The Southern herald., 1912-11-01

W M M
c s A e 4 81 seat
aa1 sc SET q ianllar whs serves - as
t1o4sa Ee Nsrs ncgrfz@
4nlng1 Wsnt q this WaY l1F
moatAz. Hsary SPARKS tcld aEs rsai
estate age11 to quit locking up a
eou1try home for hin. ~Fou cat beat
ne eemhlnztion I've g0t right hsrs n
the heart q Chicaso,r hs aid
A boz of eigan went = long way
via the janit0r. He insisted ea
beating the SPARKS rugs, he Eildsd The
radiators. he hxsd the door knobs, and
toward the end Of the second month
ne was washing the windows every
other day. The windows Of the other
nats we're dingy and angermarked
hosa was a pearl Of great price. She
anueipated,svery wish Of every mem
per Of the family, There was little
len for Mrs. Sparks to do bat to en-
oroider and TO mend Frances stock
ingS- For some reason or other.
Henry Sparks. though he had always
prided himself on his perspicaoity.
never noticed that whenever William
found that something in the kitchen
needed fixing the Job was always one
that required three or four days time.
One night Mr.. Sparks went down
town to do some work He didn't get
back till one O'Clock. He slipped on
his shoes at the door so as not to
awaken his wife. He passed through
the hall, and feeling hungry he went
back through the dining room with a
mind and appetite bent on exploring
, the kitchen pantry. The door leading
INTO the kitchen was shut. In his
stocking feet Mr.. Sparks made no
noise. He opened the door quickly.
The kitchen gas was burning. From
the far end of the room came a click
ing noise William the janitor was
standing at attention with his heels
brought sharply together. As the man
Jumped to the position OF a soldier
Mr.. Sparks saw that one of his arms
had just dropped from its position sf
embrace about the waist Of Rosa, iA.a
maid.
Mr.. Sparks was Mortified. He went
back to days when as a "non-com" he
had verbally lashed some bluecoat
duty dereliet.
William" he said in a voice Of
thunder, how dare youl YOU'RE q
scoundrel, strl"
Williams hand went to his fore
head in salute. Rosa and are to
be married next week, Mr.. Sparks" :"
he said.
Married." was the gasplng re
sponse. "How about your wife and
two children down stairs?"
That's my widowed sister and her
two little ones, She's been keepina
house for me-" said William.
Mr.. Sparks groaned and went Imply
back into the front room. He walked
his wife. Eliza" he said, "our dream
is oyer. Rosa is going to marry the
tanitor. II wasn't any old soldier
sentiment at all that made him wash
windows. I'll tell Hunt in the morn
Ing to look for a home for us in the
country" and, signing, Nh Sparks
went to bed.
At the breakfast table next moruins
William and Rosa came in hand IN
hand. Were going to be married
next week, Mrs. Sparks" said Rosa.
but my sister wants a place and I'll
send her here. She's q better cook
than am"
At this bit of information Mr..
Sparks face cleared visibly. "You
both have my blessing" he said:
send in your sister Rosa, and IL win.
lam leaves here I'll get old Highrates.
the landlord, to send a good janitor in
his place, but I'll take good care that
he is not an old soldier" And. then.
forgetful of everything else, Mr..
Sparks turned to his wife and said: /:
They can't resist an old soldier, car
they, my dear?"