The Press., 1913-04-16
 The Blot And How 1t Was
 
 Wiped Out
 c,
By chARIssA MAcKIE

1S E v 3
 The new house was finished. No
 astAil had been omitted to make 1t
 hOnAelike as well as beautiful and
 eornfortable. Still 1t lacked something.
 Paul Main paced the terrace, smoking
 an after luncheon cigar, pondering
 wny he was not happy and contented
 after all the expense and bother he
 hAd endured while building this hand
 Bsme country home.
 Bslow Fairdale village lay steeped
 h Ehe brilliant October sunshine. From
 hag house on the hlllNop the village
 Dooked Nike a collection of toy houses,
 QuaEntly picturesque, without one jar
 ling note of ugly line or crude color
 mG
 Paul's eyes fingered on the village and then lifted slowly to the one blot on his landscape. Hidden from view of his own estate because of a project lng spur of the mountain, the railroad e1reied the hill and disappeared, eIlmmer of shining tracks, through euE among the ranges.
 The railroad was innocent of offense In PauPs eyes, but on a strip of hilly k3A10 UVEnGNAn6 kAG AAA(A5p AAAtG AA plain view of Paul's windows, was an Immense signboard bearing fin six foot lsEhers an advertisement of "Wind- muIler's Balsam For Coughs and Coda" That abomination of black and yellow paint was the blot on Paul Mains landscape and on his peace of nafnd.
 eff had known that sign was to be put there would never have built here. I'll see Coombs about it, he de eided. and. whistIing up his favorite pointer, he pulled his cap down over hls eyes and tramped down the ave nus to the main road.
 He found Lawyer Coombs in an un- responsive mood regarding the sign board
 T dare say; dare say," replied MT. Ooombs after Paul had stated his case, but as I understand the situation the owner of the property wishes to derive some income from the land. As you arc aware, that hill runs sheerly to the tracks below, and 1t is useless for build mg purposes" r
 "But it is blot on my view" per Elgted Paul impatiently. T'm willing to buy the land if necessary to-
 "You couldn't buy the land, nay dear air. It is held in trust and cannot be dasposed of until minor has reached his majority, which will be in exactly eighteen years"
 Perhaps I'll buy the balsam fac hory," threatened Paul ruefuIly as he Eefe the lawyers office.
 He went down to the railroad and Ekfrted the tracks, looking up at the a6ending sIgnboard with speculative syes. 'T'd like to talk to the owner of that property" he pondered thought fully.
 '~'oh, dearr' cried sweet voice in dis treA-
 Paul turned quickly. On the railroad | crossing behind him a woman's form | was bent in evident perturbation. In- stantly he surmised the cause of the | trouble and was beside her in a few Ewtft strides.
 You have caught your heelr' he nsksd quickly.
 Yes." she panted afrrightedly, "and | . train Is coming too. Oh, dearP'
 A shrin whistle echoed from the cut | among the hills, sounding warning to 1 clear the track upon which the woman | stood. Paul bent down, united the rib bon bow and gently lifted the little l Bilk stocdnged foot from it's prison. ~Run for your hfe," he commanded | briefly, and she obeyed him. He vainly | wrenched at the imprisoned little shoe, | held by its absurdly high heel between 1 the track and one of the crossing | blanks, but he could not budge 1t, so | IeAped aside in time to allow the train, | long string of freight cars, to pass. The second car tossed the mangled lit- tlo shoe at his feet, and he placed 1t in h1s pocket
 When the last car had passed he crossed over to where the owner of the shoe was waiting to thank him. For the first time he really saw her-as a matter of fact, for the first time he really lived from that moment
 She was small and dainty, with a lovely, hower-like face, which retained tts youthful beauty and charm in spite of the softly graying brown hair that nuned under her black hat. She was gOwned in white with touches of black, and Paul surmised that she was a widow from the wedding ring on one little white hand. I am afraid he would have been bitterly disappointed R he had found otherwise.
 "How can thank youY' she cried gratefully as he came toward her.
 By allowing me to assist you home," was Paul's gallant reply. "I am afraid you wfll have difficulty with only one Shoe. but there was nothing to do but leave it there"
 ~Oh, I live quite near by, and I can take on the other shoe and get home nicely, thank you," she said pleasantly, adding with little toss of color, "If you had not arrived-think of what would have happened to meP'
 Don't think of 1t, please" said Paul hastily. If you feel faint or i'll per nsps I can find you a restorative of tome sort. believe there is a drug 'tcre down the road, but my own house g quite near" Involuntarily he glanced upward. and her eyes followed his to he beautiful home on the hilltop.
 ~Never mind getting anything" she aid hastily. ''I will thank you again md go."
 She held out a little white hand, and or an instant 1t was inelosed in Pauls; hen he lifted his hat and left her. Instead of going directly home he topped in the drug store, and with his hind still on the blot on his landscape le asked a question of the druggist
 "Who owns shat piece of property n the other side of the track?"
 You mean the hill where the bill- 'oard standsT' "Yes." Mrs. Coyington is the owner. Her died couple of years ago and aft all of his property to her in trust or a nephew who is only three years {