Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-08-03
The Fortune Of
An Architect
By ELINOR MARSH

taste for art, and at twenty she de-
cided that instead of waiting for a
husband she would be the architect
of her own fortune She planned to be
a decorator. Indeed, being an orphan
with nothing to live on, it was neces-
sary for her either to support herself
or marry some man to support her.
That Margaret was naturally of an
independent disposition is evident from
the fact that she rented cottage in
which she proposed to live alone and
have her office.
One day young man appeared on
the premises and seemed to be looking
them over. Margaret went out and
asked him If he was thinking of buy
ing the property. The man looked at
her admiringly, for she was pretty
girl, and replied that ne was consid-
ering whether it could not be fixed up
and used for residential purposes. He
said that he was an architect.
"And I am a decorator" said the
girl
Indeed! In that case we might
work together"
"Do you represent the iowner?" she
asked.
Eyes. I'll confer with him, and If
he will employ me to repair and make
additions to the house and give you
the decorating job we may make some
thing out of it,
He went away, leaving Margaret to
think Of the matter. She paid NOM
inal rent and If she could make few
hundred dollars by decorating the
house it would pay her to find another
home. But she was thinking more of
the young man than the job. He had
very pleasant way with him, and his
smile was quite engaging. The next
day he came back and said that he had
made an arrangement with the owner
for fixing up the property. He was to
spend $1,000 on it and receive $500
for his services. He would pay Mar
garet half his fee If she would design
and superintend the decorations. Mar
garet was very well pleased to make
a fee of $3.50 and assented to the prop
osition.
The young man had brought with
him drawings of the alterations to be
made, and the two sat down together
to consider the decorations. Margaret
occupied wing Of the house which
was to be turned into d kitchen and
servants rooms, but this was to be
done last and she need not be disturb
ed till the rest was finished, and then
], she could move to another part of the
house till the property was occupied
by permanent tenants. The architect
said that probably the owner would
occupy it himself.
In few days a permit to make alter
ations was tackled up on the front
porch; then a load Of building mate
rails was dumped in the front yard;
then masons and carpenters came and
went to work. Margaret, meanwhile
having the plans before her, arranged
for the decorations. The architect came
every day to see that his orders were
being carried out and never failed to
consult Margaret as to how this would
serve or that would serve, and she
never failed to ask his opinion as to
what color would best go in this room
or that room, and the contractor, who
was there good deal himself, won
dered how the two could spend 50
much time over one Job while he was
building a dozen houses, providing
everything himself and bossing each
job. They would go into the living
room, which was not disturbed, place
the plans on a table and sit over them
sometimes a couple of hours at q time.
IF that architect" said the contrac-
tor spends as much time with the
decorator of every building he designs
as with this little Job I'm afraid he'll
not get through many jobs"
When the contractor had finished all
but the servants quarters Margaret
moved out of her little bare room into
sumptuous quarters. She asked the
architect when the owner would come
to inspect the work and was informed
J that he had been there number OF
times already. Margaret wondered at
, this, for she had not seen him. But
she was Informed that he was well
pleased especially with the decora-
tons, and this satisfied her.
The work was finished at last, and
architect and decorator one afternoon
went through the house and grounds
together.
Its all so pretty" said Margaret
chat feel like crying at leaving it."
"You don't need to leave it." was the
I reply.
''What do you meanT'
II am the owner of this place. !
came here one day to look it over with
view to fixing it up to sell It, I saw
! you, and it occurred to me to fix it up
for myself-that is, If l could get you
to share it with me. What do you
say?"
This proposition was not unexpected
but the rest of 1t was surprise in.
deed. Margaret caught her breath, the
architect caught her In his arms, the