The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-29
This HOUSE FOR RENT"

| But suppose she is red-headed.
eross-eyed and clnb-footed -
My dear Aunt Darboy. the word
Of Westcott is sacred The frst
! thing in skirts to enter the new
house gets proposal of marriage
from yours truly. II she rejects II
with scorn. don't blame me-"
The house was ready for the bach
elor TO take. up his quarters IN. but
he hung on at his club. Under those
circumstances no skirt could very
we'll appear. Mrs. Darby showed
certain of her friends through the
Ranch" as she called 1t, but they
were either married ladies' or young
ones already spoken for. The ono
whom her nephew was 10 fall In love
with and marry kept far away.
Don't you see how il is = he asked
one day. I've got to resort TO an
enticement Tomorrow i shall hang
out sign and coax my bird IN
Wonder / didn't think OF that be-
fore"
And the next day q sign. reading
This house t. rent" appeared on,
the front door, and IL man was sta
toned on the steps to answer oues-t
tons.
mile away lived the Widow.
Glendentng she had daughter.
Myrtle and the house she occupied
was rented. Ii had been rented Tor
a wear that mother and daughter
might look about IA little before puy-
Ing Miss Myrtle had passed and re-
passed the new house while II was
building and she had stood and sur
veyed il with envy when completed.
but shs had not learned tho name
OF the owner Whoever It was would
oceupy it himself OF course. " a
sudden the sign appeared. 1t had
not been out en- hour when the g1rt
STOPPED before Il and asked OF the
mar smoking his pipe on the steps:
Sat I'd rather buy than rent. DO
you suppose they'd sell u
Can't say, miss. One can never
tell what folks will do. There's a
lean man and his fat wife in there
now looking 10 rent II for hundred
years, and there comes a tall man
and his short wife 10 do the same
thing Bettor take look and make
up your mind"
But | want to tell mother and
fetch her" was protested.
Never wait for your mother miss
mot when there's such a mansion
as this on the market. TIN be
snapped up in 80 seconds after your
back is turned"
Then I'll run In and look 1t over
The lean man and his fat wife,
who were going from room to room,
welcomed Miss Myrtle with hostile
looks. but she went skipping from
place to place and finally came to
that wonderful library. The others
had already explored 1t. The door
stood open. and as she entered 1t tho
girl gave 1t push II shut and
there was n click II was one OF Mr..
Westcotts springlock ideas TO fasten
himself in when he wanted 10 medi-
tate.
Miss Myrtle sprang to the door ana
pounded on 1t. Then she called
Then she screamed for the police and
fire departments. From 10 o'clock in
the morning until 3 in tho evening,
and the last two hours in darkness,
The lean man and his fat wife went
about their business. the tall man
and his short wife didn't penetrate
as far As the library. and a dozen
others tried the door and went away
thinking the room might hold old
hats and shoes.
AT 9 o'clock Mr. Westcott appeared.
switched on the lights to see to
smoke by and after start of sur
prise at the huddled and weeping
figure on the floor he rushed over to
1t with the exclamation
My poor--poor child. but | said I
would do it. and l surely win"'
rs Charles going to marry Miss
Glendening?" repeated Aunt Darbov
three months later to a gossipy caller.
He is, A Westcott never breaks
his word"