Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-28
- HE narrowness Of the streer was an unpleas-

49, HE narrowness Of the street was an unpleas-
ant surprise to Garden In his mental pic
~ lures it had not been wide but tor TINS con-
traced almost ane-like thoroughfare he was unpre-
pared The red brick houses were lower, too and more
tiny than he had fancied, though he had never I'M,
agined them very grand or imposing. But low and
diminutive as they were they seemed to crowd, one
the other across this narrow ribbon of high
way with its disproportionatey broad track In vain
he looked for the maple trees, protected by Slated
green painted boxes, which among the memories
of his early childhood. The street was quite bare of
trees In their places grim iron troley-poles,
uphoding stretched wires which in turn supported the
long live FURNISHED copper wire supplying the cleo
trio power to the great uggernautike cars which, at
intervals thundered past with hoarse metallic rumble
of wheels, sharp nerve-racng rattle of windows and
discordant cang of gong.
Midway of the block he halted and stood close to
the curb his gaze fixed the house opposite which
his searching eyes had picked out from the corner
the third beyond the alley There little other
wise to distinguish this dwelling from its neighbors.
1t of dingy brick three stories in height and in
the meager width of its door and windows and the
low three white marble steps which afforded approach
to its entrance, it gave evidence of an architectural
vogue popular doubt, but long ago discarded
If there something of disappointment in Car
denis expression as he made optical survey of the
modest od-time structure, there was also something
of veneration. He noted with pang that it was not
altogether he had remembered it. yet it undoubtedly
was structuray, if not in all its embellishments, the
house in which he had been born. The old white
painted door had given place to one of dark hardwood
in the upper panel of which was pane of beveed
plate glass; guarded by a grill of wrought iron In
his infancy the windows OF the ground floor had
been protected by whtepainted board shutters, and
the upper windows by outside green blinds; but now
all these had disappeared. The ground floor showed
inside shutters of walnut and he presumed there
the same on the other Hoors though only dainty
white curtains visible.
This effort to adorn the old dwelling with modern
novelties distressed Garden and he resented it. He
was thankful nevertheless that they had not painted
the old bricks purple red and initiated the mortar
lines with geometrcally accurate rulings of white
paint The bricks, at least, were the same honest
bricks, weather-worn and squalid though they were
He must have been standing there longer than he
knew, watching the houses across the way for sud
denly he observed that he had become object of in
terest to three urchins who, encouraged probably by
his passive pose and Tap dist distant @ gaze had Tdv dTdwh
interest this tall elderly weldressed gentleman who
seemed for all the world like wax figure, so still
and quiet he stood. AS he turned upon Them it was
with such disconcerting abrupness, that for the
nent they undecided whether to flee or to offer
excuse for their rudeness.
but with big bright intelligent brown eyes; the other
two girls in alenveloping blue and white check
Garden smiled as he looked at them, and his smile
dispersed their alarm. For a little minute however
he did not speak and the children likewise silent
4 Then he took some small change from his trousers
pocket and held out dime to the lad who shyy re-
treated step with head on sde but with eyes hxed
"How old are you my boy?" Garden asked. His
voice pleasantly soft and his manner most kindly
"Im ten, going eleven" answered the child
The man extended his arm trihe, the dime further
outheld -
NNA' NSA 1900 Joy
But still the boy seemed reluctant
"Im not allowed" he explained.
Garden laughed lightly, good -humoredly and
ceased insisting To the elder girl, he said:
"And you, miss3 How old may you be?" ,
She cast down her small bead-ike eyes which were
I'm most ten /" she answered and took the prof
tfered dime before the giver had time TO make MS
proffering speech.
"And baby?" asked Garden, bending down to the
pretty child with golden curls
The little one stuck her thumb into her mouth and
said nothing
"she's FIVE" volunteered the other girl. "Shes my
little sister"
Garden pressed nickel into the little ones chubby
fingers.
"There now" he said, graciousy, run along, all of
vou I'm sorry, my little man." he added Chat YOU
aren't allowed But congratulate you on your obe-
dence."
And as the trio, with heads together, went slowly
off up the street. turning at intervals to look back at
their generous chance acquaintance Garden resumed
his contemplation of the little old brick house across
the way, and continued his interrupted reverie
"I must have been much like the lad yonder when
last came through that door,, he mused as his gaze
dwelt lovingly the portal; "and to think OF
all the things that wasn't allowedP
And then he fell to wondering how the house might
look on the inside. There must have been world OF
changes, of course But he should like to see the
rooms once more; that big second-sory front room,
especially wherein his eyes had first met the worlds
Ilght-hs voice had uttered its primal infant cry
AS he gazed, thus thinking, his eye detected what
# had not hitherto noticed; small white pacard,
pasted upon the wall between the two lower windows
The legend that it bore not distinguishabe to his
near-siehted eyes at the distance he crossed the
street and on nearer approach found that it read:
This House For Sale 70 Let.
Inquire Within.
An unaccustomed emotion very like to reverence
oervaded him as he mounted the three little blocks
of snowy marble which served doorsteps, and with
uncertain fingers grasped the nickeled bel-pull 1t
was as though he stood at the entrance to shrine
and across his thoughts flashed remembrance of the
Mohammedan custom of removing shoes before en-