The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-18

ter what sort OF bungalow. palace.
ranch-house, cave. cottage, or tene-
ment she may be living In. has In her
minds eye a picture Of the sort OF
Apartment shed live in il she could III.
ford II I've had mine mapped out
from the wallpaper In the front hall
% the Flanndry tabs in the basement.
and tt doesn't even bear q family re.
semblance to this
I'm sorry stammered 4. a Buck.
You asked my opinion and II"
Opinion! II every one had SO lit
tle tact as to give their true opinion
when It was asked this would be a
miserable world. I asked you because
wanted you to lie. 4 expected It Of
you. ! needed bolstering up. 1freal.
ice that the rent I'm paying and the
Hat I'm getting form a geometricaI
problem where x equals the unknown
quantity and only the agent knows
the answer. But it's going to be q
home for Jock and me. It's going to
be a place where he can bring his
friends; where he can have his books,
and his 'baccy, and his college Junk.
1t will be the first real home that
youngster has known in all his mis-.
cradle clearinghouse. hotel, boys
school, and college existence. Some
times when | think OF what he's
missed. Of the Loneliness and the neg.
lect when. was on the road, Of the
barrenness Of his boyhood, IL
T. A. Buck started forward as one
who had made up his mind about
something long considered. Then he
gulped, %retreated, paced excitedly to
the door and back again. On the re-
turn trip he found smiling and repent
ant Emma McChesneyl regarding him.
Now aren't you sorry you insisted
on coming along? Letting yourself In
for a Raging like that? think I'm a
wee bit taut in the nerves at the pros.
pect of seeing Jock-and planning
things with him-1-"
7. A.. Buck paused in his pacing.
DON'T" he said. II had 1t coming
to me-: I did It deliberately. I want
ed to knowshow you really felt about
1T" Sya
T. a. Buck was regarding the head
Of his walking stick with a gaze as
intent as that which he previously
had bestowed upon the chandelier.
Mrs. McChesney had wandered into
the dining room. She peered out Of
windows. She poked into buffers pan.
try. She inspected wall lights. And
still 7. a. Buck stared at his stick.
Its really robbery came Emma
Mc%Chesney's voice from the next
room. Only a New York agent could
have the nerve to do It. I've a friend
who lives in Chicago-Mary Cutting.
You've heard me speak of her. Has a
flat on the North side there, Just next
door to the lake. The rent is ridicu-
lous; and-would you believe it?-the
flat is equipped with bookcases, and
gorgeous mantel shelves and buffet,
and bathroom fixtu china clos
cts, and hall tree
Her voice trailed into nothingness
as she disappeared into the. Kitchen.
7. a. Buck did not look up Put.
oh, Chicago!sg he might hays been
heard to murmur, as onlySa New York.
or can breathe those two words.
Don't oh, chicago!' like that,''
mlmicked Emma McChesney. "T've
lain awake nights dreaming OF a home
once saw there, with the lake in the
back yard, and a couple Of miles OF
veranda, andsa darling vegetable gart
den, and the whole place simply honey
combed with bathrooms, and sleeping
porches, and sun parlors, and linen
closets, and-gracious, l wonder
what's keeping Jock!"
T. A. Buck wrenchedi his eyes from
his stick. All previous remarks de-
scriptiye OF his eyes under excitement
paled al; the glow which lighted them
now. They glowed straight into EN-
ma McChesney's eyes and held them,
startled.
Emma" said T. A. Buck quite calm
ly, will you marry me? I want to
give you all those things, beginning
with the lake in the back yard and
ending with the linen closets and the
sun parlor."
And Emma Mcchesney, standing