Smyrna times., 1915-09-08
"A TIMES WEDNESDAY, AFTERNOON SEP rEMBt r 8. 1915
NO ANSWER REQUIRED
BY HELEN DERBY.

Philip Corning rolled up the ar
chitects blue prints and put them in a
drawer of his desk.
Tell Mr.. Nelson that will give him
my opinion later about the plans" he
said TO the architects assistant. Il
nave to consult-another person"
When he was alone Philip took out
the plans and gloated over them. He |
and Rosamund had pOred over them /
all winter, and they had agreed that |
the house would be perfect. Nelson. /
the architect, had almost lost his pa
uence as the young lovers ordered first /
one change and then another in the
plans Of the house.
And now the worm had turned. The
temperamental Mr.. Nelson had de-
clared that it was an utter impossible
ity to build a flight Of stairs in the
manner directed by the future Mrs.
Corning
Now. ROsamund Delway was tenn
peramental as well as Oscar Nelson;
therefore. when Philip broke the news
TO her over the telephone and hinted
that they must sit tight and accept
the plans as they we're without fur
ther changes, Rosamund promptly in
formed him that she simply must in
sist upon changing the pantry to the
other side of the kitchen becaIse she
had decided that the pantry space
would be larger and, facing the east
end Of the house, she could have what
she had always desired-a pantry win
dow overrun with morning glories.
1T would be so cute to see them
every morning" she purred over the
wire.
1T will be cate to see Nelson's face
when you offer him that argument"
he chuchled.
y don't intend to see him-you must
tell him, Phill"
Il? Not on your life, darling" And
he had followed this inelegant remark
with such wise reasoning that Rosa
mund few into a pretty temper and
told him he could live alone in his old
house.
Thereupon she had hung up the re
ceiver and Philip had continued to
stare at the space ahead Of him with
blank incredulity in his eyes until cen
trails acid voice had twice demanded
Number"
That is how II happened that Philip
was alone when a messenger boy
brought him a small square, white
package sealed with red wax bearing
Rosamund's monogram.
Wait, boy" ordered Philip. break
ing the seals, but the lad was half
way down the outer Office
Philip glared at the sight Of the en-
gagement ring he had given Rosa
mund. So the engagement was broken
and she wouldn't listen TO reason.
She had said. mo answer required"
He locked the ring In his safe and
sat down and wrote a note to Oscar
Nelson, architect
Dear sir" Philip licked out on the
typewriter with one finger, upon fur
ther consideration l have decided "a
suspend operations upon my new house
on Elm highway Please send me ar
accounting 10 date and I will forward
check by return mail.
Faithfully yours.
PHILIP CORNING"
and on the outside Of the envelop'
he wrote a line under the address
mo answer required" At least h'
would be spared Nelson's hotheade'
protests.
Then he rang for a messenger boy
Out on Elm highway. where a charm
ing suburb was forming, little brow
shingled house bad It's eyes shutters
and its doors padlocked.
People who knew all about the build
= ers wondered what had happened I
se stop operations, until the news hltere
le through various sources that the eE
e gagement was broken and the lttl
: brown house would not be occupie
to this summer. SO the neighbors o
Elm highway ceased to watch for th
happy lovers. although Mrs. Bruc
Wade declared she had seen Phil
Corning stalking around the unii
ished house In the moonlight.
One rainy day Philip slammed d
desk cover and. Struggling on a raj
coat went for q tramp along Ell
ar highway. The steady downpo'
soothed his restless spirit, and u
fresh, damp ar was grateful after Il
close atmosphere Of the office.
He turned into the gate and wei
around to the back door. The sour
Of his coming was drowned in the IA
- ing shower.
Someone was standing on the ba'
porch, peering through the glass pc
els OF the kitchen door-a forlorn
tie figure in a raincoat. with the no
drawn tightly over It's head.
Philip recognized the fgure-th
raincoat and that head he would ha
known among a thousand. even n
they been concealed under a busf
basket. so keen are the eyes OF love
II ~. a. haw