The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-01-30
House
To Let
Il Change TIE Lie Ct Clubman.
A 81 ns.ef Was Also In
'erested In 1t
BY F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciation 1911.

One day he received an invitation te
go with friend who lived in the
suburbs for dinner and the night. The
difference between a house with wo
man In It, 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 a tomblike silence. In
this abode of a family he Law 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
bathroom, children running. children
shouting, children scoIded, children
petted now few deep tones from a
father warning Johnny that IL 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 sigh as he entered it
dressed for the evening and started for
his club. Shortly before reaching II
he passed a neat looking two story
stone front dwelling in a window of
which was a placard "TO 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
paper. But he did not read He
was going over the women of his &C.
quaintance in 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, 1t
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-
Heved 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
''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,
'I'll ring IL you like" said Jenkins.
.Oh. thank you. Never mind on my
account"
I'm intending to 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 middle aged person who lived In
the basement. evidently a caretaker.
The lady waited for JENKINS to act as
but he hesitated. He did
not know whether to say this lady
wishes to look at the house" or 81
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.
I'VE would like to look at the house."
be said
ooh. Walk int'
"There are eight rooms" said the
leading the way through the
apartments ION this floor parlor,
dining room. library and kitchen"
Then. leading them upstairs: -Four
bedrooms up here This front room
will make beautiful room for you
and your wife, sir. and this little room
adjoining is just big enough for the
If you have them. There's |
another small room back that would |
make a good nursery and guests
ROOM The bathroom Is at the end Of |
The hall"
II the poor woman had been cog |
1izanf of the terrible bIunder she was |
making she would have been deeply |
,ained. And yet she would have had |
10 cause TO be panied. Though Jen-
[ins put on wooden expression. there
was very pleasant feeling about his
heart. Though the lady blushed a
'osy red. there was a suspicion of a
mile playing en- her lips
How many children have you.
asked the woman. suddenly
,rrak.ag in upon her description of
he house
No children" replied the lady. ig
Iorlng the woman's inference that the
wo were married
eNo chiIdreni Oh, deari Somehow
!. Il s,...,tt eaaru IN mo that naonia ara