Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-04-15
THE SUMMER BOARDER

long low farmhouse on q gentle rise OF
ground, brown old farmhouse in eX-
cellent repair and with nicely kept
grounds ABOUT it--an apple orchard at
one side and a grove of naples at the
other And in the midst of the close cut
lawn she noted 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 grayeled pathway.
She was tired and dusty, She had
walked three miles from the station and
it was a hiIly country, and the day was
warm. The suit case she carried seemed
| to have increased its weight many fold,
and she realized that there was more
than n suspicion of II limp in her left
| ankle.
| A woman was sitting behind the vines
on the board porch. grayhaired woman
with gentle face She arose as the girl
approached, and came to the steps.
The girl looked up at her with wan
smile, and then suddenly dropped down
on the lower step.
How do you do! she asked with a
| little gasp. please let me catch my
breath. That last Hill would have daunt-
ed Bunnie's Pilgrim himsef-we always
called him Bunnie at school-to say
nothing of a girl in snug shoes, with a
New England hatred for dust"
She smiled again into the gentle face
that seemed to grow more gentle as it
looked down at her,
Come up on the porch said the older
woman, land take my easy chair and
will get II drink for you"
Thank you" said the girl, but never
mind the drink had long and strong
qualf from the spring at the bend of the
road. 1t was nectar with Il touch of
iron. ! will take the easy chair"
She came up on the porch and put the
suit ease down and sank into the easy
chair"
"Tf had laid out Paradise, she muir
INJURED, ! you'd have put broad poIch
oil round it.
The older woman smiled.
And do you think the porch would
nave barred out the evil one?" she
asked.
I'm afraid the dear old apple orchard
yonder would have drawn him" she an.
swered, But I'm quite sure thatif this
had been Paradise he never would have
gone back to his deserted frcside''
The older woman smiled again
That's very tlattcring to our hunhe
farmhouse" she said. but take off your
hat and dust coat"
The girl shook her pretty head
Not quite yet, please. ! must be sure
| am right. This l., Maple faul. ill't
it,"
The older lady nodded
Yes, it has been called Maple iurm
for fully eighty years"
The girl wriukled her pretty forehead.
Il did something very careless" she
said. II came away without Laura
Blair's letter, 1t came Just before
started aud | only had time to glance it
through. Then ! must have laid it down
somewhere. You see Laura is my best
girl friend. and she knew about my va
cation, and 50 she sent me an address.
She said it was such very nice place
for summer outing. She hadn't been
there herself. but Ida Frobisher told her
about it, and Ida had the reputation of
being very tiuicky. | remember the
name of the railway station and all
about the walk over the hills. but I'm
not sure OF the name of the place. 1t
was Maple something. DO YOU take
summer hoardcrs?"
The Older lady gave little stare.
ITS rather early in the season" was
her mildly eyasve reply.
Yes, of course" the girl agreed. "but
that wouldn't prevent Won from taking
me, would it? Oh, | hope not. You
seem so very nice, and the place is
heautiful-and I'm a very, very small
cater
The Older woman smiled.
Take off your hat and dust cloak and
let me look at you" she said.
The girl stood up and ohcyed. She
was trim and neat. despite fatigue and
the dust. and her profusc brown hair
was tastefully arranged 1t was upon
this mass Of golden strands that the
Older woman looked with manifest an.
proval.
II am really nicer than appear" said
the girl with soft little laugh. please
remember the warm three-mile walk
over the hills. with lot of what might
he called excess baggage least that's
the way it weighs"
The older woman nodded.
sit down again, please. What is
your name?"
Faith Temple. | am an orphan.
| teach French French and singing in
Il private school. Every summer / 90
away from the city for d chango-and
all the rest | can absorb. | went to a
horrid place last year-hot and crowded
and dear. | have y letter in nv suit
case from our principal 1t will tell YOU
who am-and Ia be very glad to pay
in advance if that will add to your
confidence in me. Do Won think YOU
can ask me iuy"
The older woman had listened TO this
hurried explanation with an amused
smile.
DO ! understand that YOU singg"
Yes"
viii YOU sing for met"
Certainly"
The older lady took the girl into the