Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 286, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1914 — LYNN CARETAKERS [ARTICLE]

LYNN CARETAKERS

By CLARISSA MACKIE.

The Gabriel Lynn place was perched on a high bluff overlooking the shallow bay with the restless sea beating against the guardian rocks of the breakwater outside. Thef numerous windows were closely shuttered, all save those of the west wing, where lived the caretaker and his wife and daughter. Gabriel Lynn was dead, and now he’rested In the splendid mausoleum in the graveyard overlooking the sea. Etorn Dexter leaned against a pillar of the west portico and pulled at an invading branch of crimson roses. Her thoughtful gray eyes were fixed on the horizon line and a little frown was Indented above her nose. Mrs. Dexter, in a deep basket chair near by, looked up from her sewing with an inquiring smile. “My dear, I am afraid you are worrying about the. plans of our new landlord. If Mr. Lynn’s nephew and heir wishes to tear down this beautiful place and transport the most precious parts to another location and build a home elsewhere —we cannot hinder him. And to fret over the inevitable is not

like my sunny-hearted girl.” Pern smiled over her graceful shoulder, lyit her tone was serious. “I am not fretting, mother, for nqw that father has regained his heartn In this bracing sea. Sir and can return to his desk in ''Acker’s, it does hot matter whether Lynn House needs a caretaker or not —only, it does seem so wretchedly mean of young Mr. Lynn to overtook eveitythlng that his uncle put into this house. What it meant to the old man! I—l could shake him for his stupidity!" Fern turned away and ran lightly down the stone steps that led to the white beach below. Mrs. Dexter was still frowning maternal disapproval of her daughter’s Impetuosity when through the long window behind her there stepped a young man, eager eyed and in a state of suppressed excitement. “Ah, Mr. Lynn,” said the little lady with a charming smile; “won’t you sit down and let Nora bring you something—a cupful of tea?” “*No. thank you, Mrs. Dexter,” said Gabriel Lynn, his eyes following a pink linen frock that skimmed the beach below. “My train leaves at s:2o —and I believe I’ll take a stroll along shore before I go. Mr. Dexter and I have transacted so much business that pay head is quite befuddled." With a laughing nod he, too, ran down the steps and Mrs. Dexter watched him as he gained the beach and turned in the direction taken by her daughter. “I wonder if he heard what Fern said,” she murmured as she resumed her sewing. At that moment the new master of Lynn House had caught up with the pink linen frock. Fern turned at the sound of his step and he was startled the look of dislike in her gray eyes. Gabriel Lynn was not accustomed to being disliked by fair ladies. His own friendly glance hardened and he spoke brusquely. “I 'must beg your pardon for following you, Miss Dexter, but I could not help overhearing what you said to your mother. Please tell me what it was that jny uncle put into this house that should not. be disturbed — for I do not know.”

The girl looked at him with wondering eyes. Then she made room for him on the rock beside ner. “I will tell you,” she said simply. “Your uncle often spoke about his past life and pointed with evident' pride to what he had accomplished unaided, and we know —my parents and myself—what Lynn House meant to Mr. Gabriel' Lynn; but it was like his unselfishness to leave it all to you without restriction.” “Please tell me,” he repeated patiently. “You know that for many years I served in the Philippines and I scarcely knew Uncle Gabriel, although he and I were the last of the Lynns.” “Mr. Gabriel Lynn, as you know, began life in this little fishing village as the son of poor parents. Your own father .Was a brilliant scholar, and soon left Seahurst for the metropolis. Your Uncle Gabriel, younger, and fired by a great ambition to lift his family from the obscurity of poverty, worked his way upward little by little until after 40 years he had amassed a great fortune. Then he built this mansion on the site of his father's cottage—and so deep and tender were his sentiments that his private sitting-room contains much of the furniture of the oottage In which he spent his boyhood- His father’s armchair, his mother’s sewing rocker and many family keepsakes are there. In spite of his great wealth and his many Mends he was a very lonely man. This bouse —in itself a monument to his family, built in this isolated fishing village—contains much that is not visible; yet, if you tear it down, as my father says you Intend to do, and use the most valuable parts tn the construction of your new summer home in a more fashionable resort, you will be destroying pore than mere bH£ks and mortar.” J \ that 1 gave little thought to that Aide of the question,” he Amfesse* 1

always thought of my as a stem, self-centered, repressed man, who cared for little else than money.” “Before you go home visit his pri-*' vate sitting-room on the second floor if you would better understand Mr. Lynn,” urged the girl. “Then, then, you will strive to make Lynn House into a permanent monument to the memory of a generous-hearted, lonely man. Situated as it is, would it not make a wonderfully beautiful home for tired working people? Leave the mahogany doors, and the Italian marble mantelpieces, and the lovely garden. Poor people crave such beauties, and —” »

Gabriel Lynn put out a protesting hand. “I understand now,” said he gently. "I am ashamed—and I thank you. Miss Dexter. I am going now to visit my uncle’s room and become acquainted with him." He held out his hand. When he had gone she sat there with a deep pink dyeing her cheeks, "What impertinence from the caretaker’s daughter!” she laughed shakily. “I am very much afraid if father had not already resigned that we would all be driven from this Eden!” A half hour later she saw *him climbing the hill toward the cemetery which Gabriel Lynn had beautified. A curious smile curved her lips. The next morning Mr. Dexter tossed a letter across the breakfast table. ‘ “Mr. Lynn has changed his mind about tearing down the -house,” he said. “He has some philanthropic scheme in view and wants me to assume charge of the matter at a salary that I can hardly refuse. “What do you say, my dear?” Mrs. Dexter had much to say in praise of the change of plan, but Fern was very silent. Her gray eyes were gravely tender as she went about her household tasks. , A week later Gabriel Lynn came down, enthusiastic over the new Vacation Home. f.Fern avoided him, but the young man Beamed strangely contented and happy.

As the season advanced and the new plan bore bruit of happiness and joy for many a weary city worker, Gabriel came down and spent the week-ends busying himself with a hundred details to make the Lynn Vacation Home perfect. It was the close of September when he again pursued a pink linen frock down the pebbly beach. It was not the reflection of the sunset, nor the glow of the pink frock that flushed Fern’s. cheeks until she looked dlstractlngly lovely to the eager young man who came to sit beside her on an overturned boat. “Fern!” he whispered. This time her eyes Bhowed no dislike of him. On the contrary he was emboldened to take her hands.

“Dear,” he said, “every man needs a good woman to point the way for him. You saved me from a selfish deed—you made me acquainted with the real Gabriel Lynn who builded this house. You revealed to me the spirit that pervaded it. You kept my hands from desecrating it. My lifs belongs to you—and I need you because I-love you! I want a caretaker for my heart!" Fern’s answer.was entirely satisfactory, and when the Dexters saw them coming up the steps hand in hand, they smiled tearfully at each other. “This caretaker job looks like a life sentence, now that it’s in the family,” twinkled Ms; Dexter. (Copyright, 1914, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)