The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-29
BY BRYANT c. ROGERS.
Copyright, 1911, by Associated lat
frarsy IYaSS

Copyright, 1911, by Associated lat
erary press.)
When Mr. Charles Westcott found
he had surplus of fifteen or sixteen
thousand dollars on hand and no
particular place to invest IL. he
casually mentioned the fact 10 his
aunt, Mrs Darboy
Take the money and build you
house on one OF your vacant lots. -
was the advice.
But why
ITO live in"
But I'm without a Wife"
The wife viii come after the
house 10 built"
1T VIII be long time after. I'm
afraid"
Charles, you are "a sort OF grace
less scamp" said the aunt, as she put
ON serious look. Twenty five
years old, Well off, cynical. dawdline
hardly more than civil to my sex,
no matter how great their charms !.
1oung man. you are getting a bad
reputation"
Sorry. aunt, and / promise 70
change
"Pouf!"
"Yon don't think I'm in earnest.
bat just wait Why, tomorrow III
as soon az ne can draw The plans the
contract shall be let
oh. la, la"
by George. Fm struck OH the idea
~ building Il house 1t VIII give me.
something 10 do. | shall take my
coat right "n and make things hum.
Brick and stone for the material. and
interior finish of wood from the Holy
Land The library viii be a. wonder .
50 VIII the rest NJ the house If
YOU have anything to do with it"
And about the wife I am TO t!nd9
| can't be planning ard contracting
4nd painting and paperine and car
Tying The nod and be looking out for
IL wife too
Let her find herself"
Good old aunty That is, not so
very old, Just old enough to be wise
les, the wife shall find herself tn
an In love with the first young lady
that steps over the threshold and
marriage shall follow Lord. but
who'd have thought there wns 50
aiucn romance in building house =
you've said enough .oolish
1nhiss no" you may 60 announced
the aunt. Il have corns. and rye
got to go 10 the chiropodist's,
Enter corns; exit romance Sac
the architect before your feet are on,
OF bed in the morning"
TWO weeks had passed when a lsay
caller AT the Darboy residence re-
marked,
rs MIR. Wes,cott building that
house for sale"
You don't tell me he's started TO
puiid was answered
why. Of course. There is a cellar
being dug, and he's around bossfnp
riage?"
II can't tell Won what ANYTHING
means In connection with Charles
tiS may take notion any 6ay 70
open popcorn palace at a summer
resort. Next We hear he'll he having
the dirt thrown back to fill up the
cellar"
But this did not happen. The
architect furnished the plans In time
and The work went on. and Mr.
Westcott stuck to his lob. As far MS
other rooms went. ne left them 10
the architect, but the library was all
MS own planning. 1t was not a room
on the square and neither was the
length greater than the width. 1t
had right angles and left angles and
kitty-corners. 1t had a skylight and
fireplace, but no windows Mr..
y 'sSttcAt 80 III II w as Ills IeliElnG ARH.
When he had retired therein and
shut the massive door, society or the
poilce would have To use a battering
ram TO get at him His collection OF
books numbered only three volumes,
but he wasn't worrying about that.
ono can go to department store
any day and ask the person at the
book counter to recommend and SEND
home couple of thousand books.
They viii reach the house almost as
soon as you do"
Charles" said the aunt one day
when he called. lis that house nearly
done?"
When We have put up a towel
rack in the kitchen we shah be ready
for the. grand opening" was the
reply.
who is to select the furnishings"
MY wife. of course"
'Iai la! DO you sttll hold t. what
you said--that the h{sr young lady
over the Intel should be your
choice:"
II most certainly do'A