Smyrna times., 1904-09-14
FEATHERING
THE NEST
By LwELLEN TETERS
Copyright, 1901, by Lrellen Teters

TALLY, Toms income is very small, but
when two people fall in love what else
can they do but marry? He works from |
to every day and can't attend to |
feathering the nest himself, and she |
lives way up in the country He wants
me to select a foT9s room fiat and get |
all the furniture. Would you help me? |
I'd be so grateful"
She glanced away from the eagerness !
Of his face. The open piano reminded
her of the pupils coming for lessons in
the morning. Some stockings stuffed
tightly i'll her wOrkbasket near by
warned her of necessary darning
There was a hat to trim over so she
could go to church on Sunday. Count
less other petty duties arrayed them
selves silently before her in stubborn
protest.
1t had required a veritable pocketin"
Of pride for her to apprise Goring of
her arrival in town, because OF his for
getfulness of her in the time following
their last meeting. Had he not been
the only one she knew in the big, throb-
ling city doubtless the dainty little
missive would never have been sent.
But fate pends on trivialities, and
May Carlton feared solitude more
than she feared the past. A distaSteful
suitor was wOOing her with all of the
gilded persuasiveness of his wealth.
championed by her aunt. But GOring
did not know of this. He knew only
that May Carlton was temporarily
dOmiciled at a chilly, stuffy boarding
house which breathed of frying meats
at no matter what hour he called and
that there was wistful pleading in her
eyes.
I'VE will go to lunch first" Goring
put in insinuatingly; that is, if you
willT"
THANK you, but 1 am afraid l can
not possibly go until afternoon" she
said firmly, with inward sacrifices. The
hat could go until next week; surely
there were greater sins than not at
tending church.
1t was much easier selecting a fiat
than the furniture, as they discovered
after weary pilgrimages through de-
partment stores trying to perform that
miracle commonly known as buying
what one wants at the price one can
afford, for the fat, provided over by
a smoky, generously whiskered janitor,
who insisted on taking them for his
prospective tenants and asking them
at disconcerting intervals the size of
their family. was decided on almost
at first glance merely because Miss
Carlton liked the parlOr mantel and
GOring admired the size of the ice
box.
But each time she returned from the
cheerful little home that they were so
engrOssed in preparing for the bride
and groom it was to sink aghast at
the loneliness of her own life as she
climbed up the three interminable
flights of stairs to her room. Her few
scholars barely sufficed to meet the
exactions of her landlady. The thought
of the little fat uptown Knocked heI
with it's insinuating air Of home and
domesticity. The instinct was strong
within her for a nest of her OVID. II
was only because of the inherent fond
ness for the home, as the bird builds
its nest and feathers it tenderly for its
mate, that she had been interested il
the labor
When Goring called for her that aft
ernoon to complete the final arrange
ments in the little home. there was NJ
trace of the grief she had endured thu
previous evening. AS he was an
nounced she was even beginning let
ter to her distasteful suitOr, and sh'
4,,Ar ha,. of In hpr haste II
accompany Goring.
do you think they'll like it,? sh
asked anXiously.
Like it? They'll be crazy over it
Wouldn't you?"
Eyes. l would like it," She stifet
sigh that echoed in her heart.
She had been about to sign he
name to that bit of paper whic
would mean for her a splendid mar
sion, horses and all the accessories O
affluence, but her heart yearned fo
the tiny nest in which she stood an
the one man to share it with he
Something suffocating arose in be
throat.
I'm sorry it's finished" Gorin
broke in. 81 had no idea 1t was
interesting. Tom left three days az
for the wedding; they ought to [
here tomorrow. 1 suppose they won
have house warming"
May Carlton looked at him impu
slyely; tomorrow was her last da
in town; she had resolved to seal III
fate and go back to that other ma
afraid to pit her puny strength long
against the world. She longed for OF
more taste of happiness, reluctant
take the decisive step.
why couldn't we arrange 1t as
surpriseY she cried eagerly. 1T W
be awfully cheerless for a bride, col
ing to a dark house without one 1g
to greet her. Oh, pleased!
GOring glanced into her flushed, wiz
full face, thinking of that summer til
past and the man who rumor sa
had robbed him of her love.
well, we will. I'll see a caterer
"a caterer? When l can bake [