Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-03-21

"Iai la! Do you still hold to what
you said-that the first young lady
over the Intel should be your
choice?"
Il most certainly do"
But suppose she is red-headed,
cross-eyed and club-footed?"
my dear Aunt Darboy, the word of
a Westcott is sacred The first thing
in skirts to enter the new house gets
proposal of marriage from yours
truly. If she rejects it 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. Darboy showed GER
tain of her friends through the
Ranch" as she called it, but they
were either married ladies or young
ones already spoken for. The one
Whom her nephew was to fall in love
with and marry kept far away.
Don't you see how it is?" he asked
one day. I've got to resort to an
enticement. Tomorrow I shall hang
out sign and coax my bird in. Won
der 1 didn't think of that BEFORE"
And the next day a sign reading
This House to Rent" appeared on
the front door, and man was sta
toned on the steps to answer ques-
lions.
A mile away lived the Widow Glen
dening. She had a daughter, Myrtle,
and the house she occupied was rent
ed. 1t had been rented for a year
that mother and daughter might look
about a little before buying. Miss
Myrtle had passed and repassed the
new house while it was building, and
she had stood and surveyed it with
envy when completed, but she had not
learned the name of the owner. Who
ever 1t was would occupy it himself,
Of course. OF sudden the sign APP
peared. 1t had not been out an hour
when the girl stopped before it and
asked of the man smoking his pipe on
the steps:
But I'd rather buy than rent. Do
you suppose they'd sell?"
Cant say, miss. One can never tell
what folks will do. There's lean
man and his fat wife in there now
looking to rent 1t for hundred years,
and there comes a tall man and his
short wife to do the same thing. Bet
ter take look and make up your
mind
"But want to tell mother and fetch
her," was protested.
Never wait for your mother, miss
not when there's such a mansion
as this on the market It'll be snapped
up in 80 seconds after your back is
turned"
"Then I'll run in and look it over"
The lean man and his fat wife, who
were going from room to room, well
coined Miss Myrtle with hostile looks,
but she went skipping from place to
place and finally came to that wonder
full library. The others had already
explored it. The door stood open, and
as she entered it the girl gave it
push. 1t shut and there was click.
| 1t was one of Mr. Westcott's spring
lock ideas to fasten himself in when
he wanted to mediate.
Miss Myrtle sprang to the door and
pounded on it. Then she called. Then
she screamed for the police and fire
departments. From ten o'clock in the
morning until nine in the 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 nine o'clock Mr.. Westcott appear
ed, switched on the lights to see to
smoke by, and after start of surprise
at the huddled and weeping figure on
the floor he rushed over to it with the
exclamation:
"My poor-poor child, but 1 said
would do 1t, and l surely will"
els Charles going to marry Miss
Glendening?" repeated Aunt Darboy
three months later to gossipy caller.
He is. A Westcott never breaks his
world"