Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1908 — Page 7

The Little Tin Cottages.

By Virginia Blair.

Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated Literary Press.

Tbe sky was blue, and the lake was blue, and there were four blue birds against tbe silver gray of the birches. “It’s like a chain of sapphires,” Peggy said as she and her mother followed the narrow,pa th among tbe trees. “Tee,” murmured her mother faintly. Peggy looked back at her. “Mother,” she protested, “you are tired out,” and she took the heavy bag that her mother had carried, and, thus weighted with two, she plodded on until she came to an intersection of the path. ' “I’m not sure which way to turn to go to our eottage,” she said. “Doesn’t

"THIS IS THE WAY WATER OUGHT TO BE HANDLED.”

it sound too good to be true to say ‘our cottage,’ mother?" “Yas, itpdoes, and the rent is so cheap," Mrs. Linton said. “We couldn't have come if it hadn’t been cheap," Peggy remarked philosophically. “No, we couldn't," her mother agreed, and again they plodded on. Presently a man appeared among the trees. He wore blue overalls, and be was wheeling a barrow. “Oh, can you tell us where Miss Brownlee’s cottages are?” Peggy called eagerly. » “The tin cottages?" the man inquired.

“The what?” Peggy gasped. The man grinned. “The tin cottages. Those are the ones Miss Brownlee rents. You go on till you come to a path toward the lake, and you’ll find them." •

“Mother,” Peggy demanded when he had gone on, “what do you suppose he meant?” “I’m sure I don’t know, and I don't care,;’ said Mrs. Linton pensively. “Poor little mother,” Peggy worried, "you’re tired out” Again they went on, and at last they saw before them a row of diminutive houses like Inverted bathtubs. They were painted gray, and they were very compact and neat but to Peggy, who had dreamed of a picturesque rustic tmngalow. they were nightmares. “Oh,” she said in dismay, “they are hideous, mother!" And after one glance Mrs. Linton sat down on the moss and laid her umbrella beside her. “It’s the last straw," she said dejectedly. * “Oh, dear!” sighed Peggy. And her mother echoed the plaint. But presently they saw a woman beckoning to them from the porch of a large rustic cottage at the end of a row of tin caricatures. “That must be Miss Brownlee,” Peggy said. “I am going to tell her that I think she should have told us that the cottages were made of tin.” But as 'they came up to the porch the beaming face of the rather massive lady disarmed criticism. t “I thought you would be'here about this time,” she said. “L want you to have lunch with me.” “Oh,” Peggy demurred, “we don’t like to trouble you.” "Pm dead lonesome,” Miss' Brownlee hastened to explain, “and I like company. That’s why I built the cottages.” 4 “Aren’t they a little odd?" Peggy asked. “I think they are beautiful,” Miss Brownlee declared radiantly. “After the big fair they were for sale—they had been models, you know—and I bought them cheap, and they are nice and comfortable inside. I have rented the one next to you to a young man, an artist. He comes tomorrow/’ "Has he seen them?” Peggy Quavered, not daring to look at her mother. “No, but I told him how nice they were.” “Oh,” Peggy murmured, and went on eating hot biscuits. A half hour later she said to Miss Brownlee, “I have never tasted such a perfectly delicious lunch.” Miss Brownlee laughed. “Well, I am a right good cook,” she said. “1 always wanted to have an opportunity to ledrn things, but after mother died I was too did to take up painting or music, so I just went on cooking. After all. I don’t know but It’s just as worth

Hrhile to good cook as a bad artist?’ ‘ “Indeed it is!” said Peggy heartily. ”1 paint some myself. But I wish I could make cake like this.” “Oh, do you paint?” pried Miss Brownlee. “Some time I am going to get you to make a picture of the cottage.” In the morning Peggy set her easel up on the bluff, but the magic of the lake eluded her, and when she came in she bad nothing to show but a sketch of Sally. •' » She gave It to Miss Brownlee. “Well, well,” said that delighted lady, “It’s just like Sally. I’m going to have it framed. By the way,” she added, “it’s time for that young man to come. And there he is now.” And she hurried to the door. He was a handsome young felfow, with a gray cap on the back of bis head. “I wanted to ask about my cottage. Where to it?” ‘"There,” said Miss Brownlee, pointing to the one next to Peggy’s. “That? Oh, by George!” the young man ejaculated, and Peggy laughed to herself. “It’s the one I told you about in my letter,” Miss Brownlee went on. “Yes,” he murmured feebly, “you told me.”

