The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-19


the third time that day. It was on the
last flight that she turned and looked
back at the man who had been fol-
lowing her up the stairs. She dropped
the loaf Of bread and he picked It up
for her. Then, while he was still stand
ing holding 1t for her. she opened the
door OF the apartment and stood to
take Il from him.
There was look Of momentary
surprise in the face of the man which
was explained to Sister Belle salts.
faction when he said: 80 you are
Ben's sitter. have seen your picture
in his room. He's great boy and
1 have been big.brotherering him
around a little" At this Sister Bell
shifted some Of her parcels, held a
hand out To him in gratitude and they
were friends. I've been fixing up
his place" she said. "since the poor
lad has to live In such close quarters
might as well have It coy. Perhaps
you Will come in sometime this even.
ing and tell me whether tits progress
ing to suit bachelor" The newcom.
er promised and fumbled in his peck.
ct, then turned and went downstairs
with the excuse Of having mislaId his
key and needing to get duplicate
from the janitor.
That evening as Sister Bell sat talk
ing def stitches in the yellow silk
shade Martin Stowe kept his promise
and made his visit of inspection. II
he had tried to hide his enthusiasm
over the effect Sister Bell had pro
duced he could not have done so.
ITS great to have a sister like
that he said, and the sister said: 81
never dreamed Benson had such an alb
sence of taste. How he could have
lived in this hole without one attempt
at beauty or decoration cannot see"
Manlike, Mr.. Stowe tried TO defend
the brother. "He has very little time
after-work He has been here only
short time and it's a cheerless thing
for man to think OF home without
woman to share it."
Every evening and sometimes in the
morning besides Mr.. Stowe made an
excuse to come and see how the work
progressed. Sometimes it was also
TO borrow one OF Benson's books. some
times even 10 get something out OF
his trunk that he had left in BenSCn's
dining room aud as the dining room
shaped itself with an inexpensive eff
tectIve furniture he took the trunk
back into his own narrow back apart
ment--a mere bedroom with bath.
1T was his whim to live in cramped
quarters, he told Sister Bell.
The day that Be..son came home Mr..
Stowe net him at the station. lie ASA
ed Sister Bell To go with him but she
said she would rather stay home and
nave the kitchenette dinner ready tor
them on their return. a week had
passed since she had come and there
mad been many changes. The small
apartment had assumed ali the grace
and beauty that ii had lacked. Ieiore,
and. III the spending OF, each necessary
dollar Sister Bell mad Eelt thrill of
the love that was more like that OF
mother than that OF sister. In that
time Sowe had had time TO tell her
that he had already admired her before
he met her. Her picture--that he had
seen in Benson's room-had first told
him something OF her, and the days
between had told him the rest. Sis.
ter Bell had only hesitated to tell him
that she had found as much to admire
in hir because her thoughts were so
taken up with the joy of completing
her work for. Benson.
When Benson and Stowe returned
from the station the explanation was
not long in coming. OF course it hadn't
been Benson's apartment at all 1t
was Stoves and of course Stowe
should have told Sister He'll to begin
with. But uanIike he had not wanted
to. tell Benson's sister that the broth
er was living in one.roOm back apart
men when the sister was disappointed
at the smallness OF the larger one
in the front. When he realized that
Sister Bell was really doing he hadn't
wanted to disappoint her. He hoped
somehow that by the time Benson
came back he would be able to afford
the larger apartment. If not Stowe
had made up his mind to let him live
there anyway If he could allow the
real owner to share the living room,
81 was worried to death about It."
he said, "but couldn't get my nerve
up to telling Sister Bell the truth"
Auu Lueu-dppdIeutly SLONS idu
told Benson how the land lay on the
way from the station-"then l thought
perhaps Sister Bell might consent 10
stay herewith us" he said. What
q trio we would be! We'd let Ben
have breakfasts with us too wouldn't
we?"
Sister Bell was still in daze. re.
hearsing every event Of the wonderful
days to make sure that she had not
at some time been very blind not -
see,the situation. But l was so sure, I"
she said. why. Just seeing my pic
ture on Benson's bureau made me sure.
And the other GIRL thought that was
Benson's new grill"
"I. is," Stowe assured. Its his
girl and my kid sister. The duplicate
is on Benson's 'chiffonier. But Ben.
son had but one picture of you, so
I took that. That was before | had
seen you, and knew even them"