The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-01-10

stantly Lisbeth responded with a
smile and tossed Il tiny parcel into
her mothers lap,
There's your thread" she cried
:ayly. "a whole new SPOOL
"i'nt YOU were gone too long for
huyins II spool of thread. Whom
did you find to talk with?" asked Mrs.
Winn.
No ono ! only mot strangers. The
town is full of tourists. Isn't it odd.
that people should come here
TO a place so commonplace and .dull:.
AS came out OF the town hall"
THE town hall" her mother caught
her ny. What. pray, We're you doing
there"
Lisheth hlt her lip. There! I've
suppose YOU may as we'll know. The
new collector is sitting for. Ia e and
l." She stopped.
\ troubled look crossed Mrs. Winn's
face. Taxes! And VIC have nothing
mean-it hasn't come to that"
"They warned me. do not blame
them. They have shown us Il grea,
deal at favor and VIC can't expect
But we're. W'inns.' walled her
mother, and this house is as old as
the town itself. II was once a. great
mansion"
Mother. said Lislecth quietly, The
town is full of old houses that were
once great mansions. and other people
live in them now. Look at the Bray
house: Is it any worse for the Wins
10 lose their house than it was for
the Trays? We haven't any money,
mother--Me haven't ANYTHING but this
house. and u pride. and ones worth
no more than the other. All the way
homc I've been thinking of some way
to live, to pay our debts and the axes.
I can take another fish from Conner
without paving him: can't ask the
sroceryman for moro without settling
into q restaurant and ask for a job as
2 waitress. I know that horrihes you,
nut the Mattresses dress better than I
Go n have more to Eat And there's
nothins else to do here-ro thinr.
These people who con1e here to look
at the rocks and the sea and our old
houses have q. great deal of money
ind e, buy: So they hr.. food
Quantities of it. saw a motor party
eating lobster as early as this; at the
Ocean house. as came by"
She stopped. From the front door
came the rat-iat-tat Of the great
nrass Rnocker sounding it's ilnpera-
1--WE through the house. "A
visitor she sasped. When have
VIC ever had a visitor before: And
in the morning, too.
n ran to the door. On the door
sfep stood two women equipped with
marine. glasses and notebooks.
Coed morning." said the older and
palmer INC II know this is an IN.
t%rlsjon. but we are SO deeply in
terested in your house. We've been
adm:ring ii for 4 long time from the
outside and J wonder if you would
allow US to look around a hit in
side: We should appreciate it 90
n1ucl1!" 81
Lisbctn felt urlcor,fortable. almost
FeSed. These women. who obviously
were sight sec!m", 70 come pryjns
and peeriny iii this WAY at what she
always had held sacred and excluo
Slvcly her own! And yet what harm
would they do by merely looking
about? She held the door vide
o may ON in she answered
gently.
She led them through the rooms
up stairs and down. There was nnlv
M room into which she did NOT adj
NIT them, and that was the room
with n Two sea windows where her
mother sat. "s
Inc women marvetled at the old
lark carpets with their shafts of once
VIVID roses worn down now to delicate
d,inilcss. They stood silent before the
old portraits of Wins long dead and
gone. They sighed with ecstasv At
Slght OF the great fire places. .where
fires had not glowed for years. c.nc
touched re%verently the keys Of the do.
orepit spinet. The old ballroom. EMMY
now, but once the scene Of MAN. .