"Did they all die?" she asked with polite sympathy.
"No'm, dey didn't none of 'em die--worse luck."
"I'm afraid you have seen much trouble, Julianna," she continued
sympathetically; "They deserted you, I suppose?"
Julianna laid her long spoon upon the table and stood up with great
gravity. "No'm," she said again, "dey didn't none of 'em desert me on
no occasion. I divorced 'em."
Marital difficulties in bulk were beyond Diantha's comprehension, and
she dropped the subject.
Union House opened in the autumn. The vanished pepper trees were dim
with dust in Orchardina streets as the long rainless summer drew to a
close; but the social atmosphere fairly sparkled with new interest.
Those who had not been away chattered eagerly with those who had, and
both with the incoming tide of winter visitors.
"That girl of Mrs. Porne's has started her housekeeping shop!"
"That 'Miss Bell' has got Mrs. Weatherstone fairly infatuated with her
crazy schemes."
"Do you know that Bell girl has actually taken Union House? Going to
make a Girl's Club of it!"
"Did you ever _hear_ of such a thing! Diantha Bell's really going to
try to run her absurd undertaking right here in Orchardina!"
They did not know that the young captain of industry had deliberately
chosen Orchardina as her starting point on account of the special
conditions. The even climate was favorable to "going out by the day,"
or the delivery of meals, the number of wealthy residents gave
opportunity for catering on a large scale; the crowding tourists and
health seekers made a market for all manner of transient service and
cooked food, and the constant lack of sufficient or capable servants
forced the people into an unwilling consideration of any plan of
domestic assistance.
Pages:
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162