The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-06-29
THE SUMMER BoARDER
BY JUNE cAHAN.

Il do think you might have told me
before ! started for home." said Es-
tania in. tone OF much suppressed
disapproyal 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 1t some way in your letters,
I'd have understood. and you could
have rented my room, too, ii you liked,
to summer boarders"
"Oh. Tan, you always do RON a
sAcwbail up until it. chases you down
hill. Summer boarders. Anybodyd
think that we'd started right in busi-
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 or to town when you
feel like 1t, and paint in a studio all
winter. and give lessons, and go to the
opera, and haven't thing to do but
keep Tan Shapin in q good humor.
And Chester's just like you"
you might leave poor old Ches out
Of it," interposed Estania, distantly.
Hes right In IT," Vic laughed. IF
he had come home this summer and
helped as he should have done, we
would not have had to insult the fam
ily self-respect by taking in ten dol
lars 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 watertight,
tame one that he keeps down at the
club dock, and he takes her out every
day for trip down the bay"
Mother" with raised eyebrows.
Dear. no-the boat; but mother
does go often and SO do I. He's a
friend OF the Barclays and wanted to
be near them for the summer. We
think it's Margaret SO far"
Estania turned with her travelling
cloak and suitcase, almost colliding at
the bend of the staircase with a young
man who was hurrying down three
steps at time. He was tall and dark,
thoroughly shabby.
Pardon me- Awfully clumsy and
unlucky 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 boarder
grew to represent to her all the fallen
fortunes of the little home, and she re-
sented his very existence. If Chester
had been there, it 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 a golden day out OF doors, and
Tan had decided to paint water color
of the garden. She wanted 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 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 determinedIy
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 well 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 my
picture from Ches?"
Il did" he acquiesced cordially. 'T
saw 1t when he was packing, and It in
terested me. Then knew Peggfe Bar
clay and she coaxed your blessed |
mother into taking pity on lone bach
eIor, and letting me stay here for the
| had an idea at that time,
you know, that you'd come home, and
I'd see you"
Slowly Estanias dignity began to
sbb away. She stared out at vagrant
yea gull that swept in narrowing cir
les over the little boat dock below
hem.
I'm afraid TyePfen a perfect cat,y
he said slowly. = u had no idea that
'ou we're chum Of Chester's."
I'm going to be more than that"
3ruce answered, rather soberly. I'm
'oing to be his brotherinIaw. Vic Just
.rorv,fuo@ v~a tfo4 DO