Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-16
a MANS HEARTH

at him. ".where was you done
raised. mani Don't you know there
is no luck In the house unless the
first things carried into 1t are the
Bible and the salt?"
He did not know, but he found, the
superstition Of a singular charm.
''Give me the salt, then, and you
mony. Is
mo" she denied quietly. You
should carry the Book, because you
will make the laws. I will take the
salt, because I shall keep the hearth"
by the dignity she laid upon him.
There were only two rooms on the
ground floor. The M into which
they stepped was large and square.
with a floor Of brick faded to a mel
low Tuscan red, and walls Of soft
brown plaster. A brick fireplace was
built against the north side; the fur
nishings comprehended two arm
chairs, a round Sheraton table and
china closet, a tall wooden clock. and
four rag rugs in red and white. In
one corner. modestly retired, a plain
Zeal table supported an oil cook-stove.
with an air Of decent humility and
shrinking from observation. The
open door beyond revealed a bed
chamber, also rag-rugged, furnished
with a noble meagreness, but display
ing a four-posted bed Of carved and
time-darkened-as ash. Elsie took 9
long, full look, then regarded hef
husband with widening eyes.
Anthony. where did. you buy
them? ;"
No one within his memory had ever
called Adriance by his u~nabbreviated
name. 1t came to him as part OF this
new life where he was full-grown
man and master. And he welcomed
the frank comradeship with which
she used it, without a sentimental af-
%fectation Of shyness. s,
AT a little place with a sign Anti
ques'," he confessed. II had passed
it in the car 1 thought they might
do as we'll as new things. since we
bought any furniture before; If they
"They are perfect" The mirth N
her eyes deepened. But you had
better let me help you, next time we
shop economically. Hadn't we bet
ter build a fire, first, to drive away
the chill? oh, and is there anything
I'm the cupboard over there; every
thing, the grocer could think Of" he
said meekly. '"Ill go get anything
else o say. First, though, I'll run
down to the gate and bring In our
suit cases"
DO" she approved. IT wan an
apron. DoNyou know, you w ask
ed me If I could cook"
Can you?"
wait and see. What woman
thought Of the oil-stove ?'
1.-The antiquarian's wife. She said
the fireplace was more bother than 1t
was use and suggested stuffing it with
paper to keep the drauEhts out"
"well. we will stuff it with Are"
she declared.
They built the fire; or rather, Adri-
ance built it, aided by the girls tact
full advice. When the flames were
roaring and leaping, she ent him to
the nearest shop where lamps could
be purchased, the trining question Of
light having been overlooked.
When he hurried back from the
village, the need of light vas becom-
ing imminent. Dusky twilight came
early here under the edge Of the hills.
Climbing the steep road, Anthony
Adriance looked across the violet-tint-
marking the street where Tony Adri-
ance had lived and idled. Already he
knew himself removed. altered; he
was interested in keeping on with this
thing. OF course, he must keep IN.
he had set a barrier blocking retreat;
he had taken a wife.
He opened the brown door Of the
shabby little cottage, and stopped.
The fire on the hearth had settled
to a warm, rosy steadiness. filing the
room with its glow and starting vel.
pie place with an airy brocade Of
shifting patterns. In the centre Of
the roon~stood the round table, robed
in white and gay with the antique
shops ware of blue-and-white Wedge
wood. The perfume OF coffee and
fragrance of good food floated on the
warm air. The fire snapped at III
tervals as II from jovial excess of
spirits. and a tea-kettle was bubbling
with the furious enthusiasm of all
true tea-kettles. 1t was the room of
his fancy. the unattainable home that
Elsie had pictured on the first eve
ming he had spoken to her out Of his
sick heart.
Elsie herself stood beside the
hearth. Elsie? He never had seen
her like this. But then, he scarcely
had seen her at all except in the se-
we're black of a nurses livery.
She had merely taken OF ner
Jacket. now, although he did NOT real
lie the fact. Her soft white blouse
rolled away from a round, full throat
pure in color and smoothness as
cream. She was no sylph-slim beau
ty, but a deep-bosomed, young girl
woman, fashioned with that rich full
ness. of and outline that artists
once loved, but which Fashion now
disapproves. Her mouth, too. curved
in generous. womanly softness; Meth
er a thin line nor a round rosebud.
Her dark hair rippled Of itself around
her forehead and was lustrous in the
freight. y
His entrance caught her on guard.
He surprised herself in her eye be-
fore she masked feeling in gayety.
And he saw q wistful, frightened girl
~ .R