Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-09-29
FEATNERHNG
TIE NEST
BY LwELLEN TETERS
Copyright, 1901, BY L,oenen Tetera


tally "Tom's income is very small, but
when two people fall in love what else
can they do but marry? He works from
s to 6 every day and can't attend TO
feathering the nest himself, and she
lives way up in the country. He wants
me to select four room fiat and get
all the furniture. Would you help me?
I'd he 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 in 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.
It had required a veritable pOcketing
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-
bing 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 Gorin3
cid 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
"We will go TO lunch first" Goring
put in insinuatingly; ''that is, if you
will?"
''Thank you, but / am afraid / 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 fat
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 dlsconcerting 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 We're 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 mocked her
with its insinuating air of home and
domesticity. The instinct was strong
within her for nest of her own. 1t
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 in
the labor.
When Goring called for her that aft
ernoon to complete the final arrange
ments in the little home, there was no
trace of the grief she had endured the
previous evening. AS he was an
nounced she was even beginning a let
ter to her distasteful suitor, and she
thrust it into her pocket in her haste to
accompany Goring.
"Do you think they'll like it?' she
asked anxiously.
"Iike it? They'll be crazy over it!
Wouldn't you;'i
"Yes, | would like it, She stified
a sigh that echoed in her heart.
She had been about to sign her
name to that bit of paper which
would mean for her a splendid man
sion, horses and all the accessories Of
afIluence, but her heart yearned for
the tiny nest in which she stood and
the one man to share it with her.
Something suffocating arose in her
throat
iim sorry it's finished" Goring
broke in. Il had no idea it was so
interesting. Tom left three days ago
for the wedding; they ought to be
here tomorrow l suppose they won't
have house warming"
May Carlton looked at him impul-
sively; tomorrow was her last day.
in town; she had resolved to seal her
fate and 90 back to that other man,
afraid to pit her puny strength longer
against the world. She longed for one
more taste of happiness, reluctant to
take the decisive step.
"Why couldn't we arrange it as a
surprise" she cried eagerly. 'It will
be awfully cheerless for bride, COM
ing to a dark house without one light
to greet her. Oh pleaser
Goring glanced into her flushed, wist
full face, thinking Of that summer time
past and the man who rumor sold
had robbed him OF her love.
"Well, we will I'll see a caterer
"a caterer? When l can bake the
most poetical biscuit and make am
brosia from mere coffee. oh, what do
we want Of any ignorant, expert food
maker?" she cried
''In your hands then" he bowed in
mock gravity.
Sundry mysterious parcels dispatched
by Goring kept arriving all afternoon
after May reached the fiat, each breath
ing its own delectable secret. She
donned huge white apron and began
ner preparations early, ror 0oring had
telephoned her that he thought the
compile would arrive at and he would
drive up with them.
But he stepped in alone, unan-
nounced, for he had retained one of the
keys, ana entered an atmosphere of
delicious, savory odors. A bright light
radiated from the kitchen, and he stood
silently in the doorway, unseen by
her, admiring her as she stopped to
baste the golden brown fowl in the
oven. Goring said nothing. There was
q telegram in his pocket, and he hesi-
tated to mar her pleasure all at once.
"Oh" She nervously dropped her
cooking spoon as he crossed the thresh-
old
IT'S better than an Alma-Tadema,"
he commented, drinking In the home
like suggestions.
81 hope they'll be happy" She gave
the fowl an undeserved prick with the
fork, fiuttering at something indefna-