Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1913-03-28
TOM HARRIS0N'S HOME

Weary of his 3G-odd years of bachelor
life, the young architect had reserved
suite of one of his latest model
apartment houses to crafty a fad
which for the past two years had
amounted almost to an obsession.
He wanted to see what a home
would look like, home furnished
after the desires of his own heart
Now 1t was finished. He was pleased
with the result, but thought amusedly
of what his friends would say If they
knew.
At that moment there was gentle
knock on the door. In response to
his hearty "Come in!" a girl barely
out of her teens entered. She was
clad in brown corduroy with filmy
lace at the throat that set off her rare
beauty effectively.
"Is Emily here?" she asked, after
an approving glance at the rich fur.
nishings noticing that Tom was alone
"Emily?" he repeated, wondering
whom she could mean. mo, she il
not here"
But she told me-"
"She told you sheNwould be here?''
EYES," explained the vision perp1ex-
edly. "She told me she would certain
ly be here to meet me-"
well, she hasn't come as yet"
care you Mr.. Walker?"
mo, my name is Harrison-Tcm
Harrison. I'm the architect who
planned this building"
You're friend Of Mr. Walker and
Emily, of course?"
81 don't like to admit it, but I've
never heard of them" he confessed
whimsically, wishing sincerely that he
had.
But" she persisted, beginning to
feel Ill at ease, surely this is to be
their suffer"
81 think not I've reserved this
suite for myself"
TITS Suite "a, isn't it?"
''It's Suite 3D."
He was relieved to see the girls
features relax into an appreciative
smile
~ ID pain " yOuy VI COuI6Cs SuO
apologized, "that have Numbered IN
to the wrong apartments. My chum
Emily Philbrick and Mr.. Walker are
to be married tomorrow, and Emily
wanted me to come and see the suite
in which they are to live"
eff it is Suite 2B, ] will take pleasure
in showing it to you," he offered.
Emily Philbrick met them at the
door. In the course of the explana-
tions that followed, Tom Harrison
learned that his visitor was none 9TH
er than Elsie Gibson, the girl artist
who had been winning fame in the
magazines.
During the year that followed, he
was frequent visitor at her studio,
each acknowledging the charm of the
others acquaintance. Then suddenly
Elsie Gibson disappeared, leaving no
word as to whittier she had gone.
Tom Harrison's quest after Elsie
Gibson was most energetically follow
ed, yet no trace of her could he dis
cover 1t finally occurred to him that
he had once heard her mention the
fact that her father, a widower, had
a little farm at Upperjay in the
Adirondacks. A study of cc~plicated
railway timetables resulted in his TAX
ing the wrong train, righting his err
ror, and, after much delay and nu-
merous changes, In his reaching Up
perjay.
He failed to find livery stable, but
did enter into negotiations with a
passing farmer who, with apparent re-
luctance, at last consented to take
him to the Gibson farm.
At the gate, with freshly gathered
garland of roses and sweet-scented
thyme, stood a familiar little figure,
looking very forlorn until she recog-
nized Tom Harrison.
ooh, Tom" she cried gladly, you
don't know how lonesome l have
been" Her manner changed quickly,
as If she were holding herself in re-
straint. "But now suppose I ought
to address you as Mr.. Harrison"
"Why, Elsie?" bluntly.
She looked surprised.
Because OIL your approaching mar
rage, of course"
my approaching marriage?" he ask
ed, mystified.
Certainly"
"But I didn't know was going to
be married"
'sThat is very strange indeed, since
it was printed in the paper"
ELSIE, this is all nonsense. Where.
did you see that clipping?"
II found it lying on your writing
desk"
II thought so. grille. Well, now al
low me to explain. More than 10
years ago I had a boy-and-girl affair.
We called it love, and were going to
get married. She took the notice to
the society editor of the Clarion. Aft
srwards the engagement, such as 1t