The Washington herald., 1907-08-12
TRESCOTTS GRADUATION.
BY JAMES CHAMBERS.

- ~fhhALo
Trescott clipped the advertisement from
the paper and tucked it into his pocket
book. He had about made up his mind
TO go TO one Of the fashionable resorts for
his months vacation, but this appealing
advertisement decided him.
1t was just a few lines Of small type,
but every sentence painted alluringly the
delights Of a summer on farm and an
nounced that Elm Farm was to be rented
for the month of August at an extremely
reasonable rate.
Trescott wrote 70 "E. Marsden. agent.
and the answer decided him. He could
have far better time than would be his
If eooped up in some stuffy room at an
expensive hotel, and the thought of a
whole house 10 himself for an entire
month was attractive after having occu-
pied the tiny bedroom and parlor of a
bachelor apartment for eleven months.
So Marsden engaged to have the farm
house put in proper order by the first
Saturday in August.
1t was with pleasurable anticipation
that he climbed into the blackboard that
met him at the station. The farm was
comfortable looking place. some fifteen
acres in extent, and bordering a small
lake. The house. a two-story frame, was
painted and beds of flowers made the
front yard gorgeous.
Inside II was the pink Of cleanliness but
the place struck a chill 10 his soul. The
arrangement Of the furniture reminded
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 arrangement Of the place. He
had sent some money 70 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 10 smoke his pipe. He did not
enter the place again until ii was time to
seek the chill bedroom.
II was raining the next morning. and
he spent a most miserable day roaming
about the dreary rooms and wishing for
the Sunday papers. He had a couple Of
books in his satcheI, but he could not
make himself comfortable enough 10 read,
and, after vainly seeking TO change the
furniture about into some semblance o.
comfort. ne gave 1t up and dragged an old
rocker out 70 the barn. Here. at least. he
felt less oppressed by the dreariness of
it all.
He spent a 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. fol-
lowed in moment by the jangle Of the
/ doorbeI.
He raced across the rard and through
the house 20 present himself at the door.
A young girl stood on the porch, while
an elderly woman sat in the covered
buggy
Good afternoon" was her brisk greet
! ing. rs Mrs. Trescott at homer"
There isn't any Mrs. Trescott." he
said, with a laugh, unless you mean my
mother. She is in England just now"
I am Miss Marsden," she explained
, I drove out TO get acquainted and see
how you liked the place. I supposed, of
course. that there was family"
There isn't any family. he said. and
I don't ike the place. OF all the dismal
places I was ever in this Is the worst.
! was going In to tell your brother so in
/ Ike he quoted from the advertisement.
And he promised to have it all fixed
up"
There was a woman here ali day Fri
day" the girl said. Didn't she clean
up properly
she cleaned up" he conceded. but 1
can't make the place look hOmelike.
! shiver every time look at it. I'm going
10 change the name, and call it Lemon
/ Farm instead"
81 guess it's not so bad as that" she
said, with a ripping little laugh. 7
thought there would be a woman in the
/ family 10 make things look honey so
did not come myself. May we come in?"
] He stood aside in silent invitation. He
/ followed them into the house. and his ad-
miratiOn 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 II
| transform the apartments
You're q magician he declared as.
with final pat to the sofa pillows, she
! transformed the parlor and moved into
the dining-room. Now II looks Ike a
place TO be lived in"
It's the purely feminine touch that no
bachelor can acquire" she said, with .
[ Won
were alone. I should have been out yes
terdey morning before you arrived"
I'm glad you waited" he said, simply.
| Won't you and your mother stay to sup
per? 1 can cook if 1 can't keep house.
I will put the horse up and you can tele-
phone your brother
L am z. MaTsden, q" she explained
4 have no brother. When father died I
decided to keen IN the bs1sF0ess V7v-o
Marsden did not look very well. and. be-
Sides people do not like TO do business
with a woman, so, between the simple in
Itial and typewriter manage 10 get
| along
You should come to town" he ad-
vised. and call yourself a homemaker.
II ought 70 be worth lot of money"
That might be profitable in winter. "
she agreed Perhaps I will try it.
But in the meantime, supper" he in
sisted. III look after the horse. There