Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-09-12
The first
BOarder.
BY Temple Bailey.


It was so different from the usua
summer boarding place that Denton
stopped short and eyed doubtfully the
wide lawn. the massive stone hous'
and the garden flaming with June
roses.
lie even looked at the great mastlii
that sauntcred toward him with Il sus
picious eye.
"Iook here, old fellow he said, "are
YOU In a fairy tale, or is this just al
everyday factf"
Duke, come here called a clear
voice and the dog bounded back t'
the porch.
Denton followed him.
"Are YOU the princess| he asked oil
the owner Of the clear voice.
The girl flushed and stared.
81 don't understand she STAN
mered.
Denton laughed. 81 beg pardon
he apologized, "for boring you Win
my fanclcs. But this place is 50 beau
tiful that I thought had stepped orl
Of real life into fairyland and that the
dog was the monster that guarded the
gate and that you were the enchanted
princess"
The girl eyes twinkled. I'm not
,..,...u clio to1d him. "Im your
landlady."
Something OF n disappointment crep'
into Denton's expression.
"Then you are Mrs. CarterT he haz
arded.
.NIIss Carter" she corrected, anc
be looked relieved. "In the letter thai
I wrote You I signed myself Mehita,
bel Carter. and suppose you though'
had gray hairs and wrinkles"
"The name did suggest them he
unused. watching her sparkling face.
"Eyerv one around here calls me
Belle." She explained. "But of course
when one writes letters to prospective
boarders one realizes that digniiiec
name is an asset
"Certainly," lie agreed and settled
back in his chair, content to listen and
look.
But his hostess was more energetic.
/ ''II show you your room,' she sac
and led the way through the spacious
bali and up the stairs to the seconc
story. ,,4,
when Denton came down a HUI
later and found his landlady walking
Ia the rose garden he said to her
..You needn't tell me. This is an en-
ebanted. castle. Who ever heard o
shite bathtubs and nickel trimming
- noaa ny friezcs ard 'Circasslsl
walnut furniture for $40 a weekT
4 little anxious frown burrowed Mis-
Carter's forehead. 81 was afraid
was charging too much" she sale
"You see. you are my first boarder."
It appeared on further conversatlo
that there were to be six other boart
ers. and they were to arrive at 7:3O.
give Of them are maiden ladies'
Miss Carter explained, land toi
them they might bring their cats an
parrots
"And the other oneY Denton d'
manded. 49,
as a man." said Miss Carter, ian
he wants to bring his automobile
Denton gazed pensively across Il
garden toward the purple hills. "Alas
he sighed. "and l brought only a typ
writer. The automobile is the dragC
that I must slay."
She stincncd n little at that.
81 don't think 1 quite understand
she said.
"Of course not" Denton agreed qul
cheerfully. "as writer Of stories
deal much in metaphor 1t isn't to
expected that you would understan
But you will-some day"
He switched to other topics al
learned that the beautiful house. wi
its beautiful furniture. had been &
girls summer home. That the failu
Of her father in business and his a
sence TO Gil a position in another cl
made her decide that the house mu
sunDort itself or be sold. So she h
advertised for boarders, and, with t'
old and trusted servants, she was
ing to make it pay.
eve raise all Of our vegetables" S
confded. land we have our COWS a
make butter and there are plenty
chickens and eggs
Don't : any more" Dent
begged. 81 IN hungry enough as it
!, without hearing of real milk and b
= ter and eggs"
! She laughed. "The train is d
u now" she said; "as soon as the OIL
Y boarders get here we will have 81
q per"
Contrary to Denton's expectatio
the six old maids proved to be delig
e full company. Three Of them WI
u teachers. one Of them wrote for
magazines, one, having q private I
tune. was something Of a globe II
ter. ana lle SlAtu- bciH5 N'O'''-'-t
inclined, had brought the cat ana 7
rot
The one man was the object Of D
q tons special observation. His ma
was Nesselrode.
ale makes me think of a puddln
Dentosremarked to Miss Carter.
81 don't think he looks that way
- ALL" Miss Carter said Indignantly.
think he is very handsome, if he
stout"
ooh. l don't mean his looks" l.
.on remarked resignedly, but
name"
Nesselrode, however, proved 10
very good company, and it beca
quite matter Of course that the
men should spin through the coui
every morning In the big motor ca
In the afternoon -selrode aiW
took Miss Carter, and in the back
he packed two and sometimes three