“This young lady and her mother have the one next to it.” And Miss Brownlee stepped back and showed Peggy behind her—Peggy, whose blue eyes danced wickedly. The young man looked at her, taking in with appreciation the grace of the slender girlish figure. “I think I shall like—the cottage,” he said slowly, and when they had talked for a few minutes Peggy went back to her mother. “He is very nice,” she remarked, “and his name is Meredith.” And with that she took her portfolio and started for the bluff. “Look here,” said some one over her shoulder two hours later, “you ought not to try that sort of thing.” It was Mr. Meredith. “Why not?” asked Peggy. “I saw your sketch of Sally,” he told her. “You do it better than water things. Your lake and sky aren’t right.” Peggy flushed. “Oh,” she said, “I don’t want to paint pussy cats! I want to paint the silver water and the silver trees and a silver spirit of the woods.”

“Silver tommyrot!” said the young man. “You ought to do things like the studies your mother showed me just now.” “Pot boilers!” Peggy murmured. “This is the way water ought to be handled,” and he opened bls portfolio and handed her a sketch. “Oh!” Peggy said as she looked at it, and when she bad handed it back to him there was real humility in her tone. “I have never seen anything so wonderful.” “It »is no more wonderful than yours,” he told her, “but I have studied longer—abroad and all that.” “Oh, have you?” said the eager Peggy, and they sat there and talked until the shadows fell.

That night Meredith said to Miss Brownlee, “I think it is beautiful here,” and Peggy, watching the moonlight through the small square window of her room, smiled in the darkness as she thought bow deliciously Mr. Meredith said “By George!” when he looked at her best work. The next morning she took bis advice and sketched the six curly tailed pigs, Sally over a saucer'of milk and Miss Brownlee among her pots and pans. “That’s the best thing you have done yet,” Meredith told her as he examined the sketch of Miss Brownlee. “The light of the fire and the sunlight through the window give a chance for values.” “I wish 1 knew as much as you do about such things,” Peggy sighed. “We wll) work together for awhile,” be said, “and I will teach you ail I know.”

But he taught her other things than art as their easels stood side by side on the bluff, and the white gulls dipped to the sapphire lake, and the wind ruffled the curls on Peggy’s forehead. And one morning as Peggy finished a sketch of sliver birches with a bit of lake beyond he looked over her shoulder. “You are getting on wonderfully,” he said, “but you ought to have a year abroad.” “But I can’t,” Peggy told him. “You can If you will marry me.” was his unexpected proposition. And “Oh!” said rosy Peggy. “And to think,” said the radiant Miss Brownlee when they told her, “that I should have a romance right here tn my tin cottages." “Dear cottages!" murmured Peggy. And as the lovers went down the path the moonlight touched the little gray houses with magic light and made of each of them a castle of dreams.

Tragic.

Scene—A railway carriage. First Artist—Children don’t seem to me to sell now as they used. Second Artist (in a hoarse whisper)— Well, I ,was at Stodge’s yesterday. He had just knocked off three little girls’ heads, horrid raw things, when a dealer came in. sir. bought ’em directly, took ’em away wet as they were on the stretcher and wanted Stodge to let him have some more next week. Old Lady (putting her head out of the window and shrieking) Guard, atop the train and let me out or FJI be mnrdered!—London Tit-Bits.

His Daily Income.

“What I* your hutband’s income!" "Twice a day—fl p. m. and 3a. m."— Puck.

Humor and Philosophy

By DUNCAN M. SMITS

LIGHTNING EXPRESS. How swift the wheels of time proceed Alon* their busy way When you have bought some furniture For which you did not pay. For when the prompt Installment man Drops in for what Is due It seems as If a week rolled round Most every day or two! They say that time Is fitted out With pinions like a bird. And to the one who owes a bill This does not seem absurd. In fact, the way it flits along Much sprier than a lark Might make one think the wings were run By an electric spark. Tou gatlier In your weekly pay, A modest little sum. Which Is a sign, you may be sure, A caller soon will come. He wants a dollar for the rug— Two if you have a pair— A dollar for the looking glass And fifty cents a chair. The poets in a frenzy fine The flight of time have sung And told how you were growing Old E’er you were fairly young. But poets cannot bring It home Or rub it in as can The purchasing of furniture On the Installment plan.

