The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-16

brows over pair Of fine. dark eyes,
and looked At Tom with an air Of
mid surprise. "Eow perfectly ride
ulous! AS II q woman OF thiry-two
and man Of thirty-fve who have
known each other Ence babyhood
and have been brought up in the
same house for twenty years couldn't
tive together without setting peoples
tongues vagging."
''Thirty-two," repeated Tom, not
quite gallauly. NO, you aren't ez-
actly girl"
And every one knows that ! don't
really care twopence for you"
That is very kind, an sure. I"
Tom re-ests blished the paper in iron;
OF his place and went on reading.
But you are right. No one can help
seeing that We are not Of the mold Of
which attnites are made. Funny
isn't tt:-whRt makes US 50 indttfer-
ent:"
Martha leisurely poured her second
cup OF coffee. 1T isn't SO much that,
Tom" she said. lit is more that we
are absolutely-how IhaIl ] say II!
perhaps dlssimilar in Taste will do. /"
She gave L rapid look around the
heavily hung dining room and almost
shuddered as she did so. 1T is that,
isn't it,"
Partly" agreed Tom. but of
course, II is the only thing for US 10
DO, living here together, mean. We
might get third person in with US
q Hulr
know whether ] want 10 burden my.
self with some one else who might be
even less coagsnial."
No, Unless you were 10 marry"
Ton didn't answer. and fo- Eve
MINUTES ne went on reading his pa
rsr. Martha continued 10 sip her COT
tee and uibble her toast.
Al least, Tom added, as he rose
10 leave TOR his business, we are
neTe: seen together anywhere. Good
ness knows you are away from home
enough without me"
Yes. and you are here quite as
seldom as ! an. But don't imagine
that want you 10 tell me where you
CO."
Tom wen, of 10 his business and
Martha went directly 10 her own
room, the only room in the entire
house, in fact, which she ever fire.
que1ted more than was necessary.
The drawing room, with its clumsy
mahogany furniture and red plush
haug1nEs was nightmare 10 her.
The library, with It's shelves Of anti
quhted Law books that had belonged
10 Uncle Tom, appealed no more 10
her.
In the meantime, Martha had very
definite ideas o. her own as 10 what
q house should be. Il was TO be sun
ny and hvable. Instead Of heavy fun
ersal chairs and impossible stiff d.
vans, II must possess furniture that
was restful and pleasant, windows
that were bright and that let in at-
and sunlight, a library that was tnu-
mate and expressive Of the PERSONAL
ity Of the one who used it-books
that one read and that others might
eH1oy-in short, just exactly what
the old Barrow library was not.
Martha donned her hat and cloak,
and telling the old servant she would
not be home for dinner, started out.
She walked down the main street OF
the town. then through an orchard
and finally TO little woody retreat
in the middle Of which was a sunny
clearing and tiny house that might
almost have been mistaken Tor 8
child's playhouse. In fact. II was q
two-room cottage-Ihe secret retreat
OF Martha. Al touch OF her key the
door yielded and she entered.
Once Inside this house, Martha's
entire manner changed. Downing
bright colored smock in place o: her
coat and hat, she began TO set the
small place 10 rights. She built
coy open FIRE and arranged the late
chrysanthemums she had gathered
from the old-fashioned garden al
home. Here Martha spent most Of
her days. Her intimate friends knew
Of the retreat and were bound 10
certain sort Of secrecy, though most
OF them openly discussed the little
house among themselves. The chief
object Of the secrecy was TO prevent
news OF it from getting back TO Tom.
81 wouldn't for the world hurt his
feelings" she told them. Tom and
! have such absolutely opposite
tastes He just dotes on the old
house, with its heavy. dreary rooms.
! would no more suggest doing them
over than ! would having some of
those heavy vines and trees cut out
that make the place SO frightfully
dark and sunless. So ! have built
this place here 10 be my own. Here.
alone, am happy and contsnted be-
cause here can have the kind of sur
Toundings ! like-cheerfulness, sun
light, individuality and repose."
Sometimes Martha invited one or
another Of her women friends TO
spend the day or the morning or an
afternoon, but on this occasion, when
she had planned 10 do some sewing,
she was alone. In spite Of the FACT
that ii was Saturday. when Toms Of
fee closed in the afternoon, she felt
no need for hasty return. II was
an assured fact that he would not 20
home till time for dinner at night.
More and more Tom had taken to
spending his leisure time away from
the old home.
At TWO o'clock she thought first Of
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