The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-09-08
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The Fortune Of
An Architect
By ElINoR MARSH

t0oIe AVT III, ouU ut IWeuIy Que ,Oe.
cided that instead Of waiting for q
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 vas naturally Of an
Independent disposition is evident from
the fact that she rented a cottage, in
which she proposed to live alone and
have her Office.
One day a 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 a pretty
girl, and replied that he 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 owner?" she
asked.
q 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 q nom
inal rent and If she could make a 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
a 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 1t 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 a wing Of the house which
was to be turned into a 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; a few days q permit to make alter
atoms was tackled up or the front
porch; then a load Of building mate
rails was dumped in the front yard;
then mas0ns 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 60 in this room
or that room, and the contractor, who
was there d good deal himself, won
dered how the two could spend so
much time over n job while he was
building a dozen houses, providing
everything himself and bossing each
job. They would 90 into the living
room, which was not disturbed, place
the plans on q, table and sit over them
sometimes a couple of hours at a time.
III 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 al
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
that he had been there a number of
times already. Margaret wondered at
lu10s luz 6UO x40O HUI 0SS0 4&xN4s 0UJ
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.
that / feel like crying at leaving It"
"You don't need to leave it." was the
reply. o
what do you meanT"
II am the. owner Of this place. I
came here inc day to look 1t v with
a view to fixing It up to sell It. Isaw
you, and It occurred to me to ok II. up
for myself-that IL, If I could get you
to share It with me. What do You
say7s,
This proposition was not unexpected.
but the rest Of It was q surprise; In
deed. Margaret caught her breath, the
architect caught, her IL his arms. the
architect Of her. own fortune was hap
~ IN being, as he expressed It, the for
tune Of the architect
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