South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-13

made mental note OF the cost that
would be incurred. The whole
place would have TO be refurnished
after the carpenters and decorators
| finished, she had thought often
There were so many plans in her
head she decided 10 put the plan for
refurnishing on paper. This she
set out 70 do. and discovered a tai
ent that she had almost forgotten
existed. She was a natural artist.
I To make her plans, which were
really elaborate pictures, she did
not need TO go over the house.
Every inch OF it was familiar TO her.
Each room she drew on a separate
sheet. remodeling 1t and furnishing
IT as her fancy told her would be
best. When the rooms had all been
transpOsed 10 paper. she pasted
them together TO form the complete
Winchester House-but what a diff
ferent house IL was Nothing re-
NAMED the same but the layout
The walls were freshly panelled:
would appear with the grease and
dust OF years taken off part OF the
house was elegantly furnished in
modern style and part in rare an
tiques No one knew how 20 blend
the two like Edith. Her plans were
those OF an artist not OF an archi-
tect. She viewed her handiwork
with pleasure. If only she could
transform the house in reality as
she had on paper, If Dick Winches-
ter would only come homel What
ifference would II make, II he did,
she asked herself? He who had not
thought enough OF the young girl Of
write 10 her, would not even look
at the home1y old maid who had
taken her place. Then the little
voice would creep up again and
make some excuse for him. He had
been i'll or away - something had
happened that he had not got her
letters. Her Dickey would not for
get.
II happened very Unexpectedly.
The thought Of selling the Winches-
ter House for unpaid taxes had not
entered the minds Of the village Of
ficials until a visitor from the city
had suggested that it would make
an ideal summer hotel If properly
remodelled, and had limited that
he would consider the purchase Of
| IT, BY the time the place was con-
| fscated for taxes the stranger had
disappeared, and there was nothing
| left, but TO offer it at auction.
The thought that any one In the
village would buy the Winchester
house appeared preposterous, but
as the hour for the sale approached
a little uneasiness came over Edith.
What if some one bought ii for
stable or some such use? she
thought. A few hundred dollars
just enough to pay the taxes would
buy it. If II was once in her pos
session il would be safe from grasp
ing city men. Edith armed her
self with her check book and start
ed out for the sale without further
consideration.
Strange 10 say a crowd had assem-
bled Even a sale that would not
bring a purchaser was an attrac-
ton in Wattsville. AS the bidding
was called for tall stranger Joined
the group. Edith was too intent
on making her offer TO notice him.
When he outbid her first offer she
was too startled to look at him.
Three hundred" she called out
hurriedly.
Four" came briskly from the
man.
rive" There was a catch in her
voice.
six" That was too much for
Edith. and she stole quietly away.
Half way home she stopped Her
plans were in the old house. She
would not leave them there for this
stranger. She hurried back and
found them where she had left
them. spread out on a table. She
sighed regretfully as she took a
last look at them. No more would
she be able to dream there. The
dark haired hoy and the light
haired girl would have to be for
gotten.
"Dickey boy" she breathed soft
". ooh, why didn't you come
back"
"Dickey is here" Her startled
gaze lighted upon the stranger
standing in the doorway, but before
she could call out his name her
senses duIed and she sank to the
floor.
why didn't you answer my let
ters?" Dick was saying when she