The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-10-16
: A PAGE FOR WOMEN AND THE HOME ::

ed the floors. and moved in her old
furniture.
BY the time the living room was
complete, with its chintz curtains,
braided rugs and gate.legged table, It
was as delightful room as any WON
an could wish. Mildred sang over her
work. growing prettier each day. At
night she sat on the varauda watch.
the nreflles and drinking in the silent
beauty OF the place. or. II II was cool!
she built q FIRE in the fireplace and
saw pictures In its embers. She tried
to imagine how 1t would feel to live
there with family about her. TO have
other things than dreams for com
pany. But she was quite contentuI rs
she was, and the country air was put.
ting fresh color in her cheeks, round
ing delicate contour of her face, so
she no longer looked like a frail and
very tired teacher
There came gusty August day
with hint OF thunder and rain in the
the air There came also a letter
most unwelcOme letter to Mildred in
her little house. 1t was from the prin.
cipal OF the private school where she
was teacher. 1t said that she was eX.
pected TO return to her post on the
10th OF September. Mildred had been
trying to forget about the school; the
thought Of leaving her little home was
most depressing. She planned to keep
1t through the winter and come there
for vacations. but vacations were so
few! And she was tired OF teaching
anyway, and September 18th was only
three weeks off.
She lit fret was really cool for
August, and she was always ready to
light fire at the slightest excuse be-
cause 1t looked so coy. That was the
one reason she longed to spend the
winter there-she did not have open
fires in her furnished room at Mrs
Green's boarding house.
Mildred sat before the fire. trying
her very best to think Of some plan
by which she could escape her year at
the school. II only she could paint or
write or do some clever thing to earn
a living at home! Or II she only had
rich uncle or father or husband
She blushed at this thought, and rose
to pull down the windows 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 glimmer Of
lightning flashed out Mildred rushed
to the door.
tpInacn tt,t - he 1aj
might get struck under that tree. 1t
isn't safe"
"All right" he called back in a
pleasant voice, and in two or three
bounds he was on the veranda. shak
ing himself like a big Newfoundland
I'm pretty wet" he smiled. 81
hope"
But Mildred interrupted him with a
sudden exclamation.
David Gordon" she cried. How.
ever did you come to be-here?"
II came to see my house." he repli-
ed, "and YOU. Didn't you know, NIL
dred that was your landlord"
mol" she said. "1 didn't. Whatever
do you live at Mrs. Green's for when
you have place like this?"
why couldn't live here alone" he
said, land make it look like this!
Goodness. Mildred what have you done
to the old place? 1t hasn't been so
homelike-since mother died"
Mildred laughed. little ruefully.
81 know it's homelike." she said
"And the worst of it is that I've got to
leave it and go back TO work very
soon. I-hate to give it up"
David nodded, little absently. He
was looking at the brown.haired girl