Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-23

heavy panes needed a CHEEKY fire to
light them up. With something ike
q sob. she threw open the door and
caught her breath with sheer Joy A
bright fire cracked on the hearth and
the reading lamp brought out warm
lights from the brasses in the room,
and in front Of the fire, with his head
buried in his hands, sat Henry
But of course Henry should be IN
his den. 1t was the most natural
thing inthe world. So. Please, she
begged. may we come in? were
dreadfully cold"
"Are you real, Margery," asked Hen.
~, peering at her across the circle OF
light. Then wonderingly, Come In
whether you're real or not7-out OF the
darkness, out OF the storm"
She stumbled across the floor with
her, burdens and. dropping down on
large leathern chair before the hre be
gan unpeeling the sleeping Polly
Marie. s 1T isn't a bag Of chocolate
eclairs. nor. poodle" she assured him
proudly. "It's . baby"
polly Marie emerged like . fat bios
som. and Margery stripped on the
dam, stockings and held the tiny pink
toes to the fire, Then she Struggled
deem into her chair, cuddled Polly
against her heart, and sighed long
deep sigh.
"oh, honey little house." she whis'
pered.
Henry lit his pipe and settled him
self deep in hts arm chair.
Right little, tight little, nest, ne
answered. through clouds OF smoke
and he did not even pretend to be
ashamed Of such fOolishness.
ooh, coy. cunning home" cried
Margery with great content.
They sat for some time In silence
while. outside, the storm roared and
Wh;stled through the trees. A vivid
fash OF lightning tore the darkness
and Margery jumped and squealed.
mot afraid Of that?" asked Henry
as of Old.
She almost forgot what the answer
should be. but got 1t out before the
pause was noticeable. mot when 70,
are here she answered. But Henry
what are you doing here? I thought
you had rooms at the club"
(Which shows how much you knew
ahout me, or cared" he answered
gloomi]v T'ye been living here over
two months. with old Martha KEEPING
house for me. She's gone over to hel
sick daughter TONIGHT. When the
trouble got so bad"-he WINGED ant
smoke with lowered voice-'I couldn''
stand It, Margery | bolted from tne
clrJp one night and came back home.
Ha leander over and touched one O
Polly, pink toes. Fine klddie az
said "ver~ fne ki1d'e. But where dic
You get her. Margery?"
/ Margery flushed with pleasure. TN
so glad Won like her. It's Mary Hairs
babv, You remember poor Mary. tina
went to, school with me? Her husband
left her nothing. you know. and wher
she died the baby was put in an asy
lum horrid place where she had Il
wear a uniform" She Rugged Polly
Marie close. .Td been going to see
the little thing, and when the trouble
got so bad''-her turn to speak with
lowered yoice-"I couldn't fight 1t Out
alone. SO went right down and go'
POLK Marie for my yery own.
.T'p glad" declared Wade with sat
isfaction. "The little house had always
wa nted baby. Margery."
"Perhaps" she suggested, III wee
had one II wouldn't have happened az
it did Then 70. woman must ever
NEEDLE with the tree of useless know
Leigh. "What made II happen. Henry
Was it the stacks Of money thai
brought on our DR."
But his hand was over her lips
rHush Margery! Not word OF that
That hanpened back there In the worie
When Won came through the iron gate
under. the honeysuckle arbor. ant
raised tho brass knocker on the door
Won 'remerba- how we searched the
4cwn for that knocker?-then you LEFT
the world behind. You must never
say that word in here, for II woulc
hurt the little brown house. You see
Mareery. the little brown house is !
real home. and the minute that wor'
is spoken or even thought of. within II
four walls. a real home dies.
How stupid Of me" she cried. "ane