The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-07-17
!: THE SUMMER BOARDER
BY JUNE oAHAN.

tania In a tone of much suppressed
disapproval. Il might have gone up to
Uncle Waits. or stayed with Connie.
She asked me to, and / was foolish
enough to long for home II you'd only
mentioned II sons way in your letters,
I'd have understood, and you could
have rented my room, too, il you liked,
to summer boarders."
"Oh. Tan, you always do roll a
SNOWFALL up until 1t chases you down
hill. Summer boarders! Anybody'd
think that we'd started right in bust
ness Just because we happen to have
rented out one bedroom and study"
Estania looked over at her sister re-
proachfully.
"Chester's own bedroom and study"
Tan, don't you dare worry mother
about this. now. 1t was my doings.
You're all out Of touch with the way
things go here at home, and you don't
understand how every last dollar
counts. You trot OF to town when you
feel like 1t, and paint in studio all
winter, and give lessons, and go to the
opera. and haven't q thing to do but
keep Tan Shapin In a good humor
And Chester's just like you
you might leave poor old Ches out
Of it." interposed Estania, distantly.
He's right in H." Vic laughed. "If
he had come home this summer and
helped as he should have done, we
~ hoA - ho CO..
lily self-respect by taking IN ten dol
lars a week regularly"
Where's mother?"
Gone boating With Mr.. Pomeroy,"
very demurely. "He has been just
dear, Tan, with mother. He's got a
motor boat, = perfectly water-tight,
tame one that he keeps down at the
club dock, and he takes her out every
day for a trip down the bay"
"Mother?" with raised eyebrows.
Dear, no-the boat; but mother
does go often and so do l. He's
friend Of the Barclays and wanted to
be near them for the summer. We
think it's Margaret 80 far"
Estania turned with her travelling
cloak and suitcase, almost colliding at
the bend of the staircase with young
man who was hurrying down three
steps at time. He was tall and dark,
thoroughly shabby.
Pardon me. Awfully clumsy and
unlucky l am. anyway. Say, Vic, your
mother wants her gray veil to tie
around her hair-and her coat" He
stood out on the broad veranda wait.
ing while Vic hunted for the things. -
Estania could not explain her feel
ings. Somehow the summer boarler
grew to represent to her all the fallen
fortunes Of the little home, and she re-
sented his very existence. II Chester
had been there. 1t could never have
happened. But Chester was one Of the
smooth-faced lieutenants facing his
first battle smoke on one of the big
gray ships in the gulf
Then came fateful day. Mr.. Pome-
roy had gone for shore tramp with
Vic. Mrs. Chaplin was taking a nap.
1t was golden day out Of doors, and
Tan had decided to paint water color
OF the garden. She wanted a certain
camp stool that Vic had handed over
with anything else he wanted, to the
| summer boarder. Estania ventured
Into his room to recover her property
Inside the door she stopped. Facing
her on the bureau was a very good
| photograph Of herself, one that she
had sent to Chester just before his sail.
ing south. Yet 1t confronted her now,
and 1t was enshrined on Bruce Pome-
roy's dresser
She went down quietly without the
camp stool, and waited determinedly
for the return OF Mr.. Pomeroy. He
came with Vic along the beach
strolling leisurely. Vic ran into the
house to help with dinner and Bruce
threw himself down on the grass in
front of the angry goddess.
| He heard her in silence merely nod
ding assent to every accusation she
made. Yes, he had known Chester
very we'll indeed; chums at Annapolis
He himself had given up the navy
when his father had died, and now sub
sisted most comfortably on an income
derived from shoe manufacture.
"Awfully unpoetic, isn't it?" he
smiled at this confession.
"And you gained possession of m
picture from Ches?"
II did," he acquiesced cordially. 4
saw 1t when he was packing, and 1t ir'
terested me. Then l knew Peggie Bal
clay. and she coaxed your blessed
mother into taking pity on lone bach
elor, and letting me stay here for TIL
summer. ! had an idea at that timd
you know, that you'd come home, an!
I'd see you"
Slowly Estanias dignity began t.
sbb away. She stared out at vagran
sea gull that swept In narrowing cir
lies over the little boat dock below
hem
I'm afraid I've been perfect cat,
she said slowly. Il had no IDEA tina
you were a chum OF Chester's."
I'm going to be more than that,
Bruce answered, rather soberly. 'T'u
going to be his brother-in-law. Vic jus
promised me that Joy"
Copyright. 1914. by the Mcclure Newspa
/