Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-15

spent. might have made them sc
much more comfortable than they
were. Now, as she sat at the win
dow, she thought of all the good thai
| thousand dollars might do them ant
her heart was heavy. She did moi
want Aaron to buy the house mex
door. For years this old house hat
been her sole comforter. Empty "a
| it was, it was SO much more forlorr
than her own home that it reconcilet
| her to many things. 1t seemed eve:
to offer itself as an excuse for The
appearance of her own house. Our:
| is not the only shabby place on the
street. she consoled herself cheaply
| Aaron purposely kept his premises
implanted and untidy in order to eludt
| the assessors. 1t was his favorit'
| boast that he made money every veal
| where his neighbors lost it. If ht
| bought the place next door he would
| have to fix it up little in order tt
| prived of the consolation of its
wretched appearance. She wanted il
to remain as it was
When, an hour later. Aaron returned
| home she knew by his face that his
mission downtown had failed. He was
| in one of his silent, ugly moods. She
did not dare ask him what had hap
| pened and he would not tell her. But
| next morning, soon after she arose, she
heard the sound of hammers upon the
"Carpenters." she gasped.
Aaron glared. Yes. When ] got
downtown yesterday 1 found that Caleb
Gardner had bought the place. He's
going to fix it up and live in it him
self"
Caleb Gardner" repeated Amelia, in
a daZe.
1t was not the first time that Caleb
Gardner had got ahead of Aaron in a
deal. And Aaron hated him for that
yorNy In dad VAL
worst enemy. Amelia did not sympa-
thize with Aaron in his feeling toward
Caleb. She had gone to school with
Caieb's wife, Alice. and. although thew
had scarcely spoken for years, Amelia
still thought kindly of her Now, how
ever. the idea of having Alice next door
disturbed Amelia. Aaron would not al
low them to be friendly. and how could
she look on while Alice had the old
house improved and made into a home
according to her taste?
AS for Aaron, he became unbeara BILE
Every hammer stroke made him groan
The Gardeners were not merely repairing.
they were building over. A porch sprouf
ed, the roof shot up to a second story
height, windows opened their eyes The
old house next door began to look pretty
and homelike. Aaron glowed constant
~ behind the window curtains watching.
He was in stew of distress.
'Caleb's getting pretty place here, :"
Mr.. Dodds, from across the street, sai
to Aaron. Makes the rest of us look
pretty squally. Wife says I've got TO
paint this summer
Paint all you want to- growled Aaron.
my place looks well enough to suit
me-
Still. he was visibly irritated Poor
Amelia suffered, for he made life
wretched for her. One day he came home
from downtown in fume.
Take down your curtains, rip up your
carpets" he babe Amelia. I'm going te
have this house fixed over, and darr
quick, too I'll show Caleb Gardner tina,
| can spend just as much money as he
can"
"Oh, Aaron" gasped Amelia. She
| clasped her hands eagerly. do yol
| mean we can have bay Window
| 1.-TWO of 'em. if you want 'em, or any.
| thing else that'll make showing
growled Aaron.
Next day the carpenters went to work
and Amelia began to live. New floors
were laid. new windows were put In, one
! on. and the roof was raised till 1t lowered