The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-05
TIE EVENING STORY
Satisfactory Bargains.


as splendid place for her expert
ment in advertising. 1t was not 1ar
from town, and the houses seemed &c
be of a more or less distinctive char-
acter.
.'The people there no doubt would
appreciate artistic interiors, aTsue0
Celia as she boarded the train
The train was crowded. They are
ALWAYS crowed," was her comment as
she traiIed through the car looking 10
a seat. If she could not find an unoc-
cupied seat Celia always chose TO SIT
beside a man s"They usually sit qulel
and read their papers, she runlnateo
as she sat down beside a gooo-looklIniS
man who, though ample OF frame, ~
not occupy more than half of the seat
He scarcely looked up when C4 end.
slipped quietly down beside him. his
ewes when the train had pulled out
of the tunnel swept in every VestlSe
of the passing landscape
Once or twice he sat up quickly any
neered at some vanishing scene anu
once his arm touched her SnouIoel l.
Celia drew into her corner OF the sea--
The Young man evidently mlstook ner
drawing aw--v for peevishness and after
apologizins with exaggerated pohteheSS
he returned to a more fr1gld conIeh-
plation of things passing.
Celia felt a certain relief when the
train pulled in at Kew. NOT olo siie
observe in her hurried exit thar the
Young man also had left the train
Had she known it it would not have
mattered now for Celia's mind was IN
tent on looking for an old house tnat
would seem lost to all chance OF ever
having another occupant.
She strolIed about and began to fear
| that there were no old houses IN Kew
and that she would have to try another
suburb She turned a corner and
there! A lovely old Misunderstanding
house lay in the midst of hopelessiy
diIa Undated garden.
! Celia drew a breath of joy The sign
that bore the agents name was almost
a thing Of the past, but Celia managed
bv dint of close scrutiny to make out
| the name of an agent in Kew.
She peered into the big. rambling
rooms within and another breath of joy
/ escaped her. Genius lurked in Celia's
| eyes She knew that with time and the
consent of the agent she could turn the
inside of that old house into a veritable
dream of beauty. She cast a regretful
glance at the unkept garden and shook
her head.
my house win have to shine like a
jewel if I want people to see 1t through
this awful ruin of grounds
But her spirits were in no way damp
ened by the outlook. but she had her
dreams about landscape gardening that
would set off the house.
Once within the tiny office of the
agent. Celia made kno-+n her desire.
There Is an old tumble down house
| down there" She pointed her finger in
the direction whence she had come. Il
want you to let me make over the in
terror at my own expense" Celia
smiled upon the agent
''I am sorry" he said. and really felt
so. but a chap has only ten minutes
ago"
Don't tell me can't have itr' Celia
felt on the verge of tears.
THAT house has been vacant about
| fifteen years. and now two people want
! it. This young chap wanted to do sone-
lthing to the garden-ha says it will en-
nance the value of the property and
| give him the advertising he needs
| "Or' Celia breathed joyously. MY
plans wouldn't interfere in the least
/ with his Do you suppose he would
mind my doing the INTERIOR"
The agent knew that if the girl look
ed at the landscape gardener with
those appealing gray eyes he would no
doubt buy the house for her.
you might suggest 1t to him. His
name is Gaynor-Tom Gaynor." The
agent smiled as Celia hurriedly left the
office. This was certainly his lucky
dav.
sitting on a garden bench making a
mental picture of the ruined garden.
He looked up, 4 tinge of annoyance on
"oF' said Celia and dropped back.
The young man was her companion of
hand.
But Celia was not going to miss this
great opportunity to advertise her
work She gathered courag e and great
amount of a1oofness into her voice
Il beg yo1r pardon. but viii It inter
| fere with you in any way if [ decorate
the interior of this house?' A high
/ color had mounted her cheeks. and it
angered her to see this man smihngly
appreciate It.
mot in the least he told her, genial
~ TN fact. was regretting the d.
Iapidated condition of the house. It
would be fearful center for my beau
tfful gardens"
Celia depressed a smile and inwardly
| admired his confidence.
THANK you she said. a trife less
coldIy 1T wish you success she added
and turned toward the house.
1.-THE same to you" he called after
her and turned to his plans
Weeks sped swiftly by. Out of the
ruins and neglect of year house that
promised well for the agent was in
rapid development. Already people
passing in great motor cars slowed UP
as they drew near. and many got out to
investigate the artistic property
The spirit of antagonisTn that had
sprung up between them on the subur-
ban train seemed only to grow in pro-
portion as Tom Gaynor made Of the
gardens a coming show place of Kew,
and Celia Roane made of the interior a
home that many prospective buyers in
spected.
| celia. from behind the soft art blinds
in the windows. looked out at the big
Il man in the gardens. Each day she spent
many hours looking at the beautiful flow