Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1914-01-08

LOOKING FOR HOME:
sv FRANK n. WILLIAMS.

Homer Rutledge.
"Wha. for" questioned Amy Rich
ards in pretty amazement.
Sos Wen have some place in which
to start up housekeeping when We get
| married"
Amy's winsome face flushed and she
stamped her foot with annoyance.
Then she smiled charmingly You're
simply impossible. Homer" shs cried
How many times must | tell you tnat
I'm not going to marry you?"
Huh ?"
Now, don't be silly. I'm not going
to marry you and 80 there's no use OF
our going house hunting"
We'll" sighed Homer then let's go
house hunting to find the kind Of
house we'd like to go to housekeepins
in If we were going to get married
Amy burst into laughter again at
this who under the sun ever heard
of such a wild proposition" she asked
What's the good OF going house hunt
ing when we aren't going to get mar
ried and neither one of us wants a
house?"
Il want a house all right enough.
asserted homer suddenly serious Il
want house that will be a real home
and | want 1t mighty bad. I'm sick
and tired Of living in boarding house
and | don't believe you're any too sat
ished with your little hall bedroom,
either. I'd like to have you help me
| pick out the kind of house we'd both
| like-that would be a sort of satisfac-
| ton anyway Come on, won't your
know the very district and we can go
| there in a few minutes in my auto.
mobile. It's fine day for ride. too"
Amy looked at him for a moment
without speaking All the laughter
was gone from her eyes She was
| thinking deeply of what he had said
about being tired of boarding house
| life. She, too, was tired and yet was
| Homer the man she wanted to marry?
| Was he the kind OF a man to make
| home, or the kind that would care
nothing for his home after the first
| few months-the kind that would leave
her alone in worst loneliness that she
ever experienced at the boarding
house, while he had a good time at
his club?
'IIl so" she assented finally
Good" cried Homer.
1t was, as Homer had said. a short
ride to the section of the city that he
had in mind
i saw the advertisement of this Oak
Knoll addition" he explained, and
they were worded so invitingly that
simply had to come out and look at
the section. ! believe I've found the
very house that wen want 1t w be
real home for us.
But" interiected Amy weakly
Now don't start that" cried Homer.
| We're pretending that we're engiged
to be married and we are now engaged
in the delightful occupation of locking
for a home"
SO they drew up before a little
coy. comfortable house that stood
some distance from the road among a
bower of trees and hedges that half
| hid il from sight Homer, in high
| spirits, helped Amy to alight.
| A young couple passing on the side
walk, smiled approximately at Homer's
evident pleasure
Looking for a homer" questioned
the man pleasantly
| Yes" answered Homer
Engaged or married." went on the
man.
Engaged" Homer replied while
Amy felt her cheeks kindle
Again the couple smiled Were just
married" said the man. I'VE live over
there behind that hill Come over and
see us when you get settled"
we Will" declared Homer fervent-
ly
The couple passed on while Homer
and Amy walked up the hedge-hcr-
dered path toward the house. The spot
was lovely and Amy felt herself deep
| ~ stirred as she looked about It
was all so homelike and comfortable
that she was strongly attracted toward
it, 1t would be fine place in which
to begin married life with Homer--if
only she could be sure that Homer was
/
AS they came nearer the house her
delight in it increased 1t was a coy.
inviting little place Though new, it
already had the satisfied appearance
OF an old settler There was none of
the rawness generally so evident about
a new house Already she felt that
she was In love with IT,
why here's a funny thing" said
Homer, pointing to little sign on the
door
Amy looked The sign read:
LITTLE LONESOME HOUSE.
Beneath the sign was an arrow point.
ing to little box attached TO the door
knob Homer opened the box and drew
out sheet of paper Amy looked over
his shoulder as he read it. This is
what was written on the paper:
This is Little Lonesome House, Il
is lonesome for young couple to
make their home in It. to brighten it
up and TO bring the JOY Of life to its
rooms The owner of Little Lonesome
House is an eccentric bachelor who
win give the house to the first engaged
nouDIs who oDpns its front door and