The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-03
/ he had taken from the agent Of the

the rental OF this big room under the
skyliKht--No, ITO.
He walked slowly down the hall
and scanned the cards afflxed to the
doors. Two architects and three ar
lists were fortunate enough to find
refuge behind as many doors In the
corridor to the right. He looked
hard at No. 20. There was no card
on the door. which was slightly aJar.
He pushed II open. and bcheid the
fac-simile of his own room. Bare
and clean and smelling Of suds and
Ann Moran! - =
Miss J. Lane had made mistake!
This was her room. Nevertheless. he
decided to say nothing moro, and,
throwing off his hat and coat. tugged
and pulled and hammered ana un-
packed TO such good purpose that at
10 o'clock that night he paused and
triumphantly surveyed the comfort-
able quarters. He had laid a fire in
the board fireplace and drawn his
easiest chairs In comfortable prox-
unity to the hearth.
Tired and hungry. yet withai. hap
py. Jack removed the traces of hfDt
labor, and, freshly attired, went out
for bit to eat and the evening pa
per. A light shone through the
transom of No. n, and as he no ion-
+ ger nEArd the Click Or Heels Oh the
floor he decided that J. Lane had
also become settled In her new abode
On his return he paused at the top.
OF tho stairs and looked inquisitively
at the transom above her door. A
faint dusk Of smoke obscured the
light, and, as the transorn was sud-
denly lifted from within. the smokes
issued forth, bearing on Its breath a
tell-tale odor.
To one who has supped heartily
and well the fragrance OF Welsh
rarebit IS not enticing. Jack mentai-
ly reproved his pretty neighbor for
supping 80 unwiseiy and fell asleep.
In spite OF the fact that they were
close neighbors.. they rarely met. /
When they did she passed him with
cool little nud-thKt WAS all.
One morning when he was paint
ing busily soft rap came down upon
his door. He was expecting ragged
Italian urchin who often posed for
him..
Come inn he shouted.
There was an instants silence ana
then the door was slowly opened ana
her face appeared above the paint
stained blue pinafore. The cheeks
were qutta pink anftLttIa- Eray-greeH-
eyes were vry bright as they met
his dark ones. Jack was on his feet
| instantly and at the door.
Il thought !. was my model he
| explained.
| 81 don't know what TO say to yous
| Mr.. Lane" she said with burning
cheeks. Il have just discovered that
the janitor placed the wrong number
on my rent recefpt-1I instead OF 10
and the room is really yours
That's all right. Miss Lame said
Jack heartily. II really don't see
much difference between the rooms
myself did just then, because I
supposed 1t was the only vacant room
! in this building had been waiting
for some time to get In here. i didn't
know where to go until / tramped
around the halls a bit and came upon
| this room--empty."
you knew, then, that was In the
| the wrong room ?"
Yes he admitted reluctantly, II
did. But / didn't care bit / Ike
this first rate. ] hope you like ynTr-
room as we'll"
II dot IL yery comfortable ana
nice. If YOU do not care to ex.
change--why, I'll remain there
I'D rather be here. he declared
"You are very good" she murmur-
ed and then with little grateful
nod she was gone.
! That was the beginning of many
things. First, Jack fell In love with
I Miss j. Lane-a fact of which she
was blissfuliy ignorant. Second, Jack
received several commissions that
might make his fortune. had not a
third thing happened. Another rich
relative died, and because he had not
troubled to make will and leave
his wealth to charities, Jack Lane
and several other heirs came into pos
session OF more money than they
had ever dreamed of possessing.
| 1t was Jacks opportunity to exc.
cute his commissions, close the studio
and reveI in several years study
abroad. On the contrary. he did NOT
stir q step. He merely stayed aud
painted In the big room long after
the winter days had fed ana tho
warm spring sunshine lured him int
the open and away from the nois
Of the city.
| 1t was spring and summer and ~.
deed the richness OF the whole wear
combined, to meet J. Lane and walk
with her. Perhaps 1t was to dron
/ her at the dairy lunch room half way
down the block or to carry a hundfa
up the stairs. He fancied she grew
paier az the spring advanced and he
angriiy wondered II she got enough
to eat.
| He learned that she painted mini.
lures and had come to the city ON tn
strength of several orders which
were now filled.
| One day in June he bounded up IN y
stairs looking eagerly for the flutes
OF blue skirt or the CLINT Of her
golden hair. II was shock to him,
| to hnd the door OF II wide on
Miss Lane was putting on her IN
and peeping wistfully through shS
1 door into the erunfv ranrn 49, y