Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1912 — The House That Jim Built [ARTICLE]

The House That Jim Built

By NELLIE CRAVEY GILLMORE

Francesca laid down the paper with » quick -flush of color. Then she picked It up again and reread the advertisement breathlessly. V' ~,;,7iXJ. FOR RESNT—One up-to-date cottage, five rooms and bath. Can be leased •to right party. Situated comer Ninth avenue and Maple street Apply neat door: Their house! The girl’s eyes filled suddenly with burning tears. After three years he had at last consented then to let the place to a Strangeranyone who might prove respectable enough to be the “right party.” Had he forgotten?—ceased to care?-There, was only one answer or he would never have been willing to take this step. It cqnldn’t be lack of money, ■she knew that; the truth csme to her like a knife-thrust; ,he was done with the past forever. \ How many times had she passed and repassed the little green house into which had been wrought all their hopes, and thanked heaven from the bottom of her heart that it was still vacant, still sacred to him. Every shingle and rafter stood for a heartthrob; every tree and flower had been .planted with loving hands. And now? It was all Francesca could do to keep her* self-cofttrol. Visions surged into [her brain—visions of the old, dear days. James Langdon’s face was the center of them all. So distinct was It, she almost felt that she could have put out her hand and touched it. She strangled a little sob and dashed away the tears. What a fool she was to be going to pieces like this .on account of a man who had found it so easy to forget I Gradually a change came over her feelings. In place of •the old wearying ache, a hot rebellion [flamed into her heart She rose, tossed [aside the paper she had been reading [and crossed the room to her mirror. •Her eyes, sparkling defiantly! looked >back at her with a new purpose in their gold-brown depths. She, too, [Would —forget! Robert Thayer’s letter still lay unanswered In her desk. She reopened lit with fingers unsteady from excitement. The lines danced before her iejrbs for an instant; then her gaze (steadied and she read: ‘’Dear: May I come to you to-mor-Tofir night? There Ts something r want to tell you, to ask you. I won’t be patient any longer. Say that you (will be expecting me at eight “Sincerely, "BOB.” Francesca seated herself unhesitatingly at the desk and scratched a hasty reply. “Dear Bob:*Come by all means. I'm .always glad to see you; you know that I shall be looking for you at the appointed hour. , “Cordially, “FRANCESCA.” She had Just sealed the note when her brother entered the room, a little flushed, an expression of anxiety on his face. Yielding to a sudden impulse, she thrust the envelop quickly into a drawer and locked it. “Bad §ewß, Kid,’’ he said, dropping into a chair. The girl turned with a glance, an unspoken question on her lips. Young Graham anticipated her and said abruptly : “Got to move out in a week. Owners have sold the place—which signifies ‘move on’ for us.” Francesca sat and stared at him blankly. A terrible feeling of homesickness swept over her. “We’ve been here so long!” she said wistfully. "That's it. I knew you’d feel all cut up about it, Just as I do. But there’s no help for It, girlie. We'll have to be looking around at once.” ~~ “Where will we loo£?” she questioned helplessly. “Get the papers—that’s all. And lfi the meantime I shall have tojnake a run down to Washington for four or five days. That leaves the job to you. I’m sorry, but It’s unavoidable.” But the girl scarcely heard his last ■words. A sudden, wild thought had darted Into her brain; her blood was (racing riotously through her veins. It [centered all at oace in two crimson •spots in her cheeks. “Don't bother, Jack," she said, qul-' etly J’l shan’t have any trouble. Leave lit «S to me. I —l think I already know la place we can get,** She was devoutly thankful that her brother had been off at college during her betrothal days and the building of the house. He need never know the truth. They talked things over for a little, after which young Graham got up and went out again. Francesca swallowed a cup of tea and hurried upstairs to dress. In half an hour she was speeding toward Ninth avenue and Maple street, every nerve a-tiogle with varying emotions. Bhe stepped out on the pavement and stood for a second looking j|bout hor. “Apply next door.” There was only one bouse next doer, on the other aide was a park, and she made her way toward the small, weather-beaten structure. ’A little old lady with gold glasses, her head covered with silver ■white puffs, answered her ring. “I—l came,to see about cottage next “doer” Francesca began, ■timidly, “f hope no one Is ahead of ■me?" 7 / . ’ ’■ > '7 -There have been applicants, but as none of thorn appeared suitable ten 'ante wo turned them all away.” She held open the door. “Pray walk in. it. las; then we can talk better.” . Francesca’s heart was beating very hard and vary tact as sfe* entered the

