Connecticut western news., 1911-03-02
House
 To Let It Changed the Life of Clubman. A Spinster Was Also h.
 terested In It
 By F. A. MITCHEL Copyright by American Press Asso-
 ciation 1911

ble bachelor of forty.
 One day he received an invitation to | go with friend who lived in the | suburbs for dinner and the night. The difference between a house with a wo- man in 1t, to say nothing of several impish children, and his own solitary apartments was appalling. In his own bedroom he would awaken in the | morning amid tombike 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 tn bathroom, children running, children shouting, children scolded, children petted; now a few deep tones from father warning Johnny that if he didn't stop fooling and dress himself he would get 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-this 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 a 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: ''It's 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 a vain effort to pick out one he could love, one with whom he could make home. This, too, was a failure. They all seemed to him like so many wax figures in 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, it would be better than his rooms and he would go in and look at it. 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 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- 4> Ao +a I'd Nevertheless he raised his hat and said: ' Perhaps, there being no such direc- tions, it means that one may inquire within" k "It 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"
 "pn ring if you nke,c said Jenkins.
 "Oh. thank you.t Never mind on my ! account"
 "I'm intending to make inquiries for myself. though I have no definite idea of taking 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 i the basement, evidently 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 at 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 if he proposed to stand in the lady's way. He compromised,
 eve would like to look at the house, he said
 "Oh, Walk inv'
 "'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 | dnOLuCI SIIo1l LOOU1 UdCh lhdL WOuo make a good nursery and a guests room. The bathroom is at the end of the hall"
 If the poor woman had been cog nizant of the terrible bunder she was making she would have been deeply pained. And yet she would have had no cause to be pained Though Jen- kins put on a wooden expression. there was a very pleasant feeling about his heart. Though the lady blushed rosy red, there was a suspicion of smile playing on her lips.
 "How many children have you, ma'amT asked the woman. suddenly breaking in upon her description of the house.
 ''Nol children" replied the lady. ig- noring the woman's inference that the two were married.
 "No children! Oh dear! Somehow it doesn't seem to me that people are