The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1913-01-30
Where Did the
Flowers Come In?
BY ELSIE. B. MATTESON

led his father, then his mother. lie
and his sister had kept up the family
home till the sister died and Bob found
himself alone. He was ut loss what
TO do. He had been born in the house
and had never lived anywhere else.
the thought of leaving It aud going to
hotel, boarding house or bachelor
apartments was repulsive to him. He
determined to stay where he was.
He stood the loneliness OF living In
house all by himself for several
months, then gave It up. He pre-
ferred to take his meals elsewhere so
that II seemed useless to keep serv.
ant. The consequence was that every.
thing grew dngy. He could not see
through the window panes since they
were covered with dirt: he considered
II useless to make his bed since there
was no one TO see It except himself.
and he didn't care. Dust and cobwebs
began to appear. He wrote ON card.
This house To- let. Inquire within \
TO o n. m. TO O p. m.," and tackled II
on the front door.
Returning from business at , o'clock,
he sat down In his accustomed seat 10y
the window, opened his evening paper
sighed and listlessly read the news
About half past there came n ring
of the door bell. Garwood slowly rose
from his chair and answered the sum.
mons. There stood n lady between
| twenty-five and thirty with little girl.
| ON her face was melancholy look.
| The child might have been four years
old and was the only one Of the three
who was not somber.
II see this house Is TO let" said the
Indy. "May look at itf'
Certainly! Come In"
Gnrwood showed her through the
rooms. told her what rent he expected
10 get and that possession could he
given nj any time.
I'm afraid" she said, "Fd better not
| take it should have 60 make the
rent 10y letting rooms. and II | couldn't
find roomcrs | should be In trouble.
| I'm not much OF business woman.
wasn't brought up 60 II. My husband
| died only year after we were mar
ried nnd left me some money, but
didn't know how to take care of H.
! and IL is nll gone. haven't $50 left"
II might take n room with you my
self" said Rob.
"Would youf" said the widow, with
| n faint show Of hope.
"If were to keep one room nj, say,
| S25 Il month that would leave the rent
out but $50,
The lady caught NJ this. aud 10 help
the matter out Garwood told her she
could see what she could do In renting
/ the other rooms, aud he would not let
| the house till he heard from her. she
departed quite comforted, aud ns soon
! as she was out of sight he went out
aud took down the notice
GnrwoOd waited week for word
| from the widow, when he received
note from her stating that she had
been able TO find but one person who
would agree 90 take n room win her
so she feared she would have 10 give
up the plan Of taking the house, Gar
wood called Ia see her and said he
thought he would like Ia keep two nd
Joining rooms. for which he would pay
S35 Il month. leaving the rental but
Si5 The widow seemed encouraged
and said that II he could give her more
time she thought she could make ar-
rangcmcnts that would warrant her
taking the house. GarwOod told her
not 60 hurry
Not hearing from her for some time
he called on her 10 learn what prog
ress she WAS making, She apologized
for keeping him waiting, cNpluinius TIE
delay 10y saying that two different per
sons whom she hoped 30 secure hs
roomers had been undecided, How
| ever prcsuming from his having chlied
that he was getting impatient she
would not keep him waiting any longer
but Give up the idea of taking ms
house lie assured her that he was not
impntient aud begged her 10 proceed
in her efforts. The next day he mailed
her n proposition 10 keep the rooms
aud bath. for which he would pay
$50 month, aud this would leave her
no rent Ia pay.
70 this the lady replied, acknOwledg-
ing the liberality Of his terms, but un-
less other roomcrs were In the house
with them she would not like 10 face
the opinion Of the world by living alone
In the same house with a man.
Garwood had proceeded as far as he
could IN the matter and deemed the
lady right la the position she had tax
en- Indeed he felt II incumbent upon
him 10 call ANA apologize for having
made a proposition that looked, 10 say
the least, ont of place. So he went 10
see the lady again aud explained that
he had supposed she would bring some
relative or other person who would be
glad 81 home without paying room
rent The widow told him that she
was alone IN the world and very lonely.
10 this GarWood sympathciically re-
piled that ne was la the same position.
He left assuring her that hr would
not give mp the plan, he would tlIua
il over and see II he could not Cad
"A