The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-08-26
The First
BOarder.
By Temple Bailey.
By Temple Bailey.
Copyrighted, 1903, by Associated
Literary Press.

( Copyrighted 1908, by Associated q
!. Literary Press. i
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 masti6
that sauntered toward him with 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.
II don't understand she stam-
mered.
Denton laughed. II beg pardon"
he apologized, 'for boring you with
my fancies. But this place is SO beau
tiful that 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 twinkled. "Im 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
wrote you l signed myself Mehita-
bel Carter, and l suppose you thought
l had gray hairs and wrinkles"
"The name did suggest them," he
mused, 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 dignified
name Is an asset"
Certainly" he agreed and settled
back in his chair. content to listen and
look.
But his hostess was more energetic.
"I'll 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 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 Circassian
walnut furniture for $40 week?"
| A little anxious frown burrowed Miss
| Carter's forehead. II was afraid l
was 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 7:3O.
Five Of them are maiden ladies, "
| Miss Carter explained, land l told
them they might bring their cats and
parrots
"And the other one?" Denton de-
| manded
''Is man." said Miss Carter, land
be wants to bring his automobile"
Denton gazed pensively across the
garden toward the purple hills. "Alas,
he sighed. land brought only type
writer The automobile is the dragon
that l must slay."
She stiffened little at that.
II don't think l quite understand"
she said.
"Of course not" Denton agreed quite
cheerfully, "as writer of stories l
deal much in metaphor. It isn't to be
expected that you would understand.
But you will-some day"
He switched to other topics and
learned that the beautiful house, with
its beautiful furniture, had been the
girls summer home. That the failure
of her father in business and his alb.
sence to fill a position in another city
made her decide that the house must
support itself or be sold. So she had
advertised for boarders, and, with two
old and trusted servants. she was go
ing to make 1t pay.
I'VE raise all of our vegetables" she
confided, "and we have our cows and
make butter, and there are plenty OF
chickens and eggs
"Don't say any more" Denton
begged. Il am hungry enough as it Il
without hearing Of real milk and but
ter and eggs"
She laughed. "Ihe train Is due
now," she said; "as soon as the other
boarders get here we will have sup.
per-"
| Contrary to Denton's expectations
the six old maids proved to be delight
full company. Three of them were
teachers, one of them wrote for the
magazines, one, having private for
tune, was something Of globe trot
ter. and the sixth, being domestically
inclined, had brought the cat and par