The Press., 1917-04-05

FAlry EOQmOlneEs SalO AAouos NS me one more favor. Tell me to whom I am indebted for my lodging and es- pecially for the delicious breakfast have eaten"
 'sThe obligation is all on the other side" said voice behind me.
 Turning quickly. l saw man stand ing outside the kitchen. his arms rest. ing on the window sill.
 I stood looking ut him, not knowing what to say to him. He was an intel. lectual and refined looking man about thirty years of age. .A certain sadness was Stamped upon his features, but n change appeared to Ee breaking over it as rift in lowering clouds. l was standing with pate in one hand and d lishcloth in the other gaping at him. Since had nothing tO say he contin- ued:
 You are the first woman who has been in this house in three years. Your being here has broken a spell, l trust forever"
 ~Wnl you kindly explain this fairy horn breakfast;' said.
 Certainly. I cone here occasionally and happened to come early this morn. ing. having some work to do here. Seeing a horse and conveyance, l pro. Ceeded with caution. Looking in at the library window, saw you sleeping on the lounge. 1t occurred to me that you would need q breakfast, and l set about preparing 1t. There was not much to give you. but I trust it suf- feed"
 Tt was delicious. Now that you have explained I trust you will listen to my apology for trespassing on your domain" And l told my story, after which I said that I would not longer keep him out of his own house and suggested that he come inside. But he said that when a man gives up his house to a woman he has no bushes there so long as she occupies 1t. T' this replied that I made my own con- ventionaI rules. Resides. 1 would de- part a. soon as I had finished doing the dishes. But he remained where he was. and when had finished he placed chairs on the porch, and, feeling sure that he had a story to tell me, we sat down for further chat. Then for the first time I saw a mOtOrcar standing before the door in which he had come. This was his story:
 II built the house for a summer resi- dence for myself and the woman l ex- pected to marry. She was in delicate health, and we are prone to become more attached to one who is dependent on us for comfort than one who is in- dependent of us. We planned the place together and while it was building used to come out here and watch the materializing of our conceptions. It is not an elaborate place. but we spared no pains to make it dainty.
 Before it was finished knew that my beloved would not live to enjoy it. She was unconscious of the seriousness of her malady and continued to look forward to our occupancy of it with happy expectation. On no account would break in upon this anticipa- ton. Instead, I consulted constantly with her how we would have this and how we would arrange that, keeping her interested i'll what could never be realized in order to shield her from the dread truth.
 While the house was building con- tined to make changes in order to pro long the period of construction. In her condition our residence here would not be convenient. She needed the care which she could not have here. When the house was finished I laid new plans for the grounds. One spring %hg s,.r1 frequently, and 1 worked with and di- rected men in planting and garden inn prOvements, while she lay here on the porch and looked on. making such sug- gestiOns as occurred to her.
 Meanwhile my beloved was growing more and more feeble. But not till the day she left me did she realize that we were to be separated; that she would never occupy with me that on which we had lavished so much thought and care.
 "All was finished at last. The place was ready, and my belOved's stay on earth came to an end. Perhaps had not lost an object in the completion of what had so long occupied me would have borne my bereavement more stoically. As it was, I became one of those who nOurish grief. have kept up this place and have come here Cc- casiOnally as another would visit a grave. That cloud has been lifted. When l looked in at the library win dow and saw human being there. sleeping, that castle of grief which have created tumblel about mo: theS' premises, which l have made a tomb of melancholy. have been restored to what they really are
 listened to this recital with a sym pathy that I did not try to conceal. understood perfectly the change I had wrought. I appreciated tha mott e. his seeing living woman in his hGm2 that had led him to prepare a break fast for her. For years he had had no one upon whom to lavish single kindly act. Suddenly a woman ap- peared. and he took advantage of it. Indeed, he told me that the prepara- tion of that meal, his watching me eat it, which he had done surreptitious- Iy, was the happiest moment that come to him in years.
 Upon examining Bob we found him still lame, but my new friend found the cause and removed it. He insisted on harnessing the horse to the vehicle. and when l left him he said to me:
 ''This will be the first day that havs ever spent here free from melancholy"
 My fOrcible entrance to another persons property. occurred several years ago. The next time I entered It was as the bride of the owner. Sinca the place was perfect when it was fin Ished there is nothing to do with 1t but enjoy it. But If should see the slightest chance for improvement I would not mention 1t to ny husband We go there in May and remain through the summer. have not yet exhausted the attractive landscapes in he vicinity as subjects for sketches.