Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-12-24

not having the impending burden Of =
wife viii make It easier for you 10
give your whole mind to your profess
sional work the first years"
Years? How long is this notion OF
yours going to keep US apart, I'd like
to know" Leonard was not yet con-
vinced of the wisdom OF the plan. but
all his arguments failed to shake
James faith in it. and SO they said
good-by as friends only.
-
Jane was taking a final survey of
the apartment she had decorated and
furnished for Mrs. Delafield, who had
left the selection of materials and col
ors so largely to her that the result
was the most satisfactory of the many
similar apartments she had decorated
during her two years with her Aunt
Amy.
Outside it was drizzly November
day, but within the apartment there
were color and comfort and cheeri-
ness. Jane dropped down in a tapes
tried armchair by the living room
window which overlooked the Hudson.
As she looked about her cozy, home
like room she sighed heavily as she
thought she must leave it all now and
see it no more. She felt homesick for
just such home of her own. AS the
rain trickled down the window glass
a tear trickled down James cheek.
Then her mind swent back to the
old home in Springfield, where she
had been but twice since she took up
her busy life in New York. The last
time was to her brothers wedding. a
year ago. She could imagine them
all as they would be at this hour-her
mother sitting by the wood fire. her
brothers wife grooming a song to the
wee baby, and watching the clock for
the time when her husband would
hurry home from his noisy Touring
mill to the quiet Preside. Jane
thought also of Leonard Mills, who
was reported doing wonders profess
sionally, but whose occasional letters
to her gave scant personal history.
Through the villagers she had heard
when at home last that he had re-
ceived considerable legacy from an
aunt, who died in California. The
sound of Mrs. Delafield's voice COM
ing out of the elevator broke James
reverie.
It's a regular dream, tell you;
and isn't 1t just the worst luck that
we can't enjoy it, after all?" she was
saying. But IL you want to send that
telegram you'd better go back down
to the Office, for my telephone is not
in. and it will be an hour before I'm
ready to go. I've ordered tea sent up
from the cafe. Come on up when
you're ready"
She came on into the living room
as she concluded the last remark over
her shoulder, and Jane heard a faint
response in a mans voice as she rose
to greet her patron.
Il could hardly resist making be-
lieve it was all mine," said Jane smil-
ingly as she waved her hands to in
dictate the coy apartment.
And / can. hardly resist tears when
think it can't be mine after all. The
doctors have ordered my husband to
southern California, and we're going
to start next week."
"Oh, I'm SO sorry you must go, and
SO sorry your husband hasn't i'm.
proved"
1T is because he refused to go when
the doctors advised It; now they Or
der It." After a walk through the
apartment Mrs. Delafield returned to
the living room. Il was just telling
my cousin, who is locating in New
York." she added, that he would have
to find wife and take this apartment
off my hands. Here he is now. Come
in, Len. Miss Wilson, let me present
my cousin, Mr.. Mills"
The words were the only things
commonplace about the introduction.
Mrs. Delafield stood astonished as
Leonard grabbed both of James hands
and Jane looked pleased to have him
do SO. She read enough between the
lines of their partial explanation to
think it advisable to leave them alone.
So she went for a final look at the
tiled kitchen and bath, whose perfect
equipment had been her especial pride.
When she returned, only fifteen min
utes later, Leonard led Jane to her.
and. with a sweeping bow, presented
her as the future Mrs. Mills. A fash
of pleased surprise passed over Mrs.
Delafield's face.
"Oh, then you will take the apart
ment, won't your" she exclaimed.
And they took 1t Immediately.
Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)
Inc