The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-06-13


ing in all four minds.
1--WE must go to housekeeping"
Mrs. Torrey said. George, we wilt"
Mary, you're jewel-shake
hands," was Mr.. Torrey's reply. He
had been waiting for this a weary
while. Across the table two study
books were slammed down.
Mama, honest? oh, that's good!"
from Maurice.
20 goody!" from nine-year-old
Alan. The entire family, then, had
been waiting.
Yes, we've boarded long enough.
think we've been pretty patient.
Now we'll rent house and I'll make
you three boys some popoversl And
you can bring your friends, George,
and the boys can entertain theirs
sometimes. Why, it's nearly four
years since we came East, and here
we are in clearinghouse still"
We'll, 1t sha'n't be so any long
err" said Mr.. Torrey. We'll go to
housekeeping tomorrow"
Mrs. Torrey smiled leniently.
'That's like a man." she said. "If
we find house in three weeks we
shall do we'll"
She was a small woman; an air
of fragility sat upon her becomingly.
Her big husband, adoring her with
out disguise, resolved to shoulder the
responsibility of moving.
1t was six o'clock the next night
when the four Torreys sat down at
their end of the long clearinghouse
tea-table. There was subdued jubil-
alton in George Torrey's face, but
he ate his supper without disclosing
the cause of it. 1t was not until he
got into the sitting-room upstairs
that he broke forth.
WELL" he said, rubbing his hands
together genially, "Ive engaged a
house. Didn't take me long, either"
: "George!" But his wifes tone es-
capped him in his self-gratulatory
mood. He beamed at his wife and
the boys impartially.
Eyes, had it all down fine inside
of fifteen minutes. Takes me to go
house-hunting! hadn't been on the
car two minutes before l ran plump
on 1t In the advertising column In
the Times: TO be let-pleasant
house, nine rooms, sunny, convenient,
good neighborhood everything
there in black and white, you see!
Here's lucl!' l said to myself, but
better was to follow. l glanced out
of the car window, and there / was
on the very street-yes, pretty near
ly opposite the very number Took
me about three winks and half to
stop the car and hunt up tha. house!
1t suited all right, and lefore an
other ten minutes I'd engaged it, and
tomorrow WE'LL"
"George!" Mrs. Torrey's tone was
now impressively noticeable. 1t was
distinctly calm and clear-but notice
able. There was patient tolerance
in that one word-there were pity,
kindness, affection in 1t. Mr.. Torrey
stopped rubbing his hands together
George, you are exactly like a
man-but, there, suppose / knew it
when l married you. But l never
looked ahead to your engaging a
home for your family in fifteen min
utes! That proves your sex conclu-
siyely enough! You never thought
OF closets and back yards and expos
urcs and pantry shelves. of course. 4"
The tone was gathering gentle sar-
casm now. "Or whether the win
dows faced to the south, or-any-
thing. My dear, engaging houses is
a woman's work. 1t never occurred
to me that 1t was necessary to say
So l have cut out some advertise
ments In all the papers I can find,
and tomorrow shall make little
beginning. OF course 1t will take
considerable time-more than fifteen
minutes" she concluded, in fine
climax of irony.
But, Mary''-Mr. Torrey was re.
coveringslowly Jubllation had given
place in his honest countenance tc
surprise, chagrin, disappointment
meek acceptance. But, Mary, I've
engaged the house" Only a rare
presence OF mind tripped him ur
there, on the verge Of adding that
he had paid down months rentaI
to bind the trade"
II think I shall try the one or
Liscomb street first, and work grad
ually downtown" remarked Mrs
Torrey, musingly. She was sortins
over some little newspaper cuttings
as she mused. There was In her fac,
and attitude the air Of a general OF
the owe of q great campaign. Their,
was herolsm, too, as of one who fore
saw personal sacrifice and discomfort
She sighed little foreseeingly.
Well, Pll-well, go ahead. e,
ahead, my dearl" George Tore,
laughed out In the sudden relief O
tenderness. He had realized sudden
iy what little thing Mary was. an,
how determined her chin was, an,
how she loved campaigns Womel
were queor, but one of them wa
dear. GO ahead, and find a plac
with all the windows to the soutl
and all the closets rightlp
That's what am planning. dear.
smiled gently the small woman
There is the right place for b
somewhere, and shall not spar
time or pains TO flnd 1t. II will Yer
likely sake lot Of hunting and trail
ing up and down stairs. but shal
do my best"
Thus quite as suddenly as the al
teen minute house had been engage
II was snuffed out OF existence, .