Relative. A San Francisco man and a Boston man met on a train coming north from New Orleans and fell into a conversation as to changes they were both about to make in their places of abode. “Where do you expect to locate?” asked the Boston man. “In tbe far east,” replied the San Francisco man. “And where do you intend to settle down?” “In the far west,” replied the Boston man. They bemoaned the fact that since they were such congenial company they would be so far apart, but it transpired on further explanation that they were both going to live In Chicago.

As Usual.

“Hear about the common people getting automobiles?” “That so?” -Yes.” “Where are they getting them?” “In the neck.” She Knew He Could Make Good. “His wife doesn’t have much faith to him, it seems.” “Of course not. It isn’t necessary.” “Why not?” “Faith is only essential where you lack proof.” Easy Loss. The wealthy plutocrat was calm. Though cash was tight and times were bad. For in the shuffle he had lost A million that he never had.

PERT PARAGRAPHS.

It is pleasant to be successful, but It isn’t always successful to be pleasant. Getting into trouble is expensive, but some people just will have expensive things. Some men are so stupid that it makes a clever person feel Immodest just to be in their society. Being original has its drawbacks; it looks to some people like deadly insult When fiction discovers truth it seldom mentions the encounter. The ancestors of some of us make us extremely grateful to them for their consideration for us in being some three hundred years or so removed from our intimate acquaintance. Some men are bound to save themselves even if they have to use every dollar in sight Irrespective of the little matter of ownership.

Why doesn’t the woman’s club movement do something original—organise an expedition to the south pole, discover ft and “t up a colony there or Something like that? The man entirely* able to fight his own battlee seldom to required to do so.

When a woman gives you a .piece of her mind it is not as a guarantee that she has a peaceful mind. Trust your friends, certain ly; but remember thAt a chattel mortgage is a good thing to feel safe with.

i 4« Long B L A GENUINE OSTRICH PLUME ■■H NOT AN IMITATION. An absolutely perfect and most beautiful 14 in. feather, ® richly curled. The size and quality sold in the large stores of cities like New York and Chicago at $2.50 and >3.00. Our Price to You, Only $1.25, Prepaid. Guaranteed exactly as represented, or we will promptly refund money. Every woman should buy a several years’supply ■ while these most extraordinary prices last. Milliners, too should take advantage of this great opportunity, as ■ they can makegood profits on these plumes. I HOW CAN WE MAKE SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY OFFER? * | Simply by selling to you direct, for cash cutting out all middlemen’s profits, traveling ■ men’s salaries, storekeeping expenses, etc. Besides, by not selling on credit, we save losses ante races ■ due to bad accounts. So we can afford to sell to you at really leas than dealers usually JI J n $ „ ... a pay at wholesale. Ours is the largest concern of Its kind in the U. S. and we are in 1? J n 3.00 Colors: ■ position to sell at lower prices than any other firm. We aave you from 50% to 75% J n *-JJ® Black, White. ■ on prices naually charged, on all sixes. I AN EXCEPTIONAL BARGAIN IN OSTRICH TIPS. I I THREE FINE TIPS—IO to 18 inches long —Our Price on same, SI.OO a bunch. Plumes ) 85.00 1 We carry a large supply of all colors. I———J ■ FANCY OSTRICH AIGRETTES. Effective and Stylish Trimming, Black and White. SI.OO a Doaen; Bunch of Four Perfect Tips, with Aigrettes in Centersl.oo ■ , a ~ , , I Aswas (tA H easel Da as«el2. Is certainly a thing of beauty. It would be ■ Ulir wDCCIBI tbV Dim OI iHTHUISC difficult to find one elsewhere that can com- **“'*’*“**• vexsawv p ar e with it for three times the price. For brilliancy of feathers, curling and finish. It is certainly incomparable. Every stylish dresser should have one; Order anything from the list given, and you are bound to be satisfied and delighted with your purchase. We have satisfied thousands I of others in all sections of the country. Our large capital and our long experience enable us to secure the very best in the market, and B we know you will be “more than pleased" with quality as well as price. Certainly it is worth your while to buy feathers of such grades ■ when your dollar will go practically three times as far as when you buy at a local retail store—in other words, when you cau get two ■ plumes for about the price of one! All orders promptly filled. Our large force and up-to-date facilities enable us to fill orders, large and small, in most cases on the ■ day they are received. H Send at once, stating whether one or more wanted, size or sizes, color or colors. Send your remittance in full. h CHICAGO FEATHER CO. I NOS. 233 AND 235 E. JACKSON BOULEVARD DESK NO. E-6 CHICAGO, ILL.

