Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-02-06
"a Change of
Boarding Places
0D
By s. 3. HAcKLEY
Copyright. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)


Ned Duncan. strolling along quiet,
palm-bOrdered Marvin street, In the
cool dusk. made himself smile at the
elf that dragged on his long fine 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 cOllege-girl 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
heliOtrOpe. Had she offended him? she
wondered
While she puzzled, with hurt heart,
Driscoll was saying to himself: II must
keep away must not see her any
more. The woman marry must love
my child-she must love my little
Babs !"
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 eltish, whimsical, lOVable thing, had
tumbled up somehow, unGer his widow
cred care, and three years of his old
cousins somewhat grumpy housekeep-
ing and nursing.
Then the old cousin had remarked,
and he had shut up the bungalow with
It's 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 If he did ask her, |
but he couldn't, anyway.
His landlady of the last month had !
been Miss Reeves friend until Driscoll
and little Barbara came to her board
ing house, and it occurred to her that
her quiet boarder, who had something
to do with the management of the city
waterworks system, would be an ideal
second husband. Then after the eye
ming Cecilia came to take dinner with
her and her "prize boarder" walked
home with her, Mrs. Akers was no
longer Cecil's friend.
Somehow In the last week she had
n1ay1H 4hn fn,proccioD an nricnnII thot
Cecil didn't like children. He had come
home a little earlier than usual the
evening before and starred to the
kitchen.
II wonder Ned keeps that child
since his wife died and he has no one
to care for her." he heard Cecil's soft
clear voice. II am going to try to per-
suade him to let me find a place for
her in home! !"
Driscoll felt as though something 4
had struck him. He turned and went
upstairs. She-she didn't want him to
Keep little Babs-she cared so little
or his baby she would persuade him ,
% send her to home! :
The child dropped the doll Mrs
Akers had bought her that day and 8
'prang into his arms. He kissed the d,
lager little face over and over
"Oh, Cecil-girl-did you think that !
'ou could persuade me to do con- y
cienceless thing like that?" he thought 7
IS Babs rah downstairs to tell Mrs. 6
lkers "favver" had come. 7
Mrs Akers was already aware of !,
he fact. She had heard his step in
he back hall she knew he had heard :,
'ecil's last remark :,
"Was Miss Reeves here just now -
hen | came in? Driscoll asked at r
inner. 81 thought heard her voice" :,
Mrs. Akers' red lips flashed smile. a
oh, you eavesdropper! | hope we =
eren't saying anything bad. Oh, yes, h
was saying something about .,
abs, wasn't she?" -,
AS Driscoll lifted the child to her -
lalr Mrs. Akers, noting his set lips, -,
IT that she had scored Who was to
II him that Cecilia had been speaking
old Ned Mount, a destitute cripple
no persisted in Keeping his tiny or
laned grandchild in dirt and squalor? N
OF she
That evening when the little girl "A
ept Driscoll got out that other Bar "a
ra's picture, thing he did not often o'
as he had loved her-since III
had come to love Cecilia.
"The house of the heart has many 20
Barbara. dear" he said to IN
e picture, "and wanted to put that Tn
her girl In the one alongside the one ri'
which you stay, but oh, Barbara on
rbara-I love her But she doesn't tn
re the child daren't ask her to
me, Barbara ~ tn
The evening after she saw Driscoll ste
IN away from her gate, Cecilia went tn
the theater with Lucien Glover, q mi
thfu ndmirer whom she particular VIC
deteSted, and sat near DriScoll.
Drlscoll. moody and unhappy, pre- an
Ided interest in the play, but he had eX'
/ one thought. Glover had no right dol
buy her her favorite Richmond roses
he himself had done that so long