Evening journal., 1899-12-05
CHANGEABLE MINDS


/ understand Mr.. Ames left here when
he moved away" said the young man.
20. ycsw said the old lady. ester
right In and IN get il for YOU
While she was gone he seated him
self IN 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 az the young man
with kindly scrutiny.
"Arc YOU Mr.. John Arnold, the new
owner Of Mr. Ames hOusef'
"Nes The unhappy owner, l should
have said few days ago. but now
have changed my mind"
Arnold did not know what made him
say that last. it was not at all necess-
airy, but there was something IN the old
lady's face which invited confidence.
"IndeedY said she II wonder why
you changed your mind"
well, III tell you about it," he said.
leaning back comfortably In his chair
and stroking the purring cat
II took the mortgage on the place
without having the slightest idea that
Il would ever come into my possession.
/ did it 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 / was
the owner OF the place
Il haven't been here for "a number OF
| years. and did not remember much
ahoat IL except that there was a small
house ON half an acre OF land and that
I il was very far from salahle SO there
] was with white elephant ON my
! hands and no earthly use for him."
We'll, IN day or two | had brill
| liant idea. l was sick in the winter,
I 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 induccment
! 10 30 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 II occurred TO me to come out here
20 live Get my own supper and break
| fast you know. and puttcr around in
a garden. ! can 90 into town on the
electric cars till the roads get settled
enough 10 ride my wheel. l don't
have 10 get TO the Office till o. so ia
have plenty of time to take the four
miles easy.
BY the time the grass began to turn
green he could not have been persuade
g ed TO return TO his old way of living
Mrs. Austin. his former landlady
with whom lie still took his dinners
sighed and shook her head. and contin.
ued 10 fear that Arnold would break
down. Then, as she saw no prospect
of getting him back. and as she was
lonesome evenings, she took school
teacher TO board. She was n very pret
ty girl Grace Howard by name, and
as he was quite talkauve. Mrs. Aus
tins dinner table was n very pleasant
meeting place.
One night, just on the edge OF winter
new idea came go him How mucl
pleasanter it would be II Grace were
here" he thought, and he sat ia a rev
erie for long time. After that he KEEP
thinking OF her being there, and of how
well she would become the house. rs
pecialiy did he think Of It when III
sat opposite to her at dinner.
All the time he was getting deepe
i'm love with his house and with Grac
but he told himself he would wait III
/ everything looked at its best before n
brought Grace 10 see Il. After that h
would ask her an important question
II was In May. one Sunday. afte
church. that Mrs. Austin and Grac
took the electric ears and went 10 se
Arnold's house. He met them at tn
corner of his street and the three wen
along together chatting gayly.
Mrs Austin admired everything
along the way. and when she came 4
see the interior Of the house she wa
loud in her praises. Grace agreed &
everything, but did not say much. The
had lunch together and at length Al
mold went and saw them on their cal
then stood watching until IL was los
TO view.
The next night he was getting o
his wheel TO go home, when he say
Grace walking along the opposite side
walk. He crossed over, and trundlin
his bicycle. he walked beside her.
How did you like my homer asze
Arnold, as they paused at tho Austin
, cato.
1T is very pretty" she said, judicia
{ ".
! but 4 must be horribly lonesome.
sheuld die know. IL / had to live /
! such n place. Still" she added, smiling
'if YOU Hike IL, that is all that is necei
snry Good night"
Arnold looked after her as she wei
, ND the steps Then. as the door close
, behind her he mounted his wheel an
rode rapidly away.
! When he came to his house. h
looked at il sadly. Il shall have to Civ
you up" he said. 1T comes hard, bt
! | have got TO do it."
! Nearly two weeks passed befoI
everything came right so that Arnol
I could put his question TO Grace.
I After that. when they were maxim
plans for the future. Arnold askel
p what shall we do about a hOuser
Grace opened her eyes wide an
= gazcd NJ him as though he had aske
, very foolish question.
I "Why. what is the matter with yoJ
house, I think il is lovely out th0re.
y wouldn't ask for anything better
{ Arnold gasped. Il thought you-yo
= said--'
oh. She answered sweetly. 'th;
e. was ever So long ago. I have change
my mind "-Susan Brown Robbins.