Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-01-10

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NJ '"r' |H"~ the dust and
heat of an early spring day; so, when
her aunt stopped in front of another
office, Sara gave little gasp of de-
spair before resigning herself to the
inevitable. That 1t was inevitable she
well knew, for Aunt Jane never did
anything by halves, and when she was
house, hunting, allowed no real estate
signs to escape her watchful eye.
AS they went in, a gray haired man
came forward to meet them with the
businesslike air of courtesy that Sara
had come to consider more provoking
than rudeness. A young man at a desk
in the corner glanced up indiiferently,
but continued to look, with strange
expression on his face. Sa"a saw him,
and conscious that her cheeks were
reddening, turned abruptly about to
examine the cards on the bulletin
board. That one quick glance had
brought back the scenes of the pleas
ATTEST summer Sara had ever known
the summer when Alan Slocum had
spoiled it all by quarreling with her.
How could she ever have been so
careless as not to notice the sign over
the door? He was probably thinking
at that very moment that her appear
ance there was matter of her own
conniving What long, tiresome
talk her aunt was having with the
senior partner! Sara could catch bits
of sentences here and there, about
furnaces, calcimine, and hard wood, so
she knew they had gone from the alb
stract to the concrete. By the time
she had read the list of houses and
flats four times over, the agent turned
from her aunt to the young man, and
Sara's heart sank as she heard his
words.
'If you have nothing else on hand,
AL" he said, 81 wish you'd take these
ladies over to the Kimbark Avenue
house for me. I've got to wait for
Brooks"
The young man bowed, and, picking
up his hat, followed them out of the
office. He ignored Sara almost com
pletely, and, walking by her aunt, be-
gan to speak of the desirable quail
ties of Woodlawn.
''It is very pretty here" said Aunt
Jane. 81 had almost despaired of
finding house in so popular a local
ity when my niece discovered your
sign"
81 didn't discover it," said Sara
rather hastily. 'You spoke of the of
fee"
"Well, what difference does it make? I?
So much more credit to me-" her aunt
said easily. MY sister broke her leg
at the last minute, and [ am doing her
house hunting for her." she added,
turning to the young man at her side.
Alan Slocum smiled pathetically.
'It is extremely wearing work." he
said pleasantly. "From what part of
the city did you come, Mrs"
''Mrs. Harris" replied Aunt Jane.
"From the far north side, and it's going
to cost small fortune to get them
moved down here, too"
1t was something of relief to get to
the house at last.
Hard wood in both rooms, you no.
tice, Sara, " her aunt was saying. "Gas
CRATE, bay window, side porch-let's s
see the pantry. That turn in the stairs
will make good place for the clock, -
she went on, as she started on tour
of inspection of the second floor. Give
bed rooms. Which will you have,
Sara"
"The second, I suppose" said Sara
somewhat listlessly. "Mother'll have
the front"
''There's pretty little balcony out
side of your window, you see," said
Aunt Jane.
eyes" said Sara slowly. "a cor
dial invitation to strolling burglars. :"
81 declare, you're the most provok-
ing girl | ever saw" her aunt said
wearily. CATER I've come all the way
from Edgewater to select house for
you, you might, at least, take a little
interest in the one l select"
81 do, Aunt Jane" said Sara, try
ing to speak lightly. I'm just tired,
1 suppose"
"Well, you hurry along and buy the
tickets for home" said Aunt Jane, re-
lenting, land I'll go over to the Office
with Mr..
Jarvis" said Alan, without wink
ing.
Jarvis, I'll take the house, subject
to approval, if that is satisfactory.
Sara hurried away and bought her
tickets for the express to the city, glad
of few minutes in which to collect
her thoughts. She walked up and
down outside the turnstile and tried
to persuade herself that she wished
Alan Slocum in the moon rather than
on the next street to her future home.
She gave up trying, however, for she
could not think connectedly, owing to
the shrill cries of newsboy and the
diabolical whistle of popcorn stand
Aunt Jane hove in sight before long,
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