The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-16
Where Did the
Flowers Come In?
By ELSIE B. MATTESON

and his sister had kept up the famil.
home till the sister died and Bob foun'
himself alone. He was at loss wha
TO do. He had been born In the hous,
and had never lived anywhere else
the thought of leaving 1t and going Il
a hotel. boarding house or bachclo
apartments was repHlsive to him. III
determined TO stay where lie was.
He stood the loneliness Of living II
a house all by himself for severa
months. then gave 1t up. He pre-
ferred to take his meals elsewhere Sc
that it seemed useless to keep serv
ant. The consequence was that every
thing grew dingy. He could not SEE
through the window panes since they
were covered with dirt: he considered
II useless to make his bed since there
was no one to see II except himself
and he didn't care. Dust and cobwebs
began TO appear. He wrote on a card
This house to let Inquire within
to 0 a. M, 5 to Q p. m," and tackled II
on the front door.
Returning from business at 5 o'clock
he sat down in his accustomed seat by
the window. opened his evening paper
sighed and listlessly read the news
About half past 8 there came ring
of the door bell. Garwood slowly rose
from his chair and answered the sum-
mons. There stood lady between
twenty-five and thirty with little girl.
On her face was melancholy look.
The child might have been four years
old and was the only one OF the three
who was not somber.
II see this house is to let" said the
lady. "May look at it?'
Certainly, Come In"
Garwood showed her through the
rooms, told her what rent he expected
to get and that possession could be
given at any time.
"Tm afraid" she said, "Td better not
take 1t. / should haze to make the
rent by letting rooms, and IL couldn't
find roomers / should be in trouble.
Pm not much of business woman
wasn't brought up to 1t. My husband
died only a year after we were mar
ried and left me some money. but
didn't know how to take care or II,
and 1t is all gone. | haven't $50 left
II might take a room with you my
self" said Bob.
would you?" said the widow. with
a faint show OF hope.
IF | were to keep one room at. say,
sos a month that would leave the rent
out but SOS
The lady caught at this. and to help
the matter out Garwood told her she
could see what she could do In renting
the other rooms, and he would NOT lei
the house till he heard from her She
departed quite comforted, and as soon
as she was out of sight he went oat
and took down the notice.
Garwood waited week for word
from the widow, when he received
note from her stating that she had
been able to find but one person who
would AGREE to take room with her.
40 she feared she would have to give
ND the plan of taking the house Gar
wood called to see her and said ne
thought he would like to keep two ad-
Joining rooms, for which he would pay
Ss5 a month, leaving the rental but
SIS. The widow seemed encouraged
and said that il he could give her more
time she thought she could make ar
that would warrant her
aktng the house. Garwood told hef
not to hurry.
Not hearing from her for some time,
he called ON her to learn what prog !
ress she was making She apoaog1zed
for keeping him waiting, explaining the
delay by saying that two different per
sons whom she hoped to secure as
roomers had been undecided How
ever presunIing from Ids haying called
that he was getting inpatient she
would not keep him waiting any longer
but give up the idea Of taking his
house. He assured her that he was not
and begged her to proceed
IN her efrUrts. The NEXT day he mailed
her a proposition to keep the rooms
md a bath, for which he would pay
80 a month, and this would leave her
10 rent to pay
To this the lady replied. acknowiedg-
ng the liberality Of his terms. but I'M
ess other roomers were In the house
With them she would not like to face
he opinion Of the world by living alone
n the same house with man.
Garwood had proceeded as far as h.
,ould In the matter and deemed the
adv right in the position she had TAX
N. Indeed, he felt it incumbent upon
lin to cali and apologize for having
n de a proposition that looked, to say
he least, out Of place. So be went to
zee the lady again and explained that
,e had supposed she would bring some
eIntive or other person who would be
lad of a home without paying room
ent. The widow told him that she
vas alone 10 the world and very lonely.
70 this Garwood sympathetically re-
lied that he was In tho same position.
lie left assuring her that he would
lot give up the plan: be would think
/ over and see II be could not find
ONE way out Of the matter.
The only way out Of the matter was
o rent his house TO the widow with
ut rent and pay all the bills. This
vouid not do at all without marriage,
o he mailed her a proposal. which
Ias accepted.