The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-03
TIE EVENING STORY
serena's Summer Boarder.
(By Temple Bailey.)

But We couldn't, could we?" asked
little Mrs Blair, d~nxiously. I'VE have
house,"
"One boarder isn't strange peo-
ple,' Serena reminded her, land I'll
advertise for Some dear old soul with
gray curls, and a lap dog-I should
love the dog, mumsic."
Mrs. Blair sighed r~esignedly.
You V could take things seri-
ously," she said.
the lunch. But when she reached the
kitchen her fare lost its brightness.
IF mother only knew" she whispered
to h big yellow cat on the window
sill, IF mother only knew, 1 haven't
money enough 20 pay for the adver-
tisemen:"
Il want to put an advertisement in
a city raper," n said to Alvin Green
I guess TIL lave to borrow it, and you
can take your a III eggs"
al right" said Alvin Green. He
was an old friend of the family and
kept the village store.
Mother doesn't know just how hard
up we are" Serena explained, but I
told her we'd have to take some one
to live with US; and finally she agreed"
The advertisement when written
read as follows.
Board for single lady in private
family. Big frst-1oor bedroom open
ing an q porch. Fresh eggs, clover
honey, brook trout, spring chickens,
home cooking. Fireplace, old ma
hogany. solid silver, lake view"
She handed it to Alvin.
It's the Queerest advertisement I
ever saw" he said.
WELL Serena told him seriously, |
II put that in about the mahogany
and h SILVER because nice people like
such things"
A few days later a letter came.
Serena carried it ove to Alvin. Listen
to this" she cried.
Your advertisement sounds like
peaches n ream to me-" it said. |
I'm coming.on Saturday night. Don't
let anyone else have tina room or the
fresh eggs, and I want to corner thai |
honey-and will you please have hot
biscuits I'll pay twenty-five dollars
a week. Don't try to change my
price, oecause I shall probably make
a lot of trouble, and 1 want to bring
my dogs
1t was signed M. P. Ayers"
"I wonder if it's Miss or Mrs." said
Serena, lhoughtfully.
Alvin read the note again. "Well, |
from the kind of English she uses, and
the way she sings around her money, |
I should say she was a gay widow, and
I'll bet the dogs are bull pups"
On Saturday night the big front
bedroom was in readiness. There werel
roses in q silver bowl on the shining /
dresser. There were fresh
Curtains blowing gently in the
soft breeze. A little fire burned on
the hearth. For h may be cold,'
Serena, IAN the venin are
II the dining room the table was set
with the fine linen and the old glass
and silver that Mrs. Blair had saved
of the wreck of her fortunes.
"She will be here at six said Sere-
coming in from the kitchen where
Meek presided over the stove.
Serena had o n a white linen skirt and
thin blouse. and h@r red-brown curls
were caught up hi, n on top Of her
head. II hope that she'll be nice and
that you will like her." a]r
A muffled scream from the kitchen
both of them. The Miranda
.urst in They've come in an auto
mobile A great big red one and there's I
w dogs on the back seat, and a man
IN front, and 1 don't see any woman"
1t isn't our boarder," said Serena,
peep1ng out. Probably something has
happened to that poor mans machine;
'"e'o better go and see."
But when she reached the Dorcb sha
a little gasp of dismay, for. lie
man having descended from his
was. taking out bags and rugs and
wraps. +,
Then he came up the walk toward sci !,
'heerfully, "if I pile these things on the I
porch while I get the rest. I've got {
such a lot of truck, you Know I
But your mother stammered Sc /
'e ma s When win she be here?" {
hen his eyes twinkIed. "Oh. vo,, did
something about board for a Iadv J
gut do you think 1 was going to ietI +
waste all this richness on a wom-
m? Why, that brook trout took me C
Where do they catch them?" s
Alvin Green catches ours" said G q
ena stfffly. 7
Now. look here" said the ~vouny O
Gan, I'm afraid I've made YOU feel s
because I wasn't my aunt or nv s
notner or something. But really. I s
Won't be a bit of trouble. And ri trv c
Q make myself as scarce as nossibia V
dogs" "H IKE r
He whistled and the impatient COL s.
les sprang from the auto. ii
"Oh, you beauties" said Serene .nd |,
er eyes sparkled and her cheeks were
INK, n the young man under his s,
reath said, You beauty" n
He said the same thing the NEXT dow 81
Alvin Green, as they cast their flies Il
1to the quiet pools IT expected toll
a pair of old spinsters. b,1t the W
irl is charming" in
Young man." said Alvin Green SOL t.
mnly' you've got to remember that t.
he hasn't any father to take care of
arb her peace of mind"
Il guess she'll disturb mine more &C
I will hers" said Ayers, ruefrIIlv w
And the worst of it is, that I'm not Z,
'ee." :.
Married. asked the old man. =;
Engaged" Ayers. .aTo a 70
'vely girl-but-oh, a man can't tax AZ
such things" p,
The next morning there were brook ed
out for breakfast. and waf1es and a
oney anG a great dish of red rasn- A.
s-r.es. az
Serena, in a pink lawn, waited on Ia
lie table. I'm glad you like every. nr
she said, as when Ayers prais- ne
l the oeAcaeles, ana I'm glad you ia
e nOS an OIo IdOy- be