Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-09

II
Eliminated the wreck OF all that had once
been the lavish home of Millionaire.
| Rugs. paintings, furniture, hibelots, treas
ures OF all kinds now lay commlngled IN
| mournful decay. In what had evidently
been the music room, overlooking the
grounds 20 southwark. the grand piano now
was only mass of rusted frame, twisted
and broken fragments ~ wire and n con-
| siderable heap OF wood detritus, with n
| couple OF corroded pedals buried In the pile
| And this was the famous hundred
thousand dollar harp OF Sara. his daugh-
| ter, that the papers used to talk so much
shout YOU romember7' asked the girl stir
ring with her foot n few mournful bits OF
rubbish that lay near the piano,
sic transit gloria mundil' Erowled
| Stern. shaking his head you and she
were the same age, almost And now"
| Silent and full OF strange thoughts they
| went on into what had been the kitchen.
| The stove though heavily bedded IN rust,
| retained It's form. for the solid steel had
resisted even tho fearful lapse OF vanished
| time.
After | scour that with sand and water"
said Stern, "and polish up these aluminium
utensils and reset that broken pane with a
| piece OF glass from upstairs where Il isn't
| needed, you won't know this place. Yes,
and I'll have running water in here too
| and electricity from the power plant,
1 and"
"oh, Allan" interrupted the girl. de-
lightediy. "this must have been the dining
room She bcckoned from n doorway "No
end OF dishes left for u.s. Isn't II jolly7
This is luxury compared to the way we
had TO start In the tower,'
In the dining room n good number Of the
| more solid cut glass and china pieces had
resisted the shock OF having fallen, centu-
ries ago, to the floor. when the shelves and
cupboards OF teak and mahogany had rotted
and gone to pieces. Corroded silverware
lay scattered all about; and there was gold
plate, too intact save for the patina OF
extreme age-patters, dishes. beakers. But
OF the table and chairs nothing remained
save dust.
Like curious children, they poked and
| pried.
Dishes enough !" exclaimed she. Gold.
till you can't rest But how about some-
thing TO put on the dishes? We haven't
had n bite since yesterday noon, and I'm
about starved Now that tho hghtings
all over, begin to remember my healthy
appetite"
Stern smiled
promised he, "rhere'li be the wherewithai
to garnlsh our elghteen-carat, never fear.
Just let's have n look upstairs and then
I'll go after something for the larder."
They left the downstairs rooms, silent
save for ny buzzing In a spiders web,
and together ascended the dusty stairs,
The railing was entirely gone but the con-
crete steps remained.
Stern helped the girl In spite OF the
twinge of pain II caused his wounded arm.
His heart beat fnster-so, too. did hers--as
they gained the upper story The touch OF
her was. to him. like n lighted match nung
into powder magazine ; but he bit his lip.
and though his face paled then flushed. he
held his voice steady as he said;
80 then. bats up here7 Well. how the
deuce do they get in and out2 All That
broken window, where the elm branch has |
knocked out the gass--I see That's got |
to be Fixed at once :"
He brushed webs and dust from the re- |
maining panes. and together they peered |
out over the orchard, out across the river, |
now a broad sheet OF molten gold. His |
arm went about her: he drew her head |
against his heart. fast beating and silence |
fell.
calmer than he. Let's see what we've |
got hero 20 do with. oh, tell you 10 be- |
gin with" and she smiled up frankly at |
him, I'm tremendously practical sort OF
woman, You may be an engineer and
know how 10 build wireless telesraphs and
bridges and--and things but when II
comes 10 home-buildIng-'
81 admit IT, Well lead on" he answered
and together they explored the upper rooms
The sense OF intimacy now lay strong upon
them OF unity and indissoluble love ana
comradaship. This was quite another VEN
ture than tho exploration OF the tower,
for now they were choosing home their
nome. and in them the mating Instinct had
begun 10 thrill, TO burn
Each room. despite IFS ruin and decay
took ON a special charm, dignity the
foreshadowing OF what must be- yet m
trlnslcaIly tho place was mourntnL eFeh
after Stern had let the sunshine IN.
For ali was dark desolatlon The rose
wood and mahogany furniture. pictures.
rugs brass beds. all alike lay reduced to
d,,st ana aahes A gold clock. the porcelain
fttings OF the bathroom. and some nne clay
and meerschaum pipes IN what hao eVi-
IDENTIFY been Van Amburgs ash-thsse con
stItutsd ali that had escaped the tooth OF
time. ,.,.. -. -.
In a front room that probably had been
e.rs,s a mud-swall0w had built It's nen
M tbe far corner IL hew out, frightened
when stern thrust his hand into the aper-
ture 10 see II the nest was tenAnted' nut
,srea about with scared cries, then van
ished up the broad fireplace
s.Isssrs-- warm 1" announced stern "Wehs
- soor, viii have 20 be shut up and LETT
we've got more than enough ahyhoW' less
work for YOU. dear" he adaeds WIN smile,
I'VE might use only the lover moor, y you
a. don't want you killing yourself with
housework you ei.os. -s,.'
she laughed eheerily,
..va,, max. me a broom and get all the
sts,,ss and things together she answered
..,.s shsn leave the rest 20 me. In week
.sasa now Won wont know this place Once
- =, stear out a little foothold here We can
- haek 10 tho tower and fetch up Few
sesss 81 tools and supplies"
..eson,s on. come on" he Interrupted,
.-,.sa- her by the hand and leading her
s.ssv IAN such planntng wiz do after
80 tfast but I'm starving How about =
sss-nound bass on the Goals, eh3 Come on.
let's 50 nshins-