The Calumet news., 1911-02-13
House
To Let
II Changed the Life Of a Clubman.
A Spinster Was Also In
terested In Ii
By +. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
By +. A. mitchell

suburbs for dinner and the night. The
difference between house with a wo,
man in ii, 10 say nothing of several
impish children, and his own solitary
apartments was appalling In his own
bedroom he would awaken in the
morning amid n tomblike silence. In
this abode Of family he lay awake
for nearly an hour listening to unceas-
ing sounds that seemed like music to
him.
There were constant opening and
shutting of doors, water pouring in
a bathroom, children running, children
shouting, children scolded, children
petted; now few deep tones from a
father warning Johnny that If he
didn't stop fooling and dress himself
he would get q spanking and now a
feminine call TO Edie to "come and
let me do your hair" 1t was the con-
trast Of this life about him-thls union
of hearts and interests-with his silent
chamber that made him yearn for
the one and hate the other.
Jenkins returned to the city, spent
the day in his office, went to his room
-heaving sigh as he entered it
dressed for the evening and started for
his club. Shortly before reaching It
he passed a neat looking two story
stone front dwelling in a window of
which was a placard ITO Let" He
stood leaning on his cane looking at
the house; then went on muttering:
ITS no use. I've no wife,"
He went on TO his club. sat down In
the reading room and listlessly took up
a paper. But he did not read. He
was going over the women of his ac-
quaintance in vain effort to pick out
one he could love. one with whom he
could make home This, too, was q
failure. They all seemed to him like
so many wax figures in a show win
dow. No responsive chord to draw
him to any of them or them to him.
The next morning passing the house
to let he thought that, after all. 1t
would be better than his rooms and he
would go in and look at II. At the
moment feminine voice said TO him:
There doesn't appear TO be any word
on the notice where to apply"
Jenkins turned and saw a young wo-
man whose appearance was as refined
as her voice. Her attention was all di-
rected to the house, and Jenkins be-
lieved that she had made the observa-
ton to herself rather than to him.
Nevertheless he raised his hat and
said:
Perhaps, there being no such direc-
tons, it means that one may inquire
within"
at doesn't matter" said the lady,
still making her replies more to herself
than him.
The words were spoken in the same
tone with which the day before he had
said to himself: Its no use. I've no
wife,"
'Ill ring IL you like" said Jenkins.
"Oh, thank you. Never mind on my
account"
'Tm intending 10 make inquiries for
myself, though have no definite idea
Of taking a house. don't need one"
"Nor l."
He went up on to the stoop and rang
the bell. His summons was answered
by a middle aged person who lived In
the basement. evidently n caretaker.
The lady waited for Jenkins to act as
spokesman, but he hesitated He did
not know whether TO say this lady
wishes to look mt the house" or "I
wish to look at the house." The first
would be assuming what he had not
been authorized to assume; the second
would look as IL he proposed to stand
in the lady's way. He compromised.
1--WE would like to look at the house,"
he said.
"Oh. Walk in!''
There are eight rooms" said the
caretaker. leading the way through the
apartments. "On this floor parlor,
dining room. library and kitchen"
Then, leading them upstairs: -Four
bedrooms up here. This front room
will make a beautiful room for you
and your wife, sir. and this little room
adjoining is just big enough for the
children, If you have them. There's
another small room back that would
make a good nursery and a guests
room. The bathroom is ut the end of
the hall"
II the poor woman had been cog
infant of the terrible blunder she was
making she would have been deeply
peined. And yet she would have had
no cause TO be panied Though Jen-
klns put on wooden expression, there
was very pleasant feeling about his
heart. Though the lady blushed a
rosy red. there was a suspicion of a
smile playing on her lips.
"How many children have you,
ma'amT asked the woman. suddenly
breaking in upon her description of
the house.
"No children" replied the lady. ig-
noring the woman's Inference that the
two were marrie1.
"No children. oh. dear! Somehow
Il doesn't seem 60 me that people are
married till the little tots come. With
out them parents are liable to run to
cats and dogs. poor makeshift for
children. Dear little souls! How nice
Continued on Page sixl
-----