Edward P. Honan, ATTORNEY AT LAW. Law, Abstracts, Real Estate, Loans. Will practice In all the courts. Office over Fendig’s Fair. RENSSELAER, INDIANA. 1 - Arthur H. Hopkins, Law, Loans and Real Estate. Loans on farm and City property, personal security and chattel mortgage. Buy, sell and rent farms and city property. Farm and city fire Insurance. Attorneys for AMERICAN BUILDING, LOAN AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION. Office over Chicago Department Store. RENSSELAER. IND. J. F. Irwin. 8. C. Irwin. Irwin & Irwin, Law, Real Estate and Insurance. 5 Per Cent Farm Loans. Office in Odd Fellows’ Block. RENSSELAER. IND.

Frank Folts C. G. Spitler. Foltz & Spitler (Successors to Thompson & Bro.) ATTORNEYS AT LAW. Law, Real Estate, Insurance, Abstracts and Loans. Only set of Abstract Books in the County. RENSSELAER. IND. Chas. M. Sands LAWYER Law, Collections and Abstracts. Office: Room 1, I. O. O. F. Building. Office Phone No. 140. RENSSELAER. - IND. Ira W. Yeoman, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW. Remington - - - Indiana. Law, Real Estate, Collections, Insurance and Farm Loans. Office upstairs In Durand Block. E. C. English, Physician '& Surgeon. Office over lines' Millinery store. Rens- . selaer, Indiana. Office Phone 177, Residence Phone, 118.

M. D. Gwin, M. D. Physician & Surgeon. Office opposite Postoffice, in Murray's new building. PHONE 205, day or night. W. W. Merrill, M. D. Eclectic Physician and Surgeon, RENSSELAER, - - INDIANA. Diseases a Specialty. Dr. E. N. Loy HOMEOPATHIST Office in rooms formerly occupied by Dr. Hartsell. Office phone 80, residence 160. H. L. Brown, DENTIST. Office over Larsh’s drug store. BARGAINS IN PASTURE LAND. 380 acres level pasture land, ilea along large df.tcb, mostly open land, in blue gtua »on main road, % mile to sckool, % mile to gravel fdad leading to court house. Will take half in good town property, merchandise, or other land. Price 880. O. F. METERS, An arm load of old papers fsr a nickel al the Democrat office.

Automobile Li-Very Cars for hire at all hours of day or night. Reliable cars and competent drivers. We will make a pecialty of carrying to and from parties and dances. Give us a call. Rates reasonable. . • I ■ . • • Garage.

The Anvil Chorus “Order is Heaven’s first law,” DeArmond’s work’s without flaw; “Instinct builds a nest that’s true,” DeArmond shapes the horseshoe. W. S. DeARMOND, Tefft, - Indiana.

V ' \ —» \a

HIM DAY, C • ........DEALER IM < in ilia mt M. / TJWWtW 1 b > RENSSELAER, lID. $ Yes, The Democrat has a few es those Wall Charts left, and the price remains at 85 cents additional, when sold with a year’s subscription to The Democrat, 45 cents if to be mailed. FULL BLOOD SHORTHORN BULLS FOR SALE. Ono excellent 2-yeaAold and two yearlings. Also farms to rent, possession given either fall or spring. 8. P. THOMPSON, ’Phone 37. Rensselaer, Ind.

THE NEW a mi NO. 2 Manufactured by THE SUN TYPEWRITER CO. Organized 1889. 317 Broadway, Now York C'ty PRICE S4O.

SJ H*S QUALITY THAT COUNTS IN THE LONG RUN. WHEN ABOUT TO BUY LUMBER. THE QUESTION TO ASK IS NOT "HOW CHEAP,” BUT "HOW GOOD.” WE PRIDE OURSELVES UPON THE MANY EXCELLENT QUALITIES POSSESSED BY OUR BUILDING TIMBER.. WHENEVER YOU PLACE A CONTRACT WITH US. SATISFACTION IS BOUND TO RESULT. LET US QUOTE YOU ESTIMATES ,ON YOUR LUMBER SPECIFICATIONS. THE RENSSELAER LUMBER CO. Farm leases (cash or grain rent), mortgage and deed blanks, etc., for sale at all times and in any quanMty desired at The Democrat office.