Evening journal., 1899-11-09
CHANGEABLET MINDS

he moved away" said the young man.
20 ycsr said the old lady. "Step
right in and III get IL 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. 3
Are you Mr.. John Arnold, the new
owner Of Mr.. Ames houseY
Yes The unhappy owner, / should
have said a few days ago, but now
have changed my mind"
Arnold did not know what made him
say that last, IL was not at all necess-
ary, but there was something in the old
lady's face which invited confidence.
"IndecdT said she. Il wonder why
You changed your mind"
"Well, I'll tell you about IT," he said,
leaning back comfortably in his chair
and strOlSing the purring cat.
Il took the mortgage on the place
without having the slightest idea that
81 would ever come into my possession.
/ did il partly TO accommodate Ames
and partly as a speculation. That was
five years ago. For some time Ames
has been getting behind on his inter-
est, and l found last week that ] was
the owner of the place.
II haven't been here for u number Of
years. and / did not remember much
about IL except that there was a small
house on half an acre of land and that
II was very far from salable. So there
/ was with a white elephant Oh 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 J see him tells me |
must get out doors more. But as ] am
situated, there's not much inducement
TO 20 out 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 il occurred to me To come out here
TO live. Get my own supper and break
fast. you know, and putter around in
q garden. | can go into town on the
electric cars till the roads get settled
enough 10 ride my wheel | don't
have To- get TO the Office till .. so I'd
have plenty OF time TO take the four
uiles easy
BY the time the grass hcgan To turn
green he could not have been persuad-
ed 10 return TO his old way of diving,
Mrs Austin, his former landlady,
with whom he siill look 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 school
teacher to board. She was very pret-
" girl. Grace Howard by name. and.
rs he was quite talkatiye. Mrs. Aus
tins dinner table was a very pleasant
meeting place.
One night, just on the edge of winter,
n new idea came TO him. How much
pleasanter IL would be if Grace were
here" he thought and he sat in rev
erie for long time. After that he kept
thinking of her heiug there. and of how
well she would become the house. Els
pecially did he think of it when he
| sat opposite TO her at dinnSr
AIN the time he was getting deeper
In love with his house and with Grace
but he told himself he would wait till
\ everything looked mt its best before he
brought Grace 10 see Il. After that lie
would ask her an important question.
II was in May. one Sunday. after
! church. that Mrs. Austin and Grace
took the electric cars ana went TO see
| ArnOld's 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 20 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 Ike my homer asked
! Arnold, as they paused at the Austins
! gate
1t is very pretty" she said. judicial
ly.
i. but Il 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. ThCn. as the door CLOSED
behind her, he mounted his wheel and
rode rapidly away
When he came TO his house. n,
looked at Il sadly Il shall have to Civ,
YOU up" he said. 1T comes hard, bui
l have got to do H."
Nearly two weeks passed bef0r,
everything came right so that Arnold
could put his question TO Grace.
After that, when they We're making
, plans for the future. Arnold asked
, "What shall we do about a housc?'
Grace opened her eyes wide an,
gazed at him as though he had asked
very foolish question.
"Why. what is the matter with YOU
house, | think IL is lovely out there
wouldn't ask for anything better
Arnold gasped II thought you-yol
said"
oh she answered swcotly. tina
was ever so long ago, / have changed
my mind. Susan Brown Robbins.