Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1909-09-18
THE SUMMER B6ARDER
By W. R. ROSE.

0le saw b long INV Ahk u1tlOoSO
in'excellent repair and with nicely
kept grounds about it-an ap.
pie orchard at one side and q
grove Of naples at the other.
And in the midst Of the close
cut lawn she noted a neatly
lettered board, propped a
little above the earth, which
bore these words, Maple Grove.
The girl opened the quaint
gate that was set in the hedge
and resolutely plodded up the
graveled pathway.
She was tired and dusty. She
had walked three miles from the
station and it was a billy country,
and the day was warm. The suit
case she carried seemed to have
increaced. its weight many fold,
and she realized that there was
more than a suspicion of Q limp
in her left ankle.
A woman was sitting behind the
vines on the board porch, a gray
haired woman with a gentle
face. She arose as the girl ap
preached, and came to the steps,
The girl looked up ut her with
a wan smile, and then suddenly
dropped down on the lower step
How do you do /? she asked will
a little gasp. Please let me catch
my breath. That last hill would
have daunted Bunnie's pilgrim
himself-we always called hin
Bunnie at school-to say nothing
of a girl in sung shoes. with
New England hatred for dust.
She smiled again into the gen
tie face that seemed to grow
more gentle as it locked down al
her.
Come up on The porch, said the
older woman, and take an easy
chair and I will get q drink for
you.
Thank you, said the girl, but
never mind the drink had 4
long and strong quaff from the
spring at the bend of the road.
1t was nectar with a touch of iron.
/ will take the easy chair.
She came up on the porch and
put the suit case down and sank
into the easy chair.
If Ihad laid out Paradise, she
murmured. I would have put
q broad porch all round it.
The older women smiled.
And do you think the porch
would have barred out the evil
one? she asked.
I'm afraid the dear old apple
orchard yonder would hav
drawn him, she answered. But
I'm quite sure that if this lad
been Paradise he never would
have gone back to his deserted
fireside.
The older woman smiled again.
That's very flattering to our
humble farmhouse, she said.
But take off your hat and coat.
The girl shook her pretty head.
Not quite yet, please. l must
be sure I am right. This is Maple
Farm, isn't it2
The older lady nodded.
Yes, it has been called Maple
Farm for fully eighty years.
The girl Wrinkled her pretty
forehead.
did something very careless.
she said ] came away without
Laura Blair's letter. 1t came
just before / started and ] only
had time to glance it though.
Then I must have laid it down
somewhere. You see Laura is
my best girl friend, and she knew
about my vacation, and so she
sent me an address. She said it
was such a very nice place for a
summer outing. She hadn't been
there herself but Ida Frobisher
told her about it, and IDA had the
reputation Of being very finicky.
] remember the name of the rail.
way station and all about the
walk over the hills, but I'm not
sure Of the name Of the place. II
was Maple something. Do you
take summer boarderS ?
The older lady gave a little
stare.
It's rather early in the season,
was her mildly evasive reply.
Yes, of course, the girl agreed.
but that wouldn't prevent you
from taking me, would it? Oh.
i hope not. You seem so very
nice and The place is beautiful
and I'm very, very small eater.
The older woman smiled.
Take off your hat and dust
cloak and let me look at you, she
said.
The girl stood up and obeyed.