The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-08-13
HOME BEAUTIFUL
BY FLORENCE kNOWlTON
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1t was an hour for dreams, but Bar.
bara Fanning's thoughts were more
practical than romantic. I've just got
TO forget the cold, unsatisfactory fig
! ureS and trust that the Lord will pro-
vide," she remarked, putting out the
light, and gazing wistfully through the
window, across the field. to the row of
lights along the shore and beyond
where the lighthouse WIS blinking one,
twO-one. two.
When the great ancestral home had
been left to her. the only living de
scendant of a fine race of men and
women, she had been alarmed almost
into panic by the prospect of being
sole mistress of such an elephantine
estate. Whatever could she do with
house of 10 rooms. "A quiet spinster
woman like herself? She sighed
heavily. How she would have loved
to MI every room with children, and II
husband, nursery maids and all the
paraphernalia of II real home But
alas! She was thirty-two years old
ana though not bad looking, yet so des
perately shy that the mere sight of
man caused her to hide her head like
the ostrich. and her tongue became
parayzed completely.
Her desire to do some mothering
overcame every obstacle, and she soon
! Epurnl tbnt l,n Ia, al;
some one else's to be sure, but chill
dren nevertheless. So she founded a
home for the mites, where they ran
wild through the big rooms. and grew
fat and healthy in the fragrant air
that blew in from the ocean. For
, three months happiness prevailed.
Barbara had just finished her ac-
counts. She was satisfied that her
private income was sufficient to pay
food bills, nurses and cooks salaries.
and the other running expenses of the
house. But there was not one red
cent left for clothes. How were IL
pairs of feet to be booted and ID backs
protected from the wintry blasts?
'"The Lord must provide" Barbara
reiterated trying to throw off all care
why, what have we heref"
1t was little Bertha, Juggling at her
skirt. Miss Babs Miss Babs, heard
burglar in the house.
"Only the wind or creaking stair.
Old houses like this are full of
sounds"
But this sound was Of an opening
window and tumble"
This convinced Barbara that it was
time to act. She tucked Bertha into
bed, seized her revolver, and stepping
into the elevator, slid noiSelessly to
the street floor. There, Silhouetted
against the dining room windows. was
a man!
He turned like shot when Barbara
approached
whats the idea?" asked Barbara,
twirling the revolver so that it gilt.
tered in the dim light.
"Why-er-why-" the intruder
stammered. 81 hope you don't mind
my calling at this hour?"
Mind" screamed Barbara hys-
terically. AT midnight?"
II declare" murmured the man.
"She takes me for II burglar"
what else could | take you for?'
Barbara snapped peevishly. You GER
tainly aren't making social visit"
MY dear Miss Tanning. as per my
usual stupidness, I've made a mess of
a kindly-intentioned act. I'm your
neighbor, Philip Mead
Barbara hardly knew how to act to-
ward the man she had heard so much
of. but had never met before. Lets
sit down and talk it over" she sug-
gested. impetuously pulling out
chair.
"Oh, don't sit down." cautioned the
visitor, but Barbara had already struck
hard object which caused her to leap
instantly from the chair. The next
moment she was holding up pair of
shoes. a second survey betrayed a
box on every chair, a heap of stock
ings before the fireplace, and outside
on the porch, Il pile of boxes the con.
tents of which she could well imagine.
What have you done?" she queried.
in bewlderment.
Philip swayed neryously from heel
to toe. "I0u don't know how many
times I've watched you and your chill
dren. I've envied YOU with my whole
heart and soul" he began. "All my
life I've wanted to be loved. to marry.
to have home and children. But
I'm too blamed shy. |. lose my wits
whenever meet woman (the dark
neHs was helping him aong), and
there's no one that cares a row of
pins for me anyway. When | saw
what grand. selfsacrificing work you
were doing just had to help didn't
dare to offer money. SO | brought
these"
You darling" Barbara forