Fair play., 1920-08-28
MARY'S HOME
BY LYDIA /. ROBERTS.
70. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate)

| ly as big, blue-eyed, straight-shou.
dered young man approached the
house.
"Spring again." she sighed. ~
thought surely by this spring l would
be nest-building. John is earning
enough now and am so tired of the
long days in the Office, when | am just
aching to be planting a rosebush by
my own door.
The bell rang and Mary hurried
downstairs and opened the door. She
looked so dainty and shining as she
smiled up at him that bashful John
Blake's heart almost choked him.
"IIe looks so kind and good" thought
Mary, who had battled for her living
since child.
"She looks fit to be a princess"
thought John, who felt nothing was
quite good enough, himself included,
to offer the exquisite girl before him.
"Shall we walk on the avenue?"
asked John.
Every WE'LL" quietly agreed Mary.
Suddenly John stopped before
large gray stone house, set in spa
cious lawns and surrounded by an iron
fence.
"There a house good enough for
anyone" he said, soberly, "but it would
take years to get money enough for a
house like that" and he sighed. "Do
you like it, Mary?" he asked anX-
iously.
Il think it is handsome" said Mary,
admiringly. at must be wonderful TO
live in a house like that"
She looked up at John, eager to
please him, and bring back the con-
tented smile to his eyes. Instead of
smiling in return, he stared at her
gloomily and said: 81 knew you would
like it, and it is Just the kind of a
house you ought to have"
Surprised at the detection of his
tone, Mary looked at him earnestly
and noted the troubled eyes and wor-
ried lines on his forehead. A sudden
thought came to her, and she replied
thoughtfully:
"Yes, it is splendid, but what would
a little thing like me he doing in
big mansion like that? Sure, I'd be
lost in it, and it's not my idea of a
home. I'd rather have little gray cot
tage at the edge of the woods than this
pile of prosperity on Rich Mans ave-
nue." and she laughed gaily.
John shook his head doubtfully, and
before he could speak she continued:
"Do let us go over in the old part
Of the town for l feel so dreadfully
out of place here. There are some
pretty places on Willow street near
the river, and the moon looks wonder
full over there"
n pink color flushed her cheeks, and
her eyes were bright with happy spar
kles.
From the old street they sauntered
past little white cottages and big gar
dens, past green fields and woody
spaces until they saw the moon smil-
ing over the river in the distance.
"Oh, here is the old Dean place, and
it's for SALE" exclaimed Mary in APP
parent surprise. "Do you know, l
think that is a great bargain for some
lucky person?'
Il don't know" said John, doubtful
ly, yet looking with interest at the
little gray house with its big piazza,
its many windows and tiny orchard in
the rear.
"See how it nestles into the ground"
smiled Mary. Isn't it dear little
house?"
ITS quite old, and needs repairing"
said John pessim stically. but his eyes
eagerly took in the cozy look of the
place and his in.ent face showed lie
sensed its possibilities.
"Oh, yes, of course" agreed Mary.
practically, "but a handy man with
little spare time would easily repair
it, can just seq it with ruffled cur
tains at the windows and flower bells
along the walk, with hammock
swinging on the piazza and big chair
near by. 1t would be profitable, too,
for there's plenty of fruit and a nice
place for hens. Well, suppose some
lucky couple will buy it," she ended
with sigh as she turned away and
studied the moon.
Johns face was alight as he stood
staring at the little gray house, and
his eyes were bright and eager. He
squared his shoulders and drew Mary
up to the steps as he said quickly:
"Have you seen the rooms? Is 1t
livable inside?"
"Yes, / went over 1t with my cousin
while ago." said Mary, indfferenty.
after glance at his face. ut needs
only some paper and paint, and the
rooms are small and sunny, and do not
need much furniture. 1t faces the
river, doesn't it?" she said, dreamily.
"Iow pretty it must look on a summer
night when the moon is shining anG
the water all gold and silver and the
roses in bloom and the place like q
little gray nest of home"
"Oh, Mary, Mary, do you really
think sop asked John as he grlppe6