Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-07-11

kD1AS AOAANA - l. &NAAAG MY
from Vermont to study had a sum
of money to pay expenses-I was
obliged to break into it to pay for an
illness, and l came at last to board
here-then l got behind with my board
and she-Mrs. Beals-seized my violin,
and l am working out what l owe her.
1t is a weary task paying old scores
and trying to pay current expenses"
"You poor child" said Felix simply.
"You have stopped the lessons?" he
asked.
"Long ago"
"Who was your teacher?"
"Benzeet."
"Adolph Benzeet? Then you must
possess unusual talent or he would
not have bothered! 1 am sorry, Miss
Annabelle."
""Thank you," she said gratefully,
"and now, if you will excuse me, Mr..
Dare. 1 will return to my duties and
prepare your room. My work has al
ways been below stairs, in the
kitchen, but the chambermaid left
this morning and we are short of help
and l must hasten-we have supper
at G."
As Felix left the room Mrs. Beals
poked her head through the balusters.
"You, Annabelle! !" she called.
slave that room ready in half an
hour-the man has brought the fish
for supper and the table isn't even
set!" She nodded sourly at the new
boarder as he came down the stairs.
'Lazy thing, that GIRL" she muttered
for his benefit. doesn't want to do
a thing except fiddle, fiddle, all day
long! Fiddling don't earn good
money, so say II"
SIN sorry to hear you say that,
Mrs. Beals," returned Felix mischiev-
ously. 81 forgot to tell you that I'm
in the Excelsior orchestra"
Mrs. Beals eyed him suspiciously.
ST don't know as 1 mentioned that
I'd like my board in advance"
Certainly" agreed Felix drawing
out his pocketbook.
Mrs. Beals greedily counted the
money and when the transaction was
concluded, she asked. "My stepson
didn't send me any money by you,
did hep
Felix smiled. He could not tell her
that Dan Beals owed him 5000. "So
Dan is not your W SOM" was all he
asked.
81 should hope not" she cried de
voutly. 81 was a childless wilder
when I married Dams pa and that boy
has been the plaghe of my life. Make
yourself free of the parlor, Mr.. Dare.
Felix threw himself in a chair il
the stuffy little room in which eacf
separate article appeared to quarre
with the other. If Mrs. Beals was no
the own mother of tine unfortunate
Dan, Felix did not feel any response
bility concerning her welfare. Mrs
Beals appeared to be fully able II
take care of herself
"One week win do me-" sighed Felil
as he took out a newspaper and begaI
to read. But a face came between hin
and the printed page-the wistful fac,
of Annabelle.
81 wonder when she will have pait
her debt?" he unused.
Then an odor of frying fish insinu
ated itself through the house and tn
advent OF sundry tired and shabb.
looking men and women, who found
home here after a hard days work il
store or factory, told him that Anna
belle had left his ROOF ready for hi
occupancy and that she was at he
post Of duty downstairs.
Four weeks passed and found
Felix Dare still an occupant of Mrs
Beals' front room. While Annabell'
marveled that an artist like Dare
should be content in that sordid at
mosphere, she was glad that he re
manned. Wonderful music came from
his room. Dreamy strains waited III
to Annabelle's attic room, and aftel
awhile she learned to translate theil
meaning. He was playing to her!
Felix Dare's wooing covered q
period of many weeks, but he did not
give verbal utterance to his love
until one day after Annabelle had
paid off her debt and moved away.
Then he went to see her in her
new boarding place far from Catalpa
Villa and in the stiff parlor of this
new temporary home he told her the
most wonderful story in the world.
The following Sunday evening they
went for a trolley ride, and Felix
stopped the car at a shabby street
and led Annabelle past Catalpa Villa.
The moon was shining on the lonely
catalpa tree, on the hopelessneSs of
Hope Cottage and the BROWNIES of
Greenlawn.
"Catalpa Villa is a beautiful spot"
said Felix seriously. sit will always
be beautiful in my sight, dear-guess
why?"
Because we met there and be-
cause Love transforms all thst is ugly
and sordid," whispered Annabelle.
OnIv Thino She Didn't Know,