Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-01-05

When George Walton's friend Jack
Gray said he had been transferred
from New York to San Francisco.
and that he was worrying about what
to do with the little home be had
bought at Bredon, a nearby town that
boosted a small college. George had
an inspiration.
'1n rent the house myself" said
he TITS inst the sort Of quiet place
I'm looking for where ] can finish
this story I'm writing"
One September day George estab-
lished himself in the Gray bunga-
low on the outskirts OF Bredon He
considered himself lucky The bouse
was charming He didn't know -
soul. so he need fear no interruption
And he had a thoroughly reliable
housekeeper in the person Of middle
aged Mrs Bridget Magoon, who had
kept his bachelor apartments In town
and whose only drawback was her
motherless grandson. Patsy Lears.
aged two and half years.
On the morning after his arrival
George was dwelling on his many
blessings when his reveries we're In
terrupted by a quick rap on the
screen door He looked up to see
young girl-perhaps Just past twenty
"a comfortable. substantial looking
sort of girl. with fresh color. warm
brown eyes and a definite way Of
doing things. George could tell that
by the way she put one firm brown
hand on the knob of the door.
May ! come inf" she asked Isn't
this the Gray bungalow"
Assuring her that II was. George
stumbled over q chair In his hurry TO
open the door He begged her to be
seated and after she had composed
herself comfortably in one OF the
wide wicker chairs. he sat down op
posite her
You're Just the person want to
see." she said. and George felt aat
tered You see. I'm Miss STAGE. Ann
STAGE. And I'm visiting my brother
Walter STAGE came for only few
weeks. but be wants me to stay the
winter You know. brothers an In
structor at the college. and IKE al
the rest of them he's as poor as
church mouse. So told him
wouldn't stay unless ] could carr
enough money 70 take care of my
self. I'm not a bit clever. and dom
know how to teach or do anything
But the other day had an idea.
Il hate to play cards and ] love Il
take care of children-that's Just th'
opposite Of most OF the women abou
here. There's a card club at leas
once a week-and card parties In be
tween and trips to town for shop
ping and the matinee And all the
! girls who are married to faculty peo
pie get their husbands to take carr
of their children afternoons whel
they want to have a good time SO
thought I'd be not mothers helper
exactly but-a fathers helper
Ann ended her recital breathles'
and Laughing.
Isn't IT a jolly idea7" she went on
"And 1t isn't a bit expensive for yo'
fathers Club afternoons ] entertain
the children for fifteen cents apiece
and call for and deliver them. toe
For a quarter apiece take them Of
other days-private treatment. 20
know, and have to charge more. 70
there amt so many children thos
days
Walters wife knows Mrs. Gray
not very well, but they belong to tn
same club. So she sent me over {
see you I thought maybe you'd b
one OF my customers"
For the FIRST time Ann stoppe
long enough to let George explain
She looked at him appealingly fror
her soft brown eyes
But I'm not Mr. Gray" sal
George. with real regret I'm Jus
Mr.. Walton. The Grays have gon
Unexpectedly TO California. and Nv
taken their bungalow You see.
write stories"
"Oh, I'm so sorry" apologize
Ann. Il must have seemed s
stupid really beg your pardon"
George was casting about for a
excuse to detain the charming AM
when Patsy ran into the room. H
had bright blue eyes and bright ye
low hair His face was pink an
freckled and his baby lips smile
bewitchingly as he ran confident
up to George.
-Oh. but after all" said Ann. whe
she saw the boy, maybe you do wal
me. Isn't he dear!"
Isn't he. now?" said George vii
fervor. as an idea for seeing mo-
OF Ann came into his head
"And Mrs. Walton does play card
; | suppose?" questioned Ann.
"Why-you see blunder'
George. Mrs Walton's not here"
obi" AIMS monosyllable W,
! comprehensive. The scene befo
her became a tragedy She not
: the absence of a button on George
: coat-the apparent embarrassme
. Of the big man who was trying to I