The Sauk Centre herald., 1911-08-24
Regiina's Den
:By JANE OSBORN
Copyright, 1911, by Associated Literary
Press.)

ICopyright, 1911, by Associated Literary
Press.)
The Blisses were gathered in their
cozy living room for one of their
long, cheerful evenings together.
There were four of them-Richard,
Tom, Maud and Regina. Richard, the
head of the family, looked scarcely
more than a boy himself, but there
was his pretty wife, Maud, sitting at
his side darning very small white
socks. At the other end of the table
sprawled Richards young brother
Tom, with a look of uncomfortable
determination, over book whose
contents he was not absorbing with
any too great ease Regina, Richards
sister, who taught school and longed
to be literary, had withdrawn to a
far end of the room where by the
light of two shaded candles she was
trying to write.
Tom grated his teeth. For just a
moment lie was perilously near say
ing something that gentle little Maud
didn't allow on these pleasant family
evenings. Instead he slammed his
book together and came out with
loud, "Rats!" that made Regina pause
forcibly in her writing and sent her
muse flying. TT just makes my
blood BOIL" Tom went on. ito be
stuck with subject like Latin. The
dean says 1 can't get my degree II
don't pass the examination this
time"
"Say, Sis," he said presently, ap-
pealing to Regina, "have you seen
that tutor of mine? He's corker-
captain of the crew when he was IN
college, played first base on the team.
He's the best set up fellow l ever saw
anywhere"
81 don't see that that has anything
to do with his being a good Latin
tutor" said Regina. "No, l haven't
seen him. Does he come to the
house?'
"Yes, every afternoon. He'll be
.. coming for the next two weeks, till
, that beastly old exam comes off.
He'll get me through If anyone
could"
h0SIud WGuC DdCh W uCl WIllluS.
, Presently Maud looked over at her.
, Regina" she said sweetly, "have
you seen Babys new tooth today?
, It's just as white and nice-I meant
to show it to you--"
Regina's patience had been tried
to the limit
well, of all the places to try to
q ho 1oi, h
you all knew l didn't want to be
talked to. Now this settles it. I'll
just have to have den. I've been
thinking of it long time and now
I'm settled. I'll rig up place in the
attic where I can be quiet It's a
perfect shame the way we all herd
|. together-just stick down here as If
, we didn't have an original idea in
, our heads"
why, Regina" said Maud tear.
fully, 81 thought you liked being with
, us. We've always been so fond of
each other till now" Here there was
a little sob. "Oh, to think l have
driven you to the attic!"
Don't be silly" said Regina 81
can't poke off in my bedroom, so I'm
| just going to rig up place in the
attic. Why, 1 almost think 1 can
write something worth while if l can
get off by myself"
In spite of fearful protests on the
; part of Maud and jests on the part
of her two brothers Regina was in
stalled in her sanctum in the attic.
Here, with a desk and a lounge, a
bookcase filled with her favorite
books and the walls covered with her
favorite prints and photographs Re
gina had place that was to be all
her own
One evening after Regina had re-
tired to this sanctum with a freshly
: filled fountain pen and her brain full
of ideas, her voice was heard in the
upstairs hall calling her brother Tom,
in none too gentle accents.
Tom left his books in the living
room below and went two steps at
a time to see what his sister wanted.
He followed her into the attic and
there by the light of the shaded desk
lamp he saw the reason for his hasty
summons. Regina pointed to a group
of cigarette ends, and a box of over
turned matches that lay on the blot
ter at the end of her desk.
Tom, in spite of his six feet of
dauntless manhood, crumpled before
his sister.
I'm awfully sorry, sister," he said,
"but to tell you the truth Harry tt
tus, that tutor of mine, and / have no
other place to go. You know what
1t is down in the living room with
Maud and the baby coming in and
out 1t was just nay luck to forget to
clear up the cigarettes after him,
though"
I've suspected it for a week." said
! Regina sternly. T find matches in
the rose jar and ashes in the pen
} tray, and look" she said, drawing
forth bundle of her manuscript
covered with Latin words written in
masculine hand. eff that Mr.. Titus
did that please see that he doesn't
repeat the offense. Didn't he know
that this was my den?"
Tom promised faithfully never