Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-04
BARN
5 81 Asp1R1TED ROMANCE - 5
$BY GRACE l. H. LUTZ AutAhor q I'll. B..t Man


-- n ----- ~
didn't suppose ss We had come to chari-
~, even Il l am laid UP for a few
days"
Shirley could see the hurt in her
mothers eyes and the quick alarm in
her voice. and came around to her
couch, smiling. sa
"Now, mother dear, we'll tell you
the whole thing. 1t isn't a hotel
we're in. and It isn't q house at all.
It's only an old barn!"I y
"a barn!' Mrs. HOLSTER sat up on
her couch alertly. and looked at the
big bowl Of roses in the middle Of n
table, at the soft, flowing curtains at
the window and the great pot OF
front, and exclaimed. "Impossible!"
but it is, really, mother, just a
grand old stone barn! Look at the
walls. See, those two over there are
Just rough stones, and this n back
of o is a partition made OF, common
boards. That's only an old brown
denim curtain over there to, hide the
kitchen. and we've, got the old red
chenille curtains up to partition of
sleep up in the hay-loft, and It's going
to be just great"
Mrs. HOLSTER looked wildly at the
stone walls, back at the new partition,
recognized one by n the ancient
chairs. the old bookcase 10 convert
ed into a china-closet, the brown
denim curtain that had once been a
cover for the d~ining-room floor in the
little brick house. Now It was washed
and mended, and was doing its faded
part to look like a wall and fit into
the scheme Of things. She darted
questioning glances at the wealth Of
flowers, and the abundantly set table,
then settled back on her pillow but
half satisfied.
"They don't have curtains in a
barn!" she remarked ,dryly.
Those are a present from Eliza
beth. the little sister of the landlord.
She was out here with him when he
came to see about things. and she got
acquainted with Carol. She has put
up those curtains, and brought the
flowers, and fixed the table. for a sur
prise. See, mother!" and Shirley
brought the card on which Elizabeth
had printed her crude welcome.
Mrs. HOLSTER took the card as If 1t
were some sort of a life-preserver and
smiled with relief.
but this is a great deal to do for
strangers" she said tremblingly, and
tears began to glitter in her eyes.
"They must be wealthy people,"
Eyes, mother. 1 think they are"
said Shirley, land they have been
most kind"
But, daughter. wealthy people do
not usually take the trouble to do
dollars a month for a barn could be
nothing to them"
Il know, mother, but he seems very
we'll satisfied with the price," said
Shirley with a troubled brow. I"
Something's BURNING" yelled Har-
ley at the top of his lungs from the
Kitchen, and Immediately they all
rushed out to rescue the supper,
which took that moment to assert it.
self.
Now. mother said Shirley, COM
ing in with a big tureen Of soup,
we've got to eat this supper or it
question till we are through"
They all settled expectantly down
at the table, Doris climbing joyousiy
into her high chair, calling:
"suppy! Supply! Oh goody!"
Such a clatter and clamor. such
such jumpings up and down to carry
something to mother! Such lingering
over the delicious ice-cream and
fresh Strawberries that were found in
the freezer! Think Of it! Real
Strawberries for them that time Of
Then. when they had eaten all they
could, and began to realize that it was
time to get mother to bed. they push
ed the chairs back. and ali to clearing
off the table and putting things away
1t was Carol who discovered the big
roasted tow and the bowl of salad set
away in the tiny ice-box ready for to-
morrow. How had Elizabeth, who
never kept house in her life, know
Just what would be nice for a. family
that were all tired out with moving,
and needed to lie back and rest be-
fore staring on with living?
The dishes were almost washed
when the cart arrived with the last
load of things, and the drayman help-
ed George to put up mothers bed,
They wheeled the couch into the
living-room after the big doors were
closed and safely fastened for the
night. Before the glowing fire Shir-
ley helped mother to undress, then
and got her to bed.
DO you mind very much that it is
only a barn, mother dear?" question
ed Shirley, bending a~nxiously over her
mother after she was settled.
II can't make it seem like a barn,
dear; it seems a palace!" said the
mother with a tremble in her voice.
Tn glad it's a barn, because we
could eve afford a house with space
like this. and air!" she threw out her
hands as If to express her delight in
the wide rooms. and drew in a breath
of the delicious country air, SO differ
ent from air OF the dusty little brick
house in the city.
Daughter she drew Shirley down
where she could whisper to her.
You're sure he is not looking on lis
as objects of charity. and you're sure
he understands that you are a. self
living and paying her way? You
know this is a wicked, deceitful world
we live in, and there are all sorts of
people in It."
Mother dear! I'm sure. Sure as
anybody could be. He has been a
perfect gentleman. You didn't think
he looked like one Of those-those
people--that go around ,rnisunder-
standing girls. did you Mother"
The mother remembered the gent
lie, manly way in which the young
man had lifted her and carried her
to and from the a and her heart
warmed to him. Yet her fears lifiger-
ed ash she watched her sweet-eyed
"No-o-o," she answered SLOWLY;
but then, o can't always Judge. He
certainly was a gentleman, and he
was very nice looking" Then she
looked sharply at Shirley.
You won't 60 to getting any no.
tons in your head, dear child 2" Her
eyes were wistful and sad as she
searched the sweet. weary face Of the
girl. "You know rich young men fol-
low whims sometimes tor q few days.