The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-15
WEEKLY SHORT STORY =
GIFT OF 1HK GRooM.


A11e prescott stood at the window
% H1S hSte real estate office in Ford
port he had opened il in the fan am,
nov II was spring.
ne looked at the landscape comDla-
Gently, Well pleased with himseIf 70,
various reasons. In the FIRST nlace
coming from the South, he had snfv.
cred and shaken ali the cold Northa,.
winter; bus the warm Nav weather
suited him The freshness of every
Snlng' the little yellowish green leaves.
A~ne smell Oh the lilacs and the songs
Oh the bros made Fordport more ike
acme
Another reason for his felicity was
the little ONCE and the row of siv
nearly completed frame houses half
mock down the street. He could see
the latter from mis- window. The out
slue Work had been done before the
rough weather and the inside during
lhe winter months. Nothing remained
10 De done but the trimming, having
ana one extra coat OF paint on eacn.
Eric Prescott was engaged to he
married 10 Rose Marshall, the belle OF
FordporL When he had settled in the
village eight months before Rose was
engaged 70 marry Tom Lyle.
The minute he saw Rose Eric made
up ais mind 10 have her. The fact
that she was engaged 70 Tom Lyle
was nothing 10 nlm.
Few girls would have been proof
against Lne siege ne Immediately laid
% Roses 1avor. His southern accent
and excellent taste in CLONES, wnicn
set on his tall slender figure, made
MIN tavorite with All women.
kr1c shoWered gifts of candy. roses,
books and music on Rose, who refused
Shem all at hrst-then accepted a few
MOVERS reluctantly and finally, over
wheimed with many attentions, sue.
cuabed completely. Then she and Tom
quarreled and that was exactly what
Eric wanted. They were soon engaged
and Rose was seemingly happy. she
was the envy OF all the Fordport girls.
The corner house in the row was 20
be hers when they were married. Eric
gave her to understand that before
she had accepted him. She joked at
home about loving tAe house as much
as she loved kric.
The house began 10 look different
from the others In the row. The porch
was extended around the side and
made two feet wider than the other
porcneS.
Rose, busy with her trOuseau, ap-
cared to be very happy and the we'd
ding was a month away. She sell
dom saw Tom Lyle. He was spend
ing most of his time now at the farm
a half mile from the village. She
congratulated herself that she had es-
capped a life of monotony in the cOun-
try. Town lie suited her.
One day she met Tom driving TWO
strange men toward the farm. He
seemed to be explaining something to |
them and merely nodded at Rose. She |
went home thoughtfully. H eevident- |
~ was not unhappy.
The day following this meeting with |
Rose, Tom hitched his little black
mare to the runabout and drove over |
to see his chief counsellor and con-
fessor, Aunt Polly Goodwin. She was |!
taking a nap" in her sitting room
when Tom drove in the gate.
What news, Tommy? Sit right
down here. Now tell me-is there
much coal on the FARM"
Yes. Aunt Polly, acres of il they
say. Congratulate me, l a ma rich
nan"
'Bless your heart. Tommy" said
The old lady, wiping her eyes with the
corner OF her apron. "I am so glad,
30 glad for you"
Thanks, Aunt Polly, but riches do
me little good now" he returned a
little bitterly.
The old lady looked a. Tom keenly.