Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-01-14
By F. a. Mitchell

go with friend who lived In the
suburbs for dinner and the night. The
difference between house with n wo-
man In II, 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 tombllke silence. In
this abode Of n family he lay awake
for nearly an hour listening to unceas-
Ing sounds that seemed like music TO
him.
There We're constant opening and
shutting OF doors. water pouring in
n bathroom, children running. children
shouting, children scolded, children
petted; now few deep tones from
father warning Johnny that IL 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 hlm-this union
Of hearts and intcrests-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 ms he entered it
dressed for the evening and started for
his club. Shortly before reaching 1t
he passed neat looking two story
stone front dwelling In n 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
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
failure. They all seemed to him like
so many wax figures in show win
dow. No responsive chord to draw
him 10 any OF them or them to him.
The next morning passing the house
to let he thought that, after all, II
would be better than his rooms and he
would go In and look ut 1t. At the
moment a 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-
lions, II means that one may inquire
within"
ut 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: cts no use. I've no
wife"
I'm ring IL you like" said jenkins.
"Oh, thank you. Never mind OH my
account"
"I'm intending to make inquiries for
myself though ! 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
the basement. evidently caretaker
The lady waited for Jenkins to act ms
spokesman, but he hesitated. He did
not know whether TO say this lady
| wishes 10 look at the house" or 81
wish TO look nj 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. lie compromised.
I'VE would like 10 look Mt the house"
he said.
"Oh Walk I'M
There are eight rooms" said the
caretaker, 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
VIII make a beautiful room for you
and your wife. sir. and this little room
adjoining is just big enough for the
children. II you have them. There's
another small room back that would
make a good nursery and a guests
room. The bathroom Is at 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
panied. And yet she would have had
no cause to be panied. Though Jen-
kins put ON wooden expression. there
was very pleasant feeling about his
heart. Though the lady blushed n
rosy red. there was a suspicion OF a
smile playing on her lips.
How many children have you.
ma'amY" asked the woman. suddenly
breaking in upon her description OF
the house.
"No children" replied the lady. ig-
uoring the woman's inference that the