The Lamar register., 1919-10-08
"A Change of
Boarding Places
M
By 9. B. HACKLEY
Copyright. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicats.)

palm-bordered Marvin street, in the
cool dusk, made himself smile at the
elf that dragged on his long fins hands.
but he turned back before they reached
the corner on which was the rented
cottage OF Cecilia Reeves. the woman
he loved.
Cecilia, a young milliner who took
four collegegirl roomers to help out
on her income. bent her yellow head
lower over her heliotrope bed as she
caught sight of his retreat. She had
meant TO give them some flowers when
they passed. She knew he loved the
hellotrope. Had she offended himi she
wondered.
While she puzzled. with a hurt heart,
Driscoll was saying to himself: II must
keep away-I must not see her any
more. The woman l marry must love
my chIld-she must love my little
Babsv'
In the fourth year of Barbara's life
with him. the baby with the roguish
black eyes had come to them. Then the
next year Barbara died. and the baby,
an efish, whimsical, lovable thing. had
tumbled up somehow. under his widow
cred care, and three years of his old
cousins somewhat grumpy houseksep-
ing and nursing.
Then the old cousin had remarked.
and he had shut up the bungalow with
Its crown OF purple blossom covered
bougainvillea. and he and the child had
boarded since then. somewhat to
Babs' disadvantage. he thought some
times. Then he had fallen In love with
Cecilia Reeves.
He had thought she was the mother
kind" OF girl (Babs loved her) until
lately. Since the evening before. he
was certain she was not. Then he had
decided he couldn't ask her TO marry
him. Not that he was certain she
would marry him II he did ask her.
but he couldn't. anyway.
His landlndy of the last month had
been Miss Reeves friend until Drlscoll
and little Barbara came to her board.
Ing house. and 1t occurred TO her that
her quiet boarder. who had something
TO do with the mana cement Of the city
waterworks system. would be AN ldeal
second husband. Then after the eve,
ming Cecilia came to take dinner with
her and her prize boarder" walked
home with her. Mrs. Akers was no
longer Cecll's friend.
Somehow In the last week she had
made the impression on Driscoll that
Cecil didn't like children. He had come
home little earlier than usual the
evening before and started to the
kitchen.
81 wonder Ned keeps that child
since his wife died and he has no one
to care for her." he heard Ceclrs soft
clear voice. Il am going TO try to per
suade him to let me find place for
her In n homer"
Driscoll felt as though something
had struck him. He turned and went
upstairs. She-she didn't want him to
keep little Bsbs-she cared so little
for his baby she would persuade him
to send her to a home
The child dropped the doll Mrs.
Akers had bought her that day and
sprang into his arms. He kissed the
eager little face over and over.
"Oh. Cecll-girl-dld you think that
you could persuade me to do a con-
sclenceless thing like thatf" he thought
as Babs ran downstairs to tell Mrs.
Akers '.fayver' had come
Mrs. Akers was already aware OF
the fnct. She had heard his step In
the back hall she knew he had heard
Cecils last remark.
"Was Miss Reeves here just now
when | came lnf" Driscoll asked at
dinner. 81 thought heard her voice"
Mrs. Akers' red lips flashed u smile.
"oh. you eavesdropper ] hope we
weren't saying anything bad. oh. yes.
we-Cecil was saying something about
Babs, wasn't shef'
As Driscoll lifted the child to her
chair Mrs. Akers. noting his set lips.
felt that she had scored. Who was to
tell him that Cecilia had been speaking
of old Ned Mount. a destitute cripple
who persisted in keeping his tiny or.
phaned grandchild In dirt and squalorf
Not she
That evening when the little girl
slept Driscoll got out that other Bar
bara's picture. a thing he did not often
do-much as he had loved her-since
he had come to love Cecilia.
"The house of the heart has many
chambers. Barbara. dear" he said to
the picture, "snd l wanted to put that
other girl In the one alongside the one
-. l.