The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-09-15
CHAPTER l.


Mrs. Annie Desterle padded uncom-
fortably up the front stairs to the sec
end story front room. grumbling loud
" AZ every step
For Mrs Desterle. who was nearly
nifty years old. and who for more than
half that time had supported herself
and her husband. Pierre. BY keeping
q boarding house. had recently begun
20 grow more than partridge plump
With the rapid obliferation OF her
glrilsh outlines. which process might
have been checked had Mrs. Desterle
been less a mistress OF culinary art
and still less fond OF her own cook
ing. had developed an increase In the
transportation problem around ths
Desterle d0micile- In these days. from
the basement kitchen to the third
story front was as appalling a climb
20 Mrs Desterle as the journey up
Washington monument had been when
she and Pierre had taken their hon
eymoon trip for sightseeing thirty
years ago
Dear mel" pulled Mrs. Desterle AZ
the second floor landing i believe III /
ask that woman to move when her 4
weeks up She never gets down to 1
breakfast and the two days she's been
here she's acted mighty queer Don't 1
know why Pm SO foolish to toll all
the way up here like this. but I've
rung her bell twice and she don't an
swer. though it's most noon II Pierre
was ever around now. Lately he seems
70 be Of less use than ever Strangers
ia the house always did make me feel
nervous. I'm most afraid to climb
any further; seems like I sense
something wrong And as long
a. I've been keeping boarders never
before did ] let anyone come In that 1
didn't know anything at all about
But the poor little thing looked 80 {
tired and pretty. and her. big bunch
81 violets smeiled SO sweet; why. she T
was just like q spirit coming out OF {
the rain It was 50 late, too. and. {
well. as I was none too careful in {
finding out who she was but she's had n
time enough to look around BY now. a
and IN just tell Miss Cerisse Wayne. n
as she calls herself that she'll ave to G
move Tomorrow. This is such a love- G
" spring day that looking for an d
other room may bring a little color e
into her pale cheeks. No. don't want o.
her around Young Simpson was max HI
Ing eyes at her last night. which Il too Ct
bad. for he's engaged to Miss Gentry. n
And Ada Gentry's a nice girl. Shell m
be getting mad and leaving next. and fs
then hen follow and they're two Of
ny best boarders: been here now Tor a
seven chrisisnases- If
Mira. Desterle's soIiloouy and her nm to
ward pilgrimage ended with the sar-,e re
breath. At the end OF the han befora he
ler me door 70 the third story from ms
,arior looked oninousiy funereai IN ffa lie
iun responsibility OF time stained wal ag
tut Annie Desterle was born to enner- mi
'enciea, and had been a mainsfav ana COT
prop ali Of her life. but for the ar.e onl
line within her memory her spirit fal- we
cred - abs
"Um." she snifred. as she approach.a 7
ne door Il does smell like cigar no
ties up mere. Ada told me yesterday tat
'orning she thought she smelled hell
moke coming from Miss Waynea wol
pom. on. Miss Wayne. Miss Wayne, o
'is' "aynei" called the landlady 40 am
succession OF crescendos. Ic,.
NO answer came. So the woman IN roIe
le han knocked loudly on the door r1,b,
Hence stiil She tried the door. II rer
az locked. though beneath the arm ami,
asp OF this experienced landlady. ana
'upieo Win Vigorous kick, the lock bea,
.ro way and the door swung omen %,
AIRS Desterie's quick eye gave one - -.
ance around her, her Jaw droppe6 -, 90
"a her eyes nearly catapulted out ~ 49,
2 head She stumbled into. The room -,
d over e the bed She put out her 49,, &c.
"a, startled. and impuisivoly fslt 49,, ,,,.'