The Lamar register., 1919-01-01
THE OLD HOUSE
BY JACK LAWToN.
,oopyrisht. 1918. westsrn Newspaper Union.)

daughter of one of the towns wealth
lest men, when the gray stone house
was an Imposing residence to be point
ed out with pride. But now the bushes
In the dingy garden were dust covered.
and the twinkling lights of the tene-
ment windows seemed 10 be laughing
down at the queer old house below.
Linda, living on when her people had
oil gone, seemed to take as years
passed, the air of the lonely house,
reserved, living within herself. And
though Linda was no longer young. yet
was she still not old enough to put
aside the dreams OF youth; and per-
haps had she not been like the house
between the tenements - removed
from life about her-Llnda's dreams
might have come true.
At first sentiment would not allow
her to part from the home she had
always known. then selling had be-
come an imposslbility. For one dar-
Ing moment Linda had thought OF
renting her rooms to make homes for
business women, which at least would
bring companionship beneath the ST.
lent roof. But her long sheltered ma
ture shrank from the Intrusion. There
was still no actual need. so the idea
was abandoned.
Before the CRATE fire beneath the
white marble mantel. Linda sat, pos.
sessed of an aching longing for the
things that were gone. Then her idle
gnze fell upon the marker OF book
which she had taken from the table.
"a recipe for happiness" she read.
do something for somebody quick"
Linda smiled. II sounded very sim,
pie, to do something for somebody. but
her best intentIoned effort usually
ended In disappointing failure. Girls
from the tenements to whom she had
made herself acquainted and whom
she had invited In for social evenings,
appeared to find evenings In Linda's
home anything but social. excusing
themselves at an early hour. and
never returning.
From the shadowy veranda NOW
came persistent mewing wall.
"A lost kitten" murmured Linda.
perhaps II may help to do some-
thing for a lost kitten" 30 she opened
The heavy front door to let the crea-
ture In. II was a grateful white kit
ten. hunger was forgotten In the JOY
or nesting with contented purrings In
Llnda's lap. Then suddenly at the
front door came wild knocking. pound
ing as with two impatient fists.
When the little woman again opened
the door a child stepped into the room.
a beautiful bit OF a girl with tangled
golden curls.
"Give me-" she demanded. my kitten
I followed IL over here. / saw you
take It in from the veranda. Give my
kitten back"
"Of course, dear" Linda agreed.
Maybe you didn't mean to keep It,"
she amended, but every one over at
the tenement tries to steal my Flufie
away. Flun's all I've got since Daddy
went to war" Linda knelt before the
fire gathering child and kitten int
her arms.
"You live over theref" she asked.
"who tnkes care Of your"
Mrs. MCGEE promised Daddy that
she'd look after me-" the precocious one
replied. but mostly I'm alone. 'Cept
every night when Mr.. Cameron comes
to see me- he promised Daddy he
would. You know Mr.. Cameron
Linda shook her head. Hes the
minister" the child confided, down
at the mission. Daddy likes Mr.. Cam
eron. He was good to my mother be-
fore she died and he's good to me.
He is good to everybody. But l
couldn't live In Mr.. Cameron's house
when Daddy went away, because It's
just two rooms. you see. back of the
mission. The old lady who cooks for
Mr.. Cameron don't like children. u
he had wife II would be different.
he told Daddy So"
The child withdrew from Linda's
clasp, her longing eyes wandered re-
gretfully about the cory room. Fun
sorry I've got to 60" she said. 'lts
so-nice and pretty here and you
you're nice and pretty too"
Linda flushed with strange pleasure
In the childish compliment. She
laughed happy little laugh straight
back from hef giriish years. why
can't you stay. dearT" she asked.
ITS the time Mr.. Cameron always
comes to see me-" the child told her
II tapped" a pleasant voice near by
said, but you did not hear. And