Evening star., 1928-05-18
Mrs. Buckley's Boarders,

N left wife who was ailing.
wv and whom he had married
late in life. and q daughter.
Ma6ce, who was 20 and Just
out of high school, He also left big,
rambling house set in fsir-Sized grounds
and several books fun of accounts
which would hardly pay for the trouble
they would take 10 try to collect. His
last sickness and death used up nearly
al the ready money there had been.
and as Mrs. Buckley. who was wont 10
defer TO her husband in everything,
was not much OF an asset for a young
girl to lean on, poor Madge found her
self facing a situation which was
almost appalling, But Madge was of
good courage and whenever she found
herself lust on the point of giving up
she would look at her delicate little
mother and gather fresh courage,
Surely she, great girl of 20, ought TO
be able to wreSt living for two out
Of world which hitherto had only
turned its friendly side to her. For
DAYS she pondered how she should set
about getting the aforesaid living and
finally decided to keep boarderS.
The following week 8 neat-appeGcing
and well worded little notice appeared
IN the weekly Tattler announcing mat
in one week Mrs. Imogene Buckley
would open her home TO few paying
guests Rates might be had on making
personal application at the Buckley
home evenings
Needless to say a house so attrac-
lively and conveniently situated as the
old Buckley house was to the business
section of the town was soon booked
to its fullest capacity. And such
cleaning and arranging as went ON
the few days before the house was
opened! Everything was beaten, ouSteo
and scrubbed until not an atom OF oaSt
could be found III the whole niace.
Ma0ge was 3uSy supervising the clean
Ing. Smudges of dirt appeared on her
pretty nose and great callouSes burned
on her hands, which hitherto had never
done anything more arduoVS than play
golf or WELD tennis racquet. Needless
TO say Mrs. Buckley spent the greater
part of her time sitting III her room
weakly bemoaning the past glory OF hef
FALLEN estate. Yet loyalty TO her brave
little daughter prevented one woro
passing her lips to any one save Maoge.
A month later the household had
quite fallen into a daily routine which
might have run smoothly If 1t had not
been for the little daily differences and
lealousieS which were sure to arise be-
tween some of the boarderS. There
\
taught school, and who had. IN tact,
taught too long and had become quite
grabbed in her disposition. She watched
the other boarderS and Madge 20 see
whether Madge or her mother showed
any fayoritiSm. If. for instance, Mrs.
.Jedkins, who sat on Pitkin'S right,
seemed TO have been helped to little
better portion of roast or chicken ihan
she had, or If Miss Clawsen. who was
head of stock at Wooley's department
store. had a mite more whipped cream
On her piece of Shortcake, Madge was
accused OF partiality. And Miss Pitk1n
would salk. AT times Maoge iouno
the women quite difficult to manage.
Always some one was complaining OF
lack of towels or that certain ones had
held the bathrooms longer than the
stipulated 90 minutes which was ailot-
ted TO each boarGer for the morning
bath.
Madge grew quite distracted at times
viaen she was commanded TO BE- on |
three floors at once, but she always
sighed with satisfaction when the |
weekly balance was struck and she saw
she was somewhat ahead financially.
The men. she found. were more rea-
sonahle They almost never COM
planned. They were seldom in the
and sleep. Madge was several weeks |
learning about her man boarders, and
then caught only bits of what was |
passing between the women, who spent |
their evenings talking in the one big |
parIor.
Thus matters went on for weeks, until /
one day a plainly dressed. little old /
woman sought board at the Buckley,
as Madge had named her boarding 1
house. The little old woman came /
recommended by former
boarEeT as q character, but nothing
was said as TO her circumstances. She |
took the best room IN the house, which |
happened 10 be vacant, and settled |
herself To be comfortable. She was no |
trouble at all, she did not mix with |
the other boarderS save 70 pass friendly |
greetings and she even cared for her |
room except for the weekly cleaning. |
AEadge found her quite refreshing and |
soon learned TO love her dearly. And |
Is for Mrs. Buckley and Mrs. Heron, |
Is the little old lady called herself, they |
struck UP friendship which was very |
agreeable 20 both Madge and her |
mother, who found little enjoyment in |
the other boarders' society. 1t also gave /
Madge more time 70 attend 10 her |
duties, as she felt more free TO leave |
her mother with their new friend. Be- |
fore the coming Of Mrs Heron, Mrs. |
Buckley. who was delicate and could |
only attend 10 the nlending and re- |
pairing. kept much 70 her room, and |
Oftentines In consequence found herself |
very lonely.
One day Mrs. Heron called Madge |
70 her room and told her that she
had Just received a letter from her
nephew, Tom West, who had been in
South America for hts health and who
was now entirely recovered. He was
coming home and had taken a fine
situation Ia EImhurst. She desired that
he might board at the Buckley with
her and wished Madge 10 arrange 10
take him. AZ first Madge thought IL
woild be impossible. but finally made
the necessary arrangements which
would permit Mrs. Heron 10 have her
wish.
Afadae met Tom West at dinner the
night ne came. He vas a fine young
fellow. with dark eyes and hair, and
face 30 honest that one instinctiyeiy
felt drawn 10 him He was most cour-
tkous ~ all the boarders and most at
tentsse 70 his aunt. but as far as Madge
HI [lW-N