Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-04-08
; The
! LODGE
; For a Time There Was a
Doubt as to Its Occupancy.
By F. A. mitchell


by trimming the hedges 1t was a
bright spring morning. and the sun
Shone down upon John at his work
The trees had leaved not long before
and still Wore something of the p;lia
hue of early spring. The birds wlr,
building their nests and flying here
and there for material. John was a
young man, and the principle of nest
building was in him as we'll as the
birds. He was thinking of making a
home for himself.
Twenty years before the owner o.
the place, a widow, Mrs. AleNanler
had housekeeper who, dying. LETT u
little daughter, babe. The child Wa,
without any one of her own kin to
care for her, and Mrs. Alexander as
sumed the responsibility. Anne Eur
kett when she grew older was sent to
school and brought up as member of
the Alexander family. She was will
full child, though not maynard
Ordinary duties were burdensome to
her. She loved the country. In spring
she was never SO happy as in watch
ing the opening OF the buds and other
signs Of the return of summer. In au
tumn her delight was to walk through
the woods knee deep in dead leaves.
kicking them as she went and listening
to the sound they made in the other
wise silent forest.
1t was she whom the gardener was
thinking Of in connection with his
home building. But more than ordi
nary lovers doubts possessed him.
Anne. though the daughter Of an upper
servant, had been brought up. If not
as lady, at least In fashion that at
ted her TO assume the station of a
lady. John was the son OF cultlvator
OF flowers which were sold in the city
The boy Inherited a taste for his ia
TIERS work and had taken course In
an agricultural institution. after fin
fishing which he accepted position as
| gardener. II Anne was above the sta
ton In which she had been born John
was above the usual Interpretation of
the term gardener. But he had never
known Anne's people and had always
regarded her as lady.
| When Mrs. Alexander died, since she
left no children of her own. the place
passed into the possession Of her neph
ew, Edgar Alexander He was LIVING
abroad at the time of his aunt's death
but returned to America and settles
down on the place he had inherited
He was q bachelor over forty year
\ O
new possession was exactly suited II
his taste. He made no change il amy
thing on the place, leaving the admin
istration of the household in the hand
of the woman who had managed i
for Mrs. Alexander He had heard Of
Anne through his aunt, but only q,
the daughter of a former househeepo
and dependent on charity. Wbej
he came to America and saw the voHn
woman he was surprised TO find DIFF
ferent person from the ore he had eS
pected to meet. He made no chang
in her status IN the household.
But he made change in his Owl
status. He had been clubman,
man of the world and had avoided eli
tanglements with women. He wa
known to be well off, and bachelors o
means are usually supposed to
weather. than they are. Women ha
thrown themselves at him and ha
been thrown at him by their mother.
But he would have none Of then
Toward this orphan girl he was di
ferent. He drove with her, he playe
games with her When he was NJ
with her he seemed not to know whs
to do with himself. For the first tin
in his life he melted under woman
influence.
r While John was thinking of Anr
Mr.. Alexander came out on the pore
and stood looking down on the ground
surrounding his home. Seeing his ga
dener clipping the hedge, he can
: down to where he was and began
chat with him. He was unaware tn,
John had received an education to
him as an agriculturist, and John he
4 never said anything about possessiI
profession.
j "John." said Mr.. Alexander, eth
place should have lodge at the gat
way. I'm thinking Of building or
But lodge should contain some o.
to admit visitors and keep out und
sirable persons. Now. II you were me-
ried I could put you in the ledge. Al
while you were at work about i
place your wife would be ready for n
duty at the gate, though such duti
would. Of course, be nominal. for the
Ia really no need for a lodge. va
] one as an addition to the place"
John ceased to snip the hedge, 10
cred his shears and looked thought,
Had he been older he would probab
} have kept his thoughts to himself. T
1 ing young, he wished for sympathy, al
that makes one confidential.
''1,he only woman want for vii
Mr.. Alexander" he said. "wouldl
live in a porters lodge"
"But this would be a gardener
hodge,"
"rhe woman refer to was broug