Norwich bulletin., 1910-09-07
THE BULLETINS DAILY STORY
THE LADY FROM THE WEST

Aurora had begun her work of tint
ing the eastern sky, and when l peep
ed out of the window of the little bed
room occupied on the northeast COR
ner of Mrs. Thorne's boarding house
and saw what was going ON I at once
realized that it was time for me to be
stirring in preparation for the business
OF the day. Reaching the breakfast
table and taking my accustomed seat,
fell to the attack of a piece of bovine
toughness which had been passed to
me in the guise of q slice of steak, and
while thus engaged my attention was
attracted to conversation between
Billings, on the opposite side of the
table from me- and Miss Belle Pleatley,
the Tnilliner, seated near the corner at
the upper end These two, it may be
well to remark, had been or very IA
miliar terms. and it was generally pre-
sumed by those who had witnessed
their manner toward each other that
a single thought would answer for both
and their two hearts would beat in
unison with the strokes of the trip
hammer
by the way, Belle remarked Bill
inss, Mrs. Thorne informs me that
she expects a new boarder, a young
lady from the west She thinks she
may come this afternoon"
Indeed" responded the miiliner.
Did she give You the lady's name?"
Yes. She says she is Miss Ruth
Harding. She describes her as a fine
looking and well educated lady; writes
poetry, paints pictures and plays the
piano. She anticipates much pleasure
from her company
with all those accom- plishments,"
said Miss Pleatley, she ought to sbe
able to make things lively, and quite
likely she will
+I,z ~. IL 1f
acerbity in the conclusion of this last
speech.
BY this time I had achieved the
mastery of the so-caIIed steak and
waited for nothing more concerning
the expected arrival from the west, but
took my departure for the scene of my
days labor.
not alluded to. but at night when all
were seated 1 ran my eye furtively
around the table but no strange face
was visible. Presently Billings, who
was never ti1nid about asking ques-
tions concerning anything he wished
to know. asked Mrs. Thorne, who was
in her place at the head of the table,
if the lady she had been expecting had
arrived.
No she answered. land I am very
much disappointed. l told Walter to
be at the train and watch for her and
BRING her II she camei but he reports
that no lady got off the train"
/ happened to know something Of
Walters habits, and felt pretty sure he
was not at the train at all, but the af-
fair was no concern of mine, SO held
my peace.
After supper, as was my habit, I
strolled down the street in quest of
congenial companionsilip, and as usual
had no difficulty in finding 1t. The
evening was far spent when I turned
my face in the direction of my lodg-
ing place, but had gone not many steps
whensI noticed, little distance ahead
or me- a lady who seemed at a loss
her she advanced toward me and said:
Excuse me, sir, but can you tell me
where Myrtle street is?''
Il cam / answered.
Perhaps" she went on, you can
tell me where Mrs Thorne's boarding
house is?''
The thought flashed upon me that
here was the lady Mrs. Thorne was ex-
pecting from the west.
Il can" l answered. rs this Miss
Harding?'
1T is she replied
Well 1 said, my name is Ches-
terfeld. / happen to be one of Mrs.
Thorne's boarders, and if you wish to go
there | shall be happy to escort you
directly to her door"
THANK yau,' she said "It will be a
great favor"
1 relieved her of the travelling bag
she was carrying, and as we walked
acquainted her with the circumstances
that, led me to suspect her identity