The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-07-19
CHANGEABLE MINDS


right in and I'll get 1t 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 mar |
with kindly scrutiny.
Are you Mr.. John Arnold, the new
owner Of Mr.. Ames housew
eyes. The unhappy owner, should
have said few days ago, but now
have changed my mind"
Arnold did not know what made him
say that last, 1t was not at all necess.
airy, but there was something In the old
lady's face which invited confidence.
"IndeedW said she. 81 wonder why
you changed your mind"
well I'll tell you about It," he said
leaning back comfortably in his chair
and strolling the purring cat
II took the mortgage on the place
without having the slightest idea that
II would ever come into my possession
l did 1t partly to accommodate Ames
and partly rs n speculation. That was
five years ago. For some time Ames
has been getting behind on his inter-
est, and | found last week that l was
Ille OWNER OF lup pace.
II haven't been here for a number OF
years, and ! did not remember much
about 1t except that there was a small
house on half an acre of land and that
1t was very far from salable. So there
/ was with white elephant on my
hands and no earthly use for him."
"Well. in day or two | had bril-
liant idea. | was sick in the winter,
don't feel real good now, and the doc
tor every time | see him tells me |
must get out doors more. But as | am
situated, there's not much inducement
to go ont doors. My boarding place is
only five minutes from the law office
where | work, and when one is tired
he doesn't feel like walking or even
riding the bicycle just for the exercise.
SO it occurred to me to come out here
to live. Get my own supper and break
fast, you know, and putter around in
garden. | can 20 into town on the
electric ears till the roads get settled
enough to ride my wheel. | don't
have to get to the office till o. so I'd
have plenty of time to take the four
milrS easy
BY the time the grass began to turn
green he could not have been persuHd
ed to return to his old way of living.
Mrs. Austin. his former landlady,
with whom he still took his dinners
sighed and shook her head. and contin-
ued to fear that Arnold would break
down. Then as she saw no prospect
of getting him back and as she was
lonesome evenings she took Il school
teacher to board. She was n very pref
ty girl, Grace Howard by name and.
rs he was quite laxative Mrs. Aus
! tins dinner table was a very pleasant
meeting place.
one night. just on the edge of winter.
q new idea came to him. How much
| peasanter it would be if Grace were
| here" he thought. and he sat in rev
| erie for a long time. After that he kept
| thinking of her being there, and of how
well she would become the house Els
| pecially did he think of it when he
SAT opposite to her at dinner
All the time he was getting deeper
| In love with his house and with Grace
| but he told himself he would wait till
everything looked at its best before he
! brought Grace to see it, After that he
would ask her an important question.
1t was in May, one Sunday. after
church, that Mrs Austin ana Grace
took the electric cars and went to see
Arnolds house. He met them at the
corner of his street and the three went
along together, chatting gayly.
Mrs. Austin admired everything
| along the way. and when she came to
see the interior of the house she was
loud in her praises. Grace agreed to
everything, but did not say much. They
| had lunch together and at length Ar
mold went and saw them on their car,
then stood watching until it was lost
| to view.
The next night he was getting on
his wheel to go home. when he saw
| Grace walking along the opposite side
| walk. He crossed over and trundling
his bicycle. he walked beside her
How did YOU like my home?" asked
| Arnold as they paused at the Austn's
| gate.
1T is very pretty" she said judicial.
ly.
But it must be horribly lonesome.
| should die. | know. If | had to live in
| such place. Still" she added. smiling,
'if you like it, that is all that is neces-
sary. Good night"
| Arnold looked after her as she went
| up the steps Then, as the door closed
behind her, he mounted his wheel and
rode rapidly away.
When he came to his house, he
| looked at it sadly. Il shall have to give
you up" he said. at comes hard but
| ! have got to do it."
Nearly two weeks passed before
| everything came right so that Arnold
could put his question to Grace.
After that, when they were making
| plans for the future. Arnold asked
what shall we do about house,
Grace opened her eyes wide and
| gazed at him as though he had asked
very foolish question.
"Why, what Is the matter with yout
house? I think it is lovely out there.
wouldn't ask for anything better"
Arnold gasped. II thought you-you
said"
oh" she answered sweetly. that
was ever so long ago. | have changed
my mind. Susan Brown Robbins.