The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1915-04-15
HIS FOLLY
By GRACE KERRlGAN.
(Copyright 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per SyndicateD

Dan going to get married. re
peated Mrs. Archer in response TO an
inuuisitiye neighbor. No, indeed
Mrs. Blake! Dams never kept com
pany with a girl in his life-not but
what | want him to get married ii
he can find the right girl; but GER
tainly would know, if anyone did.
"Of course you would" agreed Mrs.
Blake. but it seems so queer for him
to be building a bungalow up there
on his lot, spending every spare min
ute of his time on it, and doing every
stitch of work himself-unless he was
going to live in it. Perhaps he will
rent it," with happy inspiration.
Mrs. Archer shook her head. He
says not. If you'll promise not to
breathe a word, Mrs. Blake"
"Of course I WON'T" interrupted
Mrs. Blake excitedly.
"Well-he says he's going to have
the home ready, and when the right
girl comes along. then he'll get mar
ried, It's a foolish thing to do. but
Dan is a good boy, and if he enjoys
building a nest before he finds a
mate, why, I can't complaint" Mrs.
Archer laughed comfortably.
"No-indeed!" replied Mrs. Blake.
and then fastening her departure
she transmitted far and wide the in
telligence of Dan Archer's purpose
in building the little brown bungalow
on the hill west of his fathers house.
And before another day had dawned
the good gossips of Crystal Brook
were chuckling over Dan Archer's
folly" as they called his undertak-
ing.
So Archer's Folly became rather a
joke in the village, but Dan Archer
knew nothing of IT, Few would have
dared to hint the words to the steady
eyed young giant who went about his
nest building so earnestly without a
thought as to the absurdity Of his
endeavor.
There came a night when the wind
howled around the bungalow and the
snow beat against the walls until
they were covered with a thick white
mantle.
There was a fireplace in Dams
study and great pile of hickory logs
as we'll as comfortable couch. so
on certain nights when he had been
studying closely Dan would decide to
sleep there.
On this stormy night Dan turned
away from the window and replen-
lshed the fire. Then he prepared for
bed leaving lighted lantern In the
window OF the living room
It's bad night outside" he muir
INJURED
While the little village slept under
The drifting mantle of snow, a horse
md sleigh moved slowly through the
road that led from the next village.
Occasionally the horse stopped and
oreathed heavily and once it almost |
ell in its tracks.
Uncle Nathan, I'm afraid that Sor.
'el can't go much farther" quavered |
girls sweet voice.
Are you very near the doctors.
eoily? The old mans voice sound.
ID muff1ed from its thick wrappings
" wooden comforter.
I'm afraid l don't know" and
his time the girls voice held a note
" despair. I'VE are off the main
DAD and | can't see a thing-ah,
here is light! Let us turn toward
must be a house. If we
an reach it, perhaps we can send for
doctor from there"
The wind tore her words into frae.
nents, but the old man understood.
o he crouched down among the fur
obes while Folly urged the horse to
reater Efforts. At last Sorrel toiled
p a steep hill and finally dropped
Exhausted between the shafts with
ne guiding light only a few feet dis.
ant.
Its a house on a hill" explained
'eiicia. as she helped her uncle from
he sleigh.
The Daintrys lived in the adjoining
VI SPtoH SeHteT ana the only |
MUSICIAN in the village had been
allied away on an urgent case. so
nat when Uncle Nathan cut himself
ith an AK Felicia could only bind up
lie wound as best she might and then.
undling the old man into a sleigh.
rive to reach Crystal Brook. three
lilies away.
BY daylight Uncle Nathan had been
lade very comfortable, and the doc.
'r having taken his departure Mrs
rcher took the weary girl down to
lie farmhouse and tucked her into
co. while Dan, after stabling Sorrel.
ent back to keep vigil by the in.
lred man.
Dan came down to breakfast with
ehcla' and his heart quickened as he
'w that she was quite as beautiful az
nad thought her the night before.
When Mrs. Archer learned that Tn.
e Nathan called his niece Folly"
lie Immediately confided the fact r.
an and added the information that
s neighbors called Dams BUNGALOW
the nickname of GA raL, =, |