The Detroit times., 1909-12-04
A STRANGE ADVERTISEMENT.
BY eleIle Becker.


Lydia VAS a splendid stenographer
olt Of "A position and staying in the
village with her aunt. One OF her
skillful. white hands was now turning
over the morning paper. when very
odd adyertisemenr attracted her:
fWANTED7-By "A lady on Staten
rd.l an educated young woman, who
needs employment. and who has hand
slim enough TO go in a moderate sized
wine glass 49,
LYDIA set off for that six.mllc tramp.
II was early i'm October. and the red
and yellow naples would keep good
pedestrian company. When a colonial
styled yellow brick met her eyes, with
ivy clambering about the pillars that
reached almost To the roof. she was
not surprised A dim subcon scious-
ness had told her there would be
plenty Of ivy AS she walked up
neat. grayeled path, bordered by scar
let SALIVA. now at its tide-time of
bloom. her nerves tingled with excite
ment. She kept looking about her. as
the walk wound under silvery poplars
II was worth whole month I'm the
priggish town, this extraordinary Incl
dent: incident. because Lydia had no
idea OF accepting whatever employ
ment was offered. She had healthy
curiosity and an overdose OF love OF
adventure
\ little woman with snow-white hair
and dark eyes and long black lashcs,
and a filmy shawl Of snow around her
shoulders, came ont and offered her
hand cordially.
This mistress Of the Doric pillars did
not say. Let's see your hand. She
did not even gaze nj il, but sat talking
with Lydia about herself and her home
| before the war. when she was young
girl.
Ny father was a colonel under Gen.
| Lee, my dear. but after the war was
over he could not bear 10 stay I'm the
south, whero he had lost half of n rich
mans estate. So we came north, and
/ 7 married a nOrtherner. You see, this
tnousC fs rcpruturtiurr pf tirt- ord fsit.ii-
tation house Ny husband was prac-
tical business man, and this beautiful
seclusion never appealed 10 him We
separated after Ted was almost grown
and never knew where he went Ted
Is gone now. too Last year was his
last In college and he may not be
home much now. either. though the
university is not far away, where he
will teach.
"Ym see. nv dear. that | wish "a
keep tight hold of what I may, now
that | am old; Sambo and Chloe and
| the old furnishings.
lydia. all at once. conceived a love
/ for the silver poplars and the saliva
and the ivied columns. Her impul-
| sivencss allowed no restraint. Il love
/ this place could live here always.
contented know. if didn't have 10
work" she broke off. her eyes wan
! dCring over the hills seen through the
poplar boughs.
You have been used to making lots
Of money" came wistfully from the
little old lady, with the beautiful eyes
and the iilmy shawl.
| Lydia wanted to fb. but the sound
OF footsteps swift on the gravel kept
/ back an answer.
The next thing she knew the snowy
shawl had fallen from an active figure
going down the steps, that was gath
cred mp by big. young man with
several days' growth Of beard on his
! face "IIe just got back from a geo
1 logical expedition" the mother cried
/ before introducing them.
There was one swift glance of ad-
mha,ion passed TO lydia. and she,
without knowing why, hated the