Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-11-27

yes That is, the place has failed,
and will not be opened again"
20, what shall l do. l haven't had
any dinner and there is no other place
near?"
There was something almost child
ish in her tone which made the
man smile. But he said quickly,
1T is too cold to go far, especially
without anything to eat" He hest
tated moment, then added, IF you
will come up to my Office over the
restaurant I can give you cup of
coffee. After you are warm you will
be more fit to face this wind"
The offer was tempting and Emily
accepted, following him up the narrow
stairs to a little den of an once Her
host soon had bright fire burning in
the wood stove, and while he was
making the coffee over an alcohol
lamp Emily glanced around. The room
was scantily and poorly furnished and
the drawings on the wall showed that
its occupant was an architect.
Perhaps you will wish to know who
your host is" he said, handing her a
business card, which read
HERBERT NICHOLS, ARCHITECT.
MY name is Emily Gray" she re-
sponded, completing the introduction.
Tn pleased to meet you, Miss Gray.
Pray make yourself at home, said Mr..
AN-chols with profound bow
Emily laughed. 'sWho would have
suspected there was a particle of fun
in him?" was her mental comment.
They talked pleasantly while Mr..
Nichols was putting on a little table
the dried beef, bread, cheese, cookies
and coffee which he had purchased
for his own dinner. The meal was
simple, but as they sat by the warm
fire it seemed very homeliNae and coy.
Time went faster than either realized.
When Emily rose to go mr.. Nichols
offered to show the way 10 a new cafe
winch they would now be obliged to
patronize
ITO think that | ever imagined him
disagreeable,' said Emily to herself
that night as she dwelt rather fondly
on the episodes of the day. What a
noble man he has been to support his
brothers and sister so long. I'm so
glad his youngest brother is able to
work now"
For in his pleasure over the news
he had received that morning, Mr.
Nichols had told her ABOUT his young
est brother having finished at a bust
ness collee and already had secured
a position. Nov all can support them
selves. have been afraid at times
that I could not keep on taking care
of them"
And he went on to relate how his
father and mother had died when he
was eighteen years old, leaving mis-
sister and three brothers with no one
but himself to support them, making
no mention Of his own self-sacrifice,
he told how hard it had been for the
little ones to get along on what he
could give and now they had fitted
themselves to go to work.
Life after this looked brighter to
Emily. At the new restaurant, as at
the old, she and Mr. Nichols sat at
the same table, but no longer without
speaking. In the months that followed
both began to look forward to these
daily meetings and while at work dur
ing the day they thought of little
things to tell each other. Emily
seemed more eager than Mr.. Nichols
when he told of competition he had
entered into with other architects for
drawing plans for large public build
ing. When the decision was made in
his favor, it was Emily who expressed
the most joy. He informed her of his
success one evening when they were
walking homeward from supper to-
gether.
'This will help me a great deal. 1t
means | will be recognized among the
older architects, and will have work
so that can live differently. 1t
means, he stopped before a brightly
lighted house from which came the
sounds of piano, that I can have
home like that"
Emily's breath came harder. She
had thought, but what right had she to
think it. At last she said,
you will be happy, I'm sure"
''But you, Emily, could you be hap
py there with me?"
Her reply was very low, yer on the
following Thanksgiving eve-lt was
the anniversary Of their first meeting
when Emily entered neat little
cottage as its mistress, she said
up, Herbert, so that the homeless may
be cheered by glimpses of our happi-
ness"
GIRLS SHOULD BE THANKFUL