
| Theophiia. am sure she will be glad
/ to have a companion" Her eager eyes.
fixed on her mothers face, noted a
curious change OF expression on II,
and she paused little, wondering
what 1t meant. Was she smiling. was
there shade of amusement in her
/ eyes. or was she upset at the thought
/ of parting? But when Mrs. Myers
spoke, she seemed to be neither weep
ing nor laughing.
/ do you think, dear, you would
really like it?" she asked. as she
\ stopped TO poke tne HTc.
4 II am sure ] should. always did
think l would like the life OF an old
! world, country gentlewoman. and !
| feel that Aunt Theophila and j would
get on very we'll together. I expect she
4 knows everyone in the country. too so
that 1t would not be dull, and. at any
rate, 1t will be a new experience.
i Again that curious expression flick
!, cred over her mothers face. Yea
L chr Il yatl
Miss Theophila Myers's answer to
| her niece's offer was not exactly corr
dial, but she accepted the offer. though
j conditlonally. Stella might come for
a three months visit, II she liked, but
she, Miss Myers, should not consider
that they were either of them bound
| in any way. If either Of them found the
| arrangement irksome.
Stella was little hurt that her
magnanimous offer had not been moro
/ highly appreciated, but she comforteu
herself with the thought that at any
! rate there would be a luxurious nome
a carriage to go about In, beautiiul
gardens, comfort, and good servants.
Her aunt had said that she could not
come herself to the station, but some
one should meet her to drive her home.
''Probably it will be the coachman
| only. with the carriage" though Stella
as she journeyed down. and the pros
pect OF the drive banished any feeling
OF chilliness In her welcome.
"We-endra! Wc-endra" shouted a
porter, ana Stella realized she mad
reached her journeys end. Sprlngins
to her feet, she let down the window
and looked out. To her surprise and
Idisappointment no smart equipage
1 stood in the roadway, no man In livery
graced the platform. On all the length
and breadth Of It she saw but two
i persons, besides the porter and tue
stationmaster one was woman WITH
a market basket on her arm; the other
/ countrified-looking young man.
Aunt might have sent in time. she
/ exclaimed yeXedly. "Imagine my hav-
4 ing to wait about this place until
someone comes for me, 1t Is too bad
quite rude!''
/. Her compartment came to stand
still Just opposite the woman with the
j basket Perhaps. after all, this may
4 be one OF the maids" she thought. AZ
any rate, will ask her.
"Are you from Miss Myers?' she
i asked. The woman stared at hef' puZ'
4 Zled.
"Naw!" she said at last, 7 be goins
4 to Andovcr."
"Oh, beg your pardon" The sta.
tionmaster passed at that moment, the
ccuntrifed young man drew SLOWLY
i nearer Stella noted the fact, and was
4 annoyed at having an audience TO VII
! ness her modification.
"Statlonmaster," she said IN a voice
lowered to escape the ears Of the "nu
j diencer '.has no one come from Miss
Meyers's for me? expected 70 b'
1 met"
/, "Why, yes. Miss, here's Mr.. Godfre,
himself, and there's the cart ~
jerked his thumb towards sturdy
looking market cart drawn UP outside
i Stella looked with disgust from ths
cart to mt, Godfrey" and found th'
countriled-lo looking man. With his In
! In his hand. and smile In his eyes
a smile that scarcely wnYered beneath
. the scorn and vexatIon IN hers.
"rou have come for the luggage2'
she asked, haughtily.
"Yes and for you. " you VIII allow
me?" Again Stella felt ANNOYED "
, had not addressed her as miss once
She resented his remark, too, ever
while she wondered at his mode at ex
& pressing himself.
"Oh, certainly" she said coldly 7"
thnurbt hOuph INV aunt would hQyj