HER BEST BOARDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11024, 30 March 1899, Page 3

HER BEST BOARDER.

"TkaMP, tramp, tramp! Pray, Mrs. Slollick, is - 1 Kgiment marching over this house, 0 r has a private lunatio asylum taken posjegsion of it? It would be a relief to my ,)ind to know the worst." Jlr. Sompronius Swirton stood erect and bustling in the middle of tho floor in a gorgeous scarlot and maroon dressing-gown, slippers \rili fpaniels' heads embroidered on them, and light blue eyes glittering with indigna(ion.

Mrs. Mellicfc, tho landlady, quailed before lis glance. I'm sure, Mi'. Swirton, I'm very sorry, and I can only hope that no offence will bo took where nono's intended, but when there's R 'To Let' in the house, the law demands as it should lie showed to all as is civil and de-rent-spokcn, between the hours of twelve and four. But, Mr. Swirton— "House-hunters, eh?" snarled Mr. SwirIon; " wish I had the settling of them. Hut I tell you what, Mrs. Melliok, admit any one of them into this room at your peril, ma'am! Do you hoar'/ 1 am not a wild beast in a menagerie, to lie exhibited to everyone who has a permit from the landlord, and I won't stand it! Do you hear, ma'am? 1 won't stand i!." And Mr.'. Melliek find from tho infuriated presence, of her best boarder, so to sneak routed to the death. " It's dreadful trying," said the meek and much-enduring woman to Eliza Ann, lur freckled niece, "but there's one blessing;—lie's to be married in a few months. I ply his wife." "I don't," said Eliza Ann. "He's Wi.d enough if you only manage him a little; and ho pays his way liki a prince! I'm tore 111 bo sorry when he's g me! Hark! There goes the door-boll again." " It's some more of them torm* ilii.e hr,, hunters," groaned Mrs. M.dlick- "You m this time, Eliza Ann. and for tin life of y nl , don't let them go near Mr. Swirl i • a num. And Eliza Ann, only staying for a moment to see if the how of blue-nbiion in her winy tresses was straight, hurried to answer the ♦inkling summons. Two ladies, radiant in spring bonnets that were all narcissus buds and yellow ribbon, and rustling in silk flounces, stood theretwo ladies who put tho sterootped question- " h this house to let?" " Why, Blanche Bennies!" cried Eliza Ann Melhek: "is it possible that this is you?" Mi.« Want-he Beameß looked with soma ungraciousness at poor, shabby, hard-worked little Kliza Ann, half disposed to forget that die had sat on the same bench with her at tho establishment for young ladies kept by Madame Tarelli (in overy-day life Mrs. Tarelly). For Blanche was dressed like a young queen, and gloved and booted to perfection, whilo a real India scarf was looped artistically across her shoulders, and her black silk polonaise was trimmed, inch deep, with thread lace.

"Yes, said Blanche, "it's me. I hope you aro well, Eliza Ann. Aunt Sophie and mo are looking for an eligible residence; I suppose, wo can see this one?" "Yes," said Eliza Ann, rather chilled by the frigid reception of her delighted recognition : "it's a very nice place. My Aunt Mcllick keeps boarders here." Hoarder*!" echoed Miss Beames, drawing back the silken flounces, list they should, by any possibility, come in contact with the faded calico skirts of Eliza Ann, tho plebeian. " How very common !" "I)h, but they're quite nice people!" said Eliza Ann, mistaking the meaning of Visa ' Blanche. " Very genteel, I assure you." " I dare say," said Miss Blanche's aunt, in a patronising, mellifluous way; "but dear Blanche is so fastidious, and just about to be married, you know." " Married," ech icd Eliza Ann, stopping short with the instinctive interest which every female shows on the subject of matrimony. Miss Blanche laid l.old of the door-handle of Mr. Swirton'* room at this moment, and gave it an inergetio shake. "Is this door locked?" demanded she, sharply. "Why won't it open!" "Oh, plo.tse don't," faltered Eliza Ann; "it's on; of our boarders, a very particular gentleman, and I'll tell you all about tho room, only lie won't let anybody in." "A pretty idea!" said Blanche; "I will get in!" " But, phase, you mustn't. Blanche, dear," pleaded poor Eliza Ann. " He's such a nice gentleman; I wouldn't offend him for the world."

" Perhaps he don't know," said Miss Beames. purposely elevating hoi voice, " that wo are looking with tho intention of buying." Yes," added Aunt Sophie, her own voico rising a note or two higher, "my niece is to be married to an old man as rich as Croesus, and we want a stylish house for the ceremony. It don't matter what wo pay, for he'll settle the bills afterwards. Blanche is very fortunate, f assure you, Miss Melliek." "And the best of it is," added Miss Blanche, with a laugh, "that he is so old, it won't be very long before he leaves mo a rich young widow." "Oh, Blanche!" cried out tho horrified Eliza Ann. " how can you talk so when—" Just at this moment the door .if the big second-storey front room swung open, and Mr. Sempronius Swirton, in the red and m» roon dressing-gown, and the dog's head slippers, stood bowing in the portal, with a rod flush upon his temples and a peculiar mocking smile playing around his lips. "Walk in, ladies, walk in!" said he: "you are quite welcome to look at this room. I don't allow it to be shown in general, but you shall bo an exception to 1.110 nil >. Tray make no stranger of mc."

"Mr. .Swirton!" stammered out Aunt Sophie, with a spasmodic attempt at a smile. "Sempronius!" faltered Blanche. " But you were mistaken about two little things," remorselessly went on tho old gentleman : " 1 sha'n'l .-•"tile mv lilt bills of your contracting—neither do I intend to leave Blanche there a rich young widow. To he my widow, it i-- firs, necessary that you should become my wife, my dear ami I've changed my mind on that subject." And. with a flourish, Mr. Swirton shut the door, and retreated once more into his privacy. Mr*. Peck and lie; niece, Miss Beames, stared at one nno'her like two galvanised fcles. " It's all your fault, Blanche," said Mrs. Peck, bursting into tears "You began it first, aunt!" shrieked Blanche, with all the premonitory symptoms of hysterics while poor Eliza Alio ran to and fro for camphor, sal volatile, and burnt feathers, scarce knowing what to think oi believe. But when the peaceful twilight shadows settled over the chimney-pets, all was restored to quiet again, and Mr. Swirton meditated deeply. " I m well out of that scrape." said he to himself, "and it's a good thing I found Miss Blanche out in time to .poil thai piece of fun about the young widow ! But there's the wedding-suit ordered, and the wedding-ring, and I'd made up mv mind t' marry fomobody. Is that you. Eliza Ann?" "Yes, sir," nnekly responded that faded young person, " I've brought youi gruel, sir." "I'pnn my word, Eliza Ann," said Mr. Swirton, " you've learned to make gruel exceedingly well; and you're a good girl, Eliza Ann. Did you ever think of getting married''" "Dear me, sir, what a strange question?" and Eliza Ann. I ve a mind to marry you myself, Eliza Ann said (he old bachelor, abruptly. ~ "I', sir. I ain't half good enough," said the hiwly-minded Eliza Ann. ' Yes, you are!" said Mr. Swirton. "Come here and ki»? me, my dear. After all, vcu are very pretty „.„,,„ you blush like that!" And so Eliza Ann Melliek married the neh old bachelor after all, and Miss Blanche "HI remains Miss Blanche.