The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-10


moved away" said the young man.
"Oh, yes,'' said the old lady. step
right in and I'll get it for you"
While she was gone he seated him
self in a softly cushioned chair and
looked about the room. A large cat
made friendly advances and was set
tied in his lap by the time the old lady
came back. She sank ponderously into
her chair and looked at the young man
with kindly scrutiny.
Are you Mr.. John Arnold. the new
owner of Mr.. Ames' house?'
yes. The unhappy owner. l should
have said a few days ago, but now
have changed my mind"
Arnold did not know what made him
say that last: it was not ar all neces-
sary; but there was something in the
I'D ledy's face which invited conf
dence.
"Indeed?" said she. ct wonder why
you changed your mind?"
well, I'll tell YOU about it, he said.
leaning back comfortably in his chair
and stroking the purring cat.
Il took the mortgage on the place
without having the slightest idea that
IT would ever come into my possession
/ did 1t partly to accommodate AmeS,
and partly as Sneculation. That was
FIVE years ago. For some time Ames
has been getting behind on his interest
and I did not look after him as I
ought. so / was rather surprised and
little disguised when l fond last week
that I was the owner of the place. and
that Ames had moved away. I haven't
been out here for a number of years,
and did not remember much about it,
except that there was a small house on
half an acre of land, and that it was
very far from saleable. So there I was,
with a white elephant on my hands
and no earthly use for him."
ITO old lady smiled.
oil. in a day or two / had a bril-
lia7t idea. ! was sick in the winter
don't fNel real good now-and the doc
tor. e--0rv time I see him. tells me 1
must - cUt doors more. But as l am
situated there's not much inducement
to go out doors. Ny boarding place is
only five minutes from the law office
where I work. and when one is tired he
doesn't feel like walking. or even rid
ing the bicycle, just for exercise. So it
occurred to me to come out here to
live. Get my own supper and break
fast. Won know, and Dutter around in
a garden. / can go into town on the
electric cars until the roads get settled
enough to ride my wheel. I don't have
to get to the office until 9, so I'd have
plenty of time to take the four miles
easy"
Il think it is beautiful PLAN" said
the old lady. cordially. There's moth
ing that will do you any more good
than to be out in the air.
II am glad to hear you say that"
said Arnold. his face lighting up.
Everyone else have talked to thinks
1 am crazy But I am determined to
try it month at any rate, so today I
came out to look at the house and see
what things I'll have to get to make
it habitable''
IF there is anything I can do to help
you. don't hesitate to oall on me. And
hope you will be real neighborly and
come in to see US evenings. Father
and / get kind of lonesome sometimes"
Arnold put the cat on the floor reluc-
family and arose to go.
You are the only one who has given
me the least encourag cement" he said,
and thank you, Mrs
MY name is Littlefield," said the old
lady, as she gave him her fat hand to
shake.
When a few DAYS later he came to
arrange his household effects, Mrs
Littlefield came over and helped TO
make his small house look homelike
Then she insisted on his taking tea
over at her house. and he consented
must return the call
He stayed late in the evening, and
when he went to his own house he felt
a little homesick, but that did not last
long. as he soon fell Q deep. When he
went by his neighbour to take the car
the next morning. he waved his hand
Gayiy to Mrs. Littlefield, who stood at
the window.
That noon he went to his old board
ing place. where he was to continue to
take his dinners. He had lived with
Mr.. and Mrs. Austin for number of
years. and Mrs. Austin felt a motherly
solicitude for him. She looked at him
anxiously as he came in. and almost
overwhelmed him with questions as to
whether he slept we'll and if he had
breakfast enough and wasn't he very
tired, and didn't he think he had bet
ter stay in town that night, and was
the house properly aired before he
went into it.
For the first week, Arnold himself
was a little doubtful about his expert
ment, and Mrs. Austins fears and
questions rather annoyed him. But
at the end of that time he began to
get used to his new life. and he be-
came more cheerful than he had been
for months.
BY the time the grass began to turn
green he could not have been per-
suaded TO return to his old way of liv-
ing. His house seemed more attrac-
tive as time went on. He tidied the
yard. trimmed the rose bushes and
grape vines, and by the middle of
April he began. with great enthusiasm,
to spade up a garden patch. He had
lived on a farm once, otherwise ii
might not have seemed 20 good to get
into the country agaiH. =
Mrs. Austin sighed and shook her
head, and continued to fear tlat Ar
mold would break down. until June
came. Then. as she saw no prospect of
getting him back, and as she was lone
some evenings, she took q school teach
er to board. She was a very pretty
girl Grace Howard by name, and, as
she was quite laxative, Mrs. Austins
dinner table was very pleasant meet
ing place.
Arnold was not used to girls. but it
seemed to him that Grace Howard
must be different from most girls, he
felt so friendly toward her. and she
seemed such a congenial spirit. He
told her all about his house, his gar
den, and of the long rambles he took
on Sundays. They talked of books
and agreed remarkably we'll o. "or-
eau, Burroughs and Torrey. She list
ened with interest to all he told her