Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-08-19
TWENTY-ONE
TEMPLE STREET
By VICTOR REDcLIFFE


j By VICTOR REDcLlFFE
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Copyright. 1870. Western Nswspapsr UaieA)
n have decided to take the room %
the 1rst foor," announced Abel AaEsh
to the landlady Of q Temple street.
Shrewd, precise Mrs. Rachael Ford
smiled, as was always an indulgent
phase Of business policy with her. but
shook her head with an equally insin-
cere suggestion Of regret.
II am very sorry" she spoke. but
an hour after you were here this
morning and told me you could not at.
ford the apartment"
"But have changed my mind!"
piped the feeble old man querulously.
ut is too late, sir. A Miss Wadletgh
has engaged the room. There she 10
now" and Abel Marsh turned to OBJ
serve young lady passing down the
hall, but hesitating at the open door
way as IL wishing to speak with the
landlady, but not desiring to intrude
The crotchety, self centered old man
regarded her with scOwl, as though
she had crossed his path purposely
and had done him some deadly In
fury.
But to this Miss Wadleigh was i'm.
pervious. She had noticed the thin,
weasened old man painfully limping
into the house as though every step
was painful, she had overheard the
conversation between himself and the
landlady. She advanced q step into
the room unlimited, as the old man
said:
'1Then I'll have to take the room
upstairs, suppose. How Tll'ever get
up three flights with my lameness and
pain don't know, but I've got to have
a roof to shelter me. It's cheaper.
too, and that L. a consideration will
me-"
"Can speak to you for moment
Mrs. Ford" ventured Inez Wadleigh.
and she drew back into the hallway
and in low tone conveyed message
to the landlady that caused the latter
to stare at her in wonderment. Then
further conversation, and Inez went
on, while Mrs. Ford returned to the
presence of the old man.
"Mr. Marsh" she said, "you can
have this room after all. Miss Wad-
leigh, the young lady who had taken
1t, most kindly agrees to occupy the
upper one instead, so you may be near
er to the street and more comfort.
able"
whats thatl" challenged Marsh,
with q token Of suspicion in his tone
"Of course, she wants bonus for the
exchanged"
"Oh. no." dissented Mrs. Ford. "She
wouldn't think Of such thing. She
is Just thoughtful, kind-hearted girl,
who lost her father recently. You
make her think Of him, she says, anl
your age and feebleness appeal Il
her. It is settled. then1"
"YOu mean to tell me that there's
a mortal in the world who would sacri'
dce their own selfish wellbeing fol
an old hawk like me. without having
some Interior designs In viewf' de
manded Abel Marsh.
'There seems to DO o lovely young
lady in this instance. Just human
enough and gentle and piteous enough
to do So" declared Mrs. Ford. with q
touch Of deep emotion In her face.
Abel Marsh became mystery to the
people in the house after that.
Inez was the only person in the
house to whom he paid any particular
courtesy or attention. Brusque, un
social as he was with others, his fur
rowed face would soften when he met
or spoke to her. She did stenographis
work in business office and also some
piece typewriting work at home eve
nings. One evening In the common
parlor Abel Marsh asked Inez to copy
some legal documents for him, to
which she agreed. He was not at all
liberal in pay for her labor, but Ines
excused his penuriousness as char
acteristic Of warped and afflicted In
valid. The next morning he knocked
at the door Of her room to hand he,
oOl1C OlACT WOlhs xuCN AOLASCu I'D
glance swept the apartment that I,
rested upon framed picture. the onl,
one belonging to her in the room. L
was that of her fiance. Gordon Bridges
She flushed as her visitor bestowed up
on her quizzical look.
"a fine looking young man." Oh
served Abel Marsh, with an unusua
twinkle in his eye. "A relativer
"No." replied 1nez in an embar
raised way. IL am engaged to him.
"Oh. I sect" nodded Marsh. "Bu
he does not come often to see your
"He lives in another CITY," explained
Inez.
"You quite interest me-" said tn,
old man. you deserve to have hin
fully worthy Of you, for you are .
kind-hearted. truthful girl. Not man.
of such nowadays" and he departe,
with certain vague and mysteriou
expression upon his face that some
what puzzled Inez.
"A letter to copy" said Abel Marsl
the next day, handing some pencile,
sheets to Inez.
Half an hour later, as Inez place,
the pages at the side Of her type
writer to transcribe them. they SCENE,
to blind, to daze, to overcome her. TIL,
first one began:
my Dear Son: I have stolen
march on you and have seen the younl
lady you SO sturdily insist is the onl,
one you can ever love. Keep on Low
ing her, for girl so considerate an,
self-sacrlficing cannot help but be ,
worthy wife. She knows me as Abe
Mosch Enllnl,Ao., has. ~.