Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-31
1.-THE RARN'|
. A SPIRITED ROMANCE -
}BY GRACE L. H. LUTz. Author Of tn. Be-. MAJ"
Graham unlocked the big doors,


Graham unlocked the big doors,
Ind sent them rolling back with 4
allowing what ball bearings
ina careful workmanship can do. The
ssoup stepped inside, and stood to
lo0k again.
The setting sun was casting a red
glow through the diamond panes and
over the wide floer. The new parti-
lions, guiltless Of paint, for Graham
lad not dared to go further, were
mellowed into ruby hangings. The
stone fireplace rose at the opposite
side OF the room. and the new stair
case: was jlst at the side. all in the
dusky shadows into the corners, and
hung q curtain Of vagueness over
blemishes.
Then all suddenly before they had
had time to take in the changes, more
than the fact Of the partitions which
they expected. Graham stepped to the
ride Of the door, and touched a but
ton. and behold a myriad OF lights
burst forth about the place, making 1t
bright like noontime.
"Oh! oh! Obi" breathed Carol in
awe and wonder, and "Oh!' again, as
e there were nothing else to say. But
Shirley only looked and caught her
breath. It seemed q palace too fine
for their poor little means, ana a sud
den fear gripped hold upon her.
"Oh Mr.. Graham! You have done
much!" SHE choked. "Xou
shouldn't have done it, We can
never afford to pay for all this!"
.SNnf of ol1lO Gotta S,n,,4. draho~e
quickly. This isn't anything. The
electric people gave permission for
this, and / thought it would be safer
than lamps and candles, you know.
It cost Scarcely anything for the wir-
had our regular man do it that
attends to the wiring and lights at the
It was a mere triae, and will
make things q lot more convenient
for you. You e it's nothing to the
They just gave permission
for a wire to be from the pole
there. OF course they might not do
1t for every one, but I've some pretty
good friends in the company; so it's
all right"
But the fireplace!" said Shirley,
going over to look at it. Its beauti-
full! It's like what you e in maya
zine pictures Of beautiful houses"
why, it was just the stones that
left from cutting the windows
/ thought they might as we'll
be utilized, you know. 1t wasn't much
more work to pile them up that way
while the men were there than II we
had had them carted away"
Here Carol interrupted.
Shirley! There's a telephone! A
real telephone!"
Shrley's accusing eyes were upon
her landlord.
ut was put in for wi convenience
while the workmen were here" he
defensively. 1T is a pay
phone, you see, and is no expense eK-
cept when in use. 1t can be taken out
If you do not care to have it, of
course; but 1t occurred to me since it
here your mother might feel
more comfortable out here all day II
she could call you when she needed
to-"
Shirley's face was a picture of
relief and gratitude conquered as she
turned to him.
IT believe you have thought of
everything" she said at last. II have
worried about that all this week. I
have wondered if mother would be
afraid out in the country with only
the children, and the neighbors not
quite near enough to call; but this
solves the difficulty. You are sure it
hasn't cost you a lot to have this put
in %, Y
"Why, don't you know the te,e-
phone company is glad to have their
phones wherever they can get them? ?"
he evaded. Nov, don't worry about
anything more. You'll find hardships
enough living in a barn without fret
ting, about the few conveniences we
Fave been able to manage"
But this is real luxury!" she said,
sitting down on the steps and look
ing up where the lights blazed from
the loft. you have put lights up
there's. too, and a railing. I was so
afraid Doris would fall down some
time!",
TIN glad to find you are human.
after all. and have a few Fears" de-
elared the owner, Laughing. II had
through and through and weren't
afraid Of anything. Yes, I had the
put what lumber they had left
that railing. l thought 1t wasn't
safe to have it all open like that, and
I didn't want you to sue me for life
or limb, you knoR. There's one thing
I haven't managed yet, and that is
piping water up from the spring. I
haven been able to get hold of the
right man 80 far; but he's comiig out
tomorrow, and I hope it can be done.
is a spring on the hill back of
and / believe it is high enough to
get the water to this floor. II it is 1t
will make your work much easier and
be only the matter Of a few rods of
oh. but, indeed, you mustn't do
ANYTHING more!" pleaded Shirley. II
shall feel 50 ashamed paying such a
little rent."
But, my dear young lady" said
Graham In his most digniied business
manner, you don't at all realize how
much lower rents are in the country,
isolated like this. than they are in the
city: and you haven't as yet realized
what a lot OF Inconvenience you
to put up with. When you 60
back to the city in the winter, you
win be glad to get away from here"
"Never!" said Shirley f~ervently,
and shuddered. "Oh. never! You
don't know how dreadful it seems
that we shall have to 60 back. But
Of purse 1 suppose we shall. One
couldn't live in a barn in the winter,
though It is a palace for the
summer" and she looked about visit
fully. Then. her eyes lighting up, she
said in a low tone, for the young
mans benefit alone:
II think. God must have made you
all this for us!" She turned and
walked swiftly owe to one Of the new
windows. looking out at the
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