Catoctin clarion., 1913-11-20
HOUSE he BUILT HER
BY E. L. DITHRIDGE.

Yes said the elder man, you may,
but only after you have complied with
a certain condition"
The other leaned forward eagerly,
hoping the condition would be within
his powers to perform. His eyes
glowed; his lips parted his hands
claspod, and his fingers twisted anx-
iously, during the pause that ensued.
Then the condition came, short, forci-
Bile and abrupt:
First build her house!"
Well, it was a hard requirement at
best, and almost an impossible one.
Yet he made up his mind at once
that he would comply with the con-
dtion.
James Burton was young engineer
trying to make his fortune In the
mines of Mexico. He had no money
with which to start independently, so
he had engaged as an assistant in the
employ of large company operating
near Mexico City. He had not been
in the country six months, and during
that period had grown to love the
daughter Of wealthy ranch owner.
The ranchero had practically no
English education himself, but had
provided way for the education OF
his children in both English and Span
ish. His eldest daughter, Aurora, had
attended boarding school in Phila-
delphia.
Aurora was as sensible as she was
bright. None of the tickle, flirty
character Of the Spanish race seemed
to belong to her.
Burton loved her, not merely be-
cause she was captivating, but be-
cause she combined those sterling
qualities admired by every man Of Sc
rious nature.
He knew Aurora loved him, and all
he wanted was the parental sanction.
Now he had obtained it, but with a
difficult condition imposed.
How could he build her house? He
was drawing only $120 per month.
Enough, you say? Remember that
his is the debased currency Of Mex
ico.
So how was James Burton to sup
port himself on $120 a month and
build a house besides? You don't
know, and neither did he; but he de-
jarmined to do it just the same.
BY means of many inquiries he had
satisfied himself that $3.50 Mexican
was a safe estimate Of the cost OF a
three-room adobe house built so as to
be barely comfortable.
Burton figured that the wages on
the foundation would cost him $40,
that the adobes would cost him $40,
and that he could get half the guam
tity delivered in March and the 9TH
er half in April. Then he could get
about $40 worth of work done each
month until the house was completed.
AS site for her house he selected
the brow Of a little hill about a mile
from the reduction plant and about
half a mile from the line Of the COM
panys property. Then he started
man excavating, for he had decided
to deviate from the Mexican custom
and have a little cellar.
Every evening he would trot out
on horseback and take look at the
progress being made. He was rather
disappointed at the slow rate of ad-
vance. but couldn't blame the work
man for the cause of the trouble was
self-evident. Right in the middle OF
the hole stuck a point of rock formed
in perfect cone. The workman had
tried to dig it out; but as he dug the
rock seemed to grow.
AS he stood there musing on how
much extra the rock would cost him.
he kicked at it absent-mindedly and
vindictively.
The sun was just setting, and It's
rays struck squarely on the place
where his boot had scraped of tho
earth from the stone.
MY! That's mighty bright sort
of stone!" thought Burton to himself.
Guess I'll knock off bit and see
what 1t looks like inside"
The house he built her was not nm
lished till two years later; but 1t was
located in the American section OF the
City of Mexico, instead Of out In the
NllueIuGSS.
1t was built of cut stone instead OF
baked mud, and contained 30 rooms
instead of three. Its lights were cleo
trio instead of tallow. Its windows
were trimmed with onyx, and Its mir
rored halls with marble. Many an
opal deoked its dining room; for its
hostess entertained with lavish hand
and was never called on to economize.
One of these functions I was per-
mitted to attend; and l heard her
father say:
Burton, you've made a fine sue
cess!"
Il owe it all to you," he replied.
You made me attempt to build her
a house; and twas then l struck the
poiDp"