The sun., 1919-04-13


the wheel again. began a little nerv-
ously. but soon became holder.
Take 1t on the geographical side,"
said ]. Here you have n State with a
long and lovely coast line. Back Of
that Is marvellous fiat sweeping area
with picturesque scrub pines and the be-
ginnings Of farms. Then you have the
remarkable truck farms, perhaps some
oil the finest In the world. Then you
have beautiful residential sections with
the most attractive of homes. There Is
such an air of refinement and quiet
elegance about them, Arabella- And then
there are hills and wooded stretches.
and lakes and pine forests. Truly there
Is no guide like Nature to a home"
Arabclla looked at me little coldly.
How about moSquitoeB?" she said.
well, of course the citizen Is sup
posed to improve on Nature IL possible.
And he does. Think of all the modern
methods of combating the mosquitol"
F'reeland rescued me by calling our
attention to very handsome country
club. In the other direction the smoky
haze Of prosperous commercial town
was spread In opalescent color.
you don't want to forget the impor-
lance Of the manufacturing towns Of
New Jersey" he said.
But when all is said and DONE" and
once moro he turned himself half about
so as to watch Arabella, ITS the human
element that counts the most. What
ever the historic background or the
physical surroundings, the real events
are the human comedy and tragedy, the
lives OF the families that represent the
community to-day. Just think Of the
network Of fascinating human happen
tngs that holds the landscape close to
the hearts Of its inhabitants this min
utev
Every House Holds Its story.
"A little house is just a little house
until you realize that looking out of the
second story window Is happy bride
or jealous bridegroom, a placid grand |
mother. a heartbroken widow, a naive |
child or a homesick servant girl. Every |
house holds Its stofy-and to know its |
story is to know its value. That's my |
idea"
Freeland looked across at me trlum-
plant. for Arabella was genuinely alb
sorbed.
How true that is! we'd hate to
have a house without a splendid romance |
TO II, wouldn't We, Jonathan"
We'll" said Freeland. you'll prob |
ably have one with romance. For the |
house doesn't exist. new or old. that |
human events have not come near"
And just for example he sketched out |
the story of the Redfeld family. giving |
no names and few details.
l really marvelled at his ingenuity.
And then We forgot all about 1t, and |
stopping the car In a bright sunny place |
had a gay little luncheon.
Old Freeland was a wizard at making |
Arabella comfortable and laughing. and
with his grotesque muffer and his natu-
rally grim pression-transfxed at
times by drumstick--he was ludi-
crous sight and the jolliest Of compan-
ions.
We went about little more that
afternoon. stopping for tea at the home
of a friend OF Freeland's, an older man
with lovely and rather pretentious
house and lovelier and entirely in
genuous daughter.
IT'S such people as that said Free |
land as we left, who live In a quiet
way here. and are often well known
abroad for the experienced and well in
formed collectors and connoisseurs that
they are"
We were all satisfied to erjoy the
fresh air and the song swallows and to |
doze in our places on the way home.
Only once did Freeland slow down. |
that seemed to lead toward a white and |
rambling house nearly obscured from
3 light by old trees.
Arabella who had been looking a |
BIT languid, suddenly sat up, and !
tapped me on the shoulder.
Look at that, Jonathan! How per-
fectly charming. Mr.. Freeland. did you
see that place."
But Freeland-and consider this the
master stroke OF an artist-sent the car
ahead more swiftly than ever. To
most enthusiastic comments
ne made but one remark: About the
sort of place, wasn't 1t, where the prin-
'lpals in my story of a family might
De living"
Just exactly said Arabella.
And Freeland's little barbed arrow Of
uggcst!on proved itself placed in Ara
,el'G's mind.
over the polteness Of parting Free
and and exchanged congratulatory
dances. TIE day as far as we could
6e was ours.
(To be contirued)