prim little parlor, but she kept her poise admirably. What if she should be turned away! “The owner of the place Is in Europe, I believe?” she asked. “Yes. Jim’s about made up his mind to live In Paris, for good, I expect- He's my nephew, you know. My sister and 1 came up last spring from Philadelphia to live and he asked US. to take charge of the house over there.” After half an hour’s Interview, Satisfactory arrangements were conclnd-. ed and, with the key tightly , clasped in her cold fingers, Francesca found herself for the first time in three long years walking tremulously up the flower-bordered patl) that led to the low veranda.? Her breath came in little jerks and the blood pounded In her temples. She applied the Kby to the lock almost in a dream atid pushed open the door. At /sight of the familiar objects within a sudden sense of suffocation came upon her. It passed in a moment and she entered the first room she came to mechanically. The air was fresh and dean, and not a sign of dust was in evidence. The -spinster aunts had attended to that, and the girl sank into a chair with a sigh of relief. She had fully expected to find the place musty and" damp and had been mentally bracing herself to meet the emergency. She must have sat there at least ft quarter of an hour, her dry eyes traveling from one well-remembered object to another. Her emotion made her physically weak, and the only thing she could do was to sit and battle for self-mastery. There was no need to explore further into the house; every nook and corner was printed on her memory. A clock striking three roused her. She rose by an effort and crossed to one of the windows and looked out at the blooming flowers below. How well she recalled the day they had made Hie flower bed together. “But my dear James, how absurd! The place was going to rack and ruih for want of a tenant. We Imagined you’d be highly pleased— ’’ Francesca caught at the sill for support. Every atom of color fled from her face. “I appreciate your interest, of course, Aunt Sophie. But for reasons best known to myself, I prefer to keep the house vacant. I should have told you, I suppose. But somehow, in the rush of things, I omitted to do so. But asj long &b the people haven’t moved ii) there’ll be no trouble about it” Francesca turned as the man approached the room alone. GsrXflrst impulse had been to fly, to hide —to seek refuge In any way she could. But all avenue of escape was cut off, and the only alternative was to stay where she was, and hurriedly draw down the thick veil she wore. “I beg your pardon,” Langdon began, apologetically, “Bnt It was all ft mistake about this housife being for rent The fact is. I’ve just come home from Europe unexpectedly and shall want to occupy it for myself.” Francesca nodded. “I'm awfully sorry you’ve been put to this trouble, but you see —” “I’m sure you needn't apologize, 1 * she Interposed quickly, in a low tone. *<l_perfectly understand.” Langdon smiled gratefully. “Thank you very much.” he said. Francesca moved across the floor toward the. doorway. To reach it shft was compelled to pass close to Langdon. He was watching her narrowly. Suddenly he caught his breath, turned pale, then red —then pale again. When she would have passed through the opening he barred her way. “Francesca!” he cried, breathlessly. “May I —pass?" she faltered, weakly. “No; you may not.” He deliberate* ly lifted the veil from her face and looked long and deep into the misty, gold-town eyes. Satisfied, he gave a little soft laugh, and drew her at. most roughly into his arms. “We’ve been a precious pair of nuns skulls, haven’t we?” be demanded. —i —think we have, dear.” “But we’ve learned wisdom through experience, eh?” *l—hope so, Jim.” His lips touched her hair. His arms tightened. “And it’s not too late to go down and look at that Chippendale?" V

Cleveland Was Glad to Be Free. From the very first I felt that the of official'life was distasteful to Mr. Cleveland. He was a man who believed that he had work to accomplish, and that work was a serious matter which must be attended to, .and with which nothing muat interfere. So strongly pronounced was this habit of industry, and so decided was his mental attitude in regard to the duties he owed the people of the country as well as himself, that Ofi" one occasion, after having left the White House, he said to me: “Crook, in looking back at those years I used to feel that l was a prisoner. When I left my breakfast table and went to my office. It used to seem that a yoke was placed around my *heck from which I could not escape. There weiw many pleasant things connected with the office, but they did not compensate for the annoyances. . . . lam glad Ikm free.” —W. H. Crook In “Memories of the White House.” ' »