The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-03-15
ENLTGHTENING
WENTWORTH
by Kei16 Gordon
Copyright, 1904, BY Frances Wilson
1lrvfTrH7InsifTaTI -..HlYifn'HrNTTTIrrnTfrIsss

Ii was with some misgivngs that
Wentworth took the third floor of Mrs.
Manice's house. Had she not tolsi
him that she was almost an inyalidf
And when the mistress of d house Is
IN Invalid. He had half mind to go
back and tell her that he had recon
sidered; that he feared. after all, that
the ROOMS wouldn't do He slackeaed
his pace, turned. then went on. Per.
haps things wonld be all right, but a
fellow did SO hate household discom-
fort.
On the second morning after his ar
rival, when lie sat like a bew!Idered
monarch among a piled up, shapeless
mass of books, pictures, tables and
cllairs-wonGering why under heaven
he Ind ever acquired them-there came
knock at his door. At the moment
he was perched upon stepladder
smoking short pipe and taking rest
before he fatigued himself by begin
ming to arrange things.
Come in!' lie roared, without NOV
ing, expecting to see a servant Then,
at a slight hesitation on the part of
the persona hesitation that he felt
rather than saw--he turned toward the
door.
"ohl Ali beg your pardon!' he
apologlzed with alacrity. laying down
his pipe and jumping from his perch.
You see I'm bit ffoored. I'm
He paused rather helplessly. waiting
for his caller to explain herself, though
he felt vaguely that she was welcome,
thought she had dropped from the
clouds. so frank was her gaze. so fas-
cinatlng the way the thick hair rippled
away from the low, broad forehead. so
utterly womanly her face.
Mamma sent me-" she explained
Pm Miss Manice, and she thought
perhaps the maid and might be able
to help you out
She looked about the room inqulring-
~; then, as her eyes came back to the
new lodger's blank, helpless face, she
caught her lower lip between her teeth,
thus holding back the smile that strug-
glcd TO escape.
Have you ever movedY' he asked
ruefully, surveying his lelter skelter
possessions with fresh aversion, and
Mt the question she laughed ont a
laugh SO girllsh and infectious that
Wentworth laughed, too, catching for
Il moment the point of view from
which his dilemma was funny.
what the world needs" he went ON
nlaintively rs automatic. self arrang-
ing Notwithstanding that placed in
the room, viii adjust itself and save
its owner all trouble"
That's what we VIII have when the
millennium comes.' answered Miss
Aianice gayly. but meanwhile. If you
really loathe the task OF arranging
your things and win leave it TO me-
She paused questioninely. while
Wentworth eazed Mt her very much rs
If she were the straw and lie the
drowning man. Again her face dim
pied.
You wouldn't-not really?" doubt
ed he. with the shamefaccd air Of u
person who has taken a palpable Jest
in earnest.
''I'd just love it-that is. IL you think
f, I can arrange the room to suit you.
You might give me general idea OF
how you like things, and
Wentworth cut her short.
''If you can give 1t something of the
look OF that little drawing room Of
yours" he said warmly, 81 shall be
more than satisfied. The fact is, you
have saved my life" he finished can
didly.
wait until you see the rooms" she
cautioned as they parted. he to go to
his office with a burden OF his Shout
ders and she to confide to her mother
as she got into great apron that COW
cred her from neck to ankles.
He seems nice, grateful ledger
man, mother mine. Perhaps II won't
be 80 hideous TO have a stranger in the
house after ALL And think of the mon
ey.'
When Wentworth opened the door
Of his sitting room that evening quick
4 approval flashed into his eyes. All the
| Lianimate objects that had huddled
.osether SO anonymously in the morn
| -. 'HNEt WISH an OuuNt VI
-, respect among them, now faced
a ~. WIN serene dignity. once more
~, ,,o1iieu IN the beauty for which he
had bought them.
A"estruck at such insight. he nassed
INTO MS bedroom. half fa,-ipg tbo+
Eere The charm would he hro,an th,t
convenience would have bean .aa,-,
feed 10 looks ana that ia 49,,
have 10 dive into n pocket nniIo, ~ o ~.
closet door for one slipper ana : az ny
dive again for the other. At tbn oi1.,,.
of them standing openly ana dernnr,,l,
beside the fireplace Wentworth yoicaS
the highest praise TO be spoken Of ~
man.
Bless her hearth he said sofnv
She ought to be bachelors wife,,
During The three months that fol
lowed this conviction grew more and
more fervent His admiration for the
sSill with which Ethel Manice (at 9th.
er times merry, companionable glrn
ran the household. reducing friction 10
the minimum, making life a continual
JOY. grew into a sort Of religion to him.
Aud II was sa=-cthing Of this SORT
that be said to her one night scarce
knowing that be was saying 1t and