The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-09-21

it will come all right"
The day before Ben married the
firm" called him into the private
office. There it sat in awful CON
clave. The "frm" was composed of
the cold man" and the junior partner.
who hal been cashier once upon n
time and hal been taken in" several
years ago.
Ben said the "old man, " looking
him in the eye, while the junior part
ner smiled and lighted cigar. Ben
felt uneasy. Ben, you've proved
yourself an exceptionally good business
man. Your growth has been rapid,
and we've decided to give you the re-
ward you're entitled to. If everything
goes well we will offer you partner
sb in the concern one year from
now. Now, no thanks. At that time
you will collect the dividends you've
earned since you've been with us. 8"
Then the "old man" and junior part
ner shook hands with Ben, aud he
walked into the front Office with the
picture Of the house floating in the
air before him. That very night Car
RE and he sat down to plan it, after
she had patted him on the back and
said, 81 told You So, which is n
woman's privilege among others.
81 think we should have colonial
house, painted white, with green
blinds, like the Stebbinses," said Car
RE.
ooh, / don't know, said Ben. "Of
course, it's pretty, and all that, but /
believe that one of these French rem
aissnnce houses would he prettier and
oddcr Or, even one with Dutch
gables and gargoyles and things on
the roof ="
Colonial is much more the thing"
said Carrie. "With wainscoats
stair cd green, end lots of color on the
walls and ceilings, and n den for you
with shelf for steius and things"
why, that's just like Stebbinscs' ="
said Ben. Lets try something of
our own.
And so they struggled until they
both thought that perhaps nm archi-
tect might have some ideas on the
subject that hadn't occurred to
them. To an architect, therefore,
they went, and he, proving young
man who knew his business. MANAGED
to satisfy them both. Ben BOUGHT
tract of land and the house building
began.
One day the architect announced
that the house was ready for him, so
they packed their treasures and set
forth. As they approached the house
they stopped and looked upon it with
the fuIness of happiness and pride. 1t
had all come about as they had planned
when they were children, and lust as
If some fairy godmother had waved her
wand instead of being the work of n
businesslike young architect and n
bank account
OF course they had house warming.
The praise their house wrune from
their guests filled their cup and when
the ''old man" looked about and said
to Carrie, That young man of yours
is one of the best business men in town
and is destined to great things" her
eyes filled with tears and her lip uuiv-
cred ever so slightly.
After that they settled down TO en-
Joy their possessions. In month or
two Robinson built house less than n
block away and copied their porch and
two OF their most original rooms. Jones
stole the plan for the ground floor
arrangement when he built. Brown
took the upper hall and its window
seats and the arrangement of the
chambers and bath room. Smith tool;
the den and library bodily. Ben sat
down and wished he had waited until
all tho others had built before he had
touched n stick of timber.
81 don't sec why these fellows
couldn't have done something original. -
he complained. 'I'm sick of this place
now. As n matter Of fact never did
like it.
Well, ] have always liked it. " said
Carrie. 1T suits me down 20 the
ground. But I confess ! am getting
tired Of seeing our porch every time +
pass the RObinsons, aud beholdiug
or parloTs md dining room every
time ! visit the Jonescs"
"l'il tell YOU what well do. said
Ben, springiug TO big feet ''Weil
sell IT and buy another house, now
that they've built theirs.
nav perfectly splendid idfa. '
exclaimed Carrie. What 10 clever
boy 1T is.'
Tho following day Ben went to "a
real estate agent, who had the rcputa
ton of being able TO sell anything
that was carthcn, and told him to- sell
the house in double quick time.
WHAT that beautiful new hougc?"
exclaimed tho agent. "Why. Won
have not been IN it more than five
months"
81 don't care for that. answered
Ben. You sell it M hurry" That
very day the agent put an advertise
mont in the paper, Offering Ben's
house for sale.
well, / told him to sell the house. IS
said Ben, when he got home that
night
81 shall be sorry to lose it, " said