Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-03-18
THE
ARCHITECT
By EUNlcE BLAKE

| school was eighteen years of age and
obliged to make her own living See
ing an advertisement in newspaper
for a governess. she replied to it and
was invited to Il conference. a ladT
Miss Ashford, who said she was the
aunt of the children to be taught and
cared for. received the applicant. ask
ed number of questions and for ref
erenceS, and Julia was engaged.
The lady was woman past forty,
the sister of the father of the chill
dren. Their mother was dead. and
their father at the time was abroad
his little girls being left in charge CT
their aunt The home was near sub
urban town and very attractive one.
Spring came on, and one of the chill
dren needed change of air Miss
Ashford decided to take them both
southwark to meet the coming sum-
mer, leaving Julia where she was until
their return.
! One warm morning the governess
went out into the grounds with a book
| and seated herself on a rustic bench
supported on either side by tree.
While reading she heard a step on the
walk leading from the gate and. look
ing up, saw a gentleman apparently
about thirty five years old approaching.
He paused before her in his walk and
said
you look very contented and very
restful"
II am BOTH" was the reply.
will l find Miss Ashford at the
house?"
Miss Ashford is away. She took the
children to the country for a change
of air.
III m" The gentleman looked about
him, then turned again to Julia.
Its unfortunate that Miss Ashford
is absent. I've been sent by the own
er of this property to make plans for
additions to the house. l fear shall
have to intrude myself upon you for
awhile"
Julia made no reply to this. She had
no authority either to prevent or per-
nit his doing what he mentioned. He
went on to the house and entered it
without ringing the bell. When Julia
went there herself the housekeeper
told her that the gentleman was an
architect and would remain while he
laid his plans. He made himself at
home, but as to making plans Julia
could not see that he devoted much
time to the work. True, he did some
diagram drawing in pencil, but on this
bn III
The rest of the time he divided be-
tween the library and Julia. When
he tired of books. there being no one
besides her to chat with, he seemed
disposed to utilize her for company
He interested her in what he said. and
she was of an age to appreciate the
IDEAS of an older man. The house
keeper and the servants were deferen-
tial to him. gave him everything he de
sired without question and obeyed all
his orders.
Every day Julia found the architect
every one in the house spoke of him
as the architect-more and more en-
gaging A day which he spent in the
city she was surprised to find very
long one to her. When he returned
and they sat down together for dinner
she could not conceal her pleasure.
week passed, at the end of which
building materials were brought into
the place and dumped beside the
house. The next day workmen came.
and the architect spent some time with
the contractor over diagrams. Julia
asked the former with q beating heart
If he were going to superintend the
construction Of the additions. He
said he was and they would require at
least a month. The housekeeper in
e formed her that Miss Ashford and the
I children would remain away until the
! work was finished.
An attractive man Of thirty-five shut
up in the same house with a girl of
J, eighteen is not likely to have much
trouble In winning her. Before the
additions were finished the architect
:. had made havoc with poor little Julia 8
y heart. She did not think Of marriage.
8 All she desired was to live on just as
she was in the companionship of this
delightful man.
i But the architect was thinking very
! much OF marriage. He was widOwer
so he told Julia-and very lonely
e without a companion. He asked her
: how she would like to spend her life
where she was, to which she replied
s that she would like it very much. es-
r pecially If he were to continue making
0 additions to the house. He saw through
this ingenious reply and, taking her
r in his arms, told her that If she chose
y she might remain there always and he
: would remain also.
, She did not press him for an explana
ton, which he did not seem ready to
/ give. She was happy and contented
t and trusted him implicitly. few
= days later Miss Ashford returned with
the children and the latter jumped into
l. the architects arms, covering him with
}. kisses and calling him papa
Tho poyt DIV ha oSLad thay,, if fhoy