Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-11-29
LITTLE GRAY HOUSE
BY HILoA MORRIS.

when she was searching for a quiet
place to read and dream.
Mildred was a teacher, and she had
come to spend her long summer vaca-
ton at Willow Lake hotel. She was
a slim girl, pale and pretty, with al
soft charm that needed only rest and
fresh air to make Il bloom into real
beauty.
The little gray house looked like al
haven peaceful enough for anyone. III
was shaded by huge oak tree, and
the patch Of lawn before It was green
and smooth as velvet. A large "ForI
Rent" sign decorated its front window.
Mildred climbed the steps and peeredl
In at the window. She saw a clean
swept room with painted white wood
work and an old white wooden man.
tel. There was a glimpse Of blue
walled kitchen on beyond.
"Oh" the girl exclaimed TO herself.
81 do want to see the rest of 1t. II
wonder"
She turned the knob softly and found
that the door was unlocked, so she ex-
plored the quaint interior, growingl
more enamored of the place at every
step.
1t was not hard to find the man Who'll
had charge Of 1.-THE lived a half Al
mile farther down the road.
''That's the Gordons' house" he ex-
planned. They're all dead now except
one young Teller that's moved to theI
city. He wants 1t took good care Of.
and he'll rent it cheap to anybody'nI
do that"
"Oh, will take good care Of It."
Mildred assured him. smiling. "TT
even paper some OF the walls"
So she got the house for the absurd
rental Of 81 a month-less than hah
the sum she paid for her stufy room
in the hotel. Mildred had little fur
niture In storage in the city. She sent
for this, and set about the process Of
redecorating the sunny rooms.
BY the time the living room was
complete, with It's chlnt1 curtains.
braided rugs and gate-legged table. 1t
was as delightful a room as any wOm-
an could wish.
There came dusty August day
with a hint OF thunder and rain In
the afr. There came also a letter
most unwelcome letter TO Mildred
In her little house. It was from the
principal Of the private school where
she was a teacher. 1t said that she
was expected to return to her post on
the 18th Of September.
She lit q fret was really cool for
August, and she was always ready to
light a fire at-the slightest excuse be
cause It looked so coy.
Mildred sat before the fire, trying
her very best TO think of some plan by
which she could escape her year at
the school. If only she could paint,
or write, or do some clever thing to
earn a living at home! The threat Of
rain had become reality. 1t began to
fall in sudden torrents. AS Mildred
stood at the window she saw a man
come down the road, running. he
turned suddenly, and sought shelter
under the big oak tree before her
house. At that moment a glimmer OF
lightning flashed out. Mildred rushed
to the door.
"Please come in" she called. "You
might be struck under that tree. It
isn't safe"
"All right" he called back In pleas
ant voice, and In two or three bounds
he was on the veranda, shaking him
self like big Newfoundland.
"rm pretty wet" he smiled. IT
hope" =,
But Mildred interrupted him with a
sudden exclamation.
'David Gordonr' she cried. "How-
ever did you come to me-here?"
81 came to see my house." he re-
piled, "and you. Didn't you know, Mil
dred, that was your landlord?"
'Now she said. 81 didn't. What
ever do you live at Mrs. Green's for
when you have a place like this7"
"Why l couldn't live here alone" heI
said, "and make 1t look like this
Mildred, what have you done
to the old place? 1t hasn't been sol
mother died."
Mildred laughed, little ruefully.
II know it's homellke," she said.
"And the worst Of 1t is I've got toI
leave 1t and go back TO work very
soon. I-hate to give II up"
David nodded, little absently. bel
was looking at the brown-haIred girl
In the blue gown and thinking howl
ovely she was, how well she fitted intoI
he cozy little room.
"Why don't you move in yourselfT"I
Mildred was saying.
II couldn't-now," he said. 'IpsI
rented. It's your house. There's justI
,ne condition under which might liveI
here. That is"
She waited, wondering, her heart
a-futter.
"rhat you will stay here with me.
Gould you marry me, Mildred, even
hough / offered you nothing better
han this little house, and loyefn