The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-18
TRESCOTT'S GRADUATION.
By James Chambers.

Prescott clipped the advertisment from the paper and tucked 1t into his pocket-book. He had about made up his mind to go to one of the fashion able resorts for his months vacation, but this appealing advertisement de- cided him.
 It was just a few lines of small type. but every sentence painted alluringiy the delights of a summer on farm and announced that Elm Farm was to be rented for the month of August at an extremely reasonable rate.
 TreScott wrote to 'E. Marsden. agent" and the answer decided him. He could have a far better time than would be his if cooped up In some stuffy room at an expensive hotel, and the thought of a whole house to him self for an entire month was attractive after having occupied the tiny bed room and par!or of a bachelor apart ment for eleven months. So Marsden engaged to have the farmhouse put in proper order by the first Saturday in August.
 It was with pleasurable anticipa- ton that he climbed into the buck board .Aat met him at the station. The farm was a comfortable looking place, some fifteen acnes in extent, and bord- ering a small lake. The house. two- story frame, was painted and beds of flowers made the front yard gorgeous.
 Inside 1t was the pink of cleanliness, but the place struck & chill to his soul. The arrangement of the furniture re- minded him of the cheap boarding house in which he had spent his first years in the city. and try as he would he could not alter the gaunt arrange ment of the place. He had sent some money to the agent with the request that some simple groceries be put in, and he had no trouble in getting his supper, but the moment the meal was over and the dishes washed, he went out of doors to smoke his pipe. He did not enter the place again until 1t was
 It was raining the next morning, and he spent a most miserable day roaming about the dreary rooms and wishi lg for the Sunday papers He had a couple of books in his satchel. but he could not make himself comfor- table enough to read, and. after vain ly seeking to change the furniture about into some semblance of comfort. he gave its up and dragged an old rocker out to the barn. Here. at least. he felt less oppressed by the dreari- ness of cit all.
 He spent fairly comfortable after noon and was just about to rouse him. self to go in and prepare supper when the sound of wheels caught his ear. followed in a moment by the jangle of the doorbell.
 He raced across the yard and through the house to present himself at the door. A young girl stood on the porch. while an elder woman sat in the cov- cred buggy.
 Good afternoon" was her brisk greeting. "Is Mrs. Prescott at homer
 There isn't any Mrs. Prescott" he said with a laugh. unless you mean my mother. She is in England just now"
 T am Miss Marsden." she explain ed. drove out to get acquainted and see how you liked the place. I sup posed of course there was family"
 There isn't any family" he said. "and don't like the place. Of all the dismal places I was ever in this Is the worst. I was going in to tell your brother so in the morning. "Comfor- table and homelike, he quoted from the advertisement. And he promised to have 1t all fixed up."
 There was a woman here all day clean up properly?"
 She cleaned up," re conceded. but can't make the place look homelike.' shiver every time I look at 1t. I'm going to change the name and call 1t Lemon farm instead"
 "I guess it's not as bad as that" She said with a rippling little laugh. T thought there would be a woman In the family to make things look honey, so l did not come out myself. May we come in?"
 He stood aside in silent invitation. He followed them into the house and his admiration for the personality of the brisk young woman increased as she rapidly moved from room to room. giving the touch here and there that was needed to transform the apart ments.
 "You're a magician" he declared as. with a final pat to the sofa pillows. she transformed the parlor and moved into the dining room. Now 1t looks like a place to live in."
 Its the purely feminine touch that no bachelor can acquire" she said with a little laugh. If I had known that you were alone, should have been out yesterday morning befera you ar- rived"
 I'm glad you waited" he said sim ply. Wont you and your mother stay to supper. I can cook If I can't keep house. I will put the horse up and you can telephone your brother"
 T am F. Marsden. she explained. T have no brother. When father died I decided to keep up the business. Eve Marsden did not look very we'll. and, besides. people do not like to do business with a woman. so. between the simple initial and a typewriter. ] manage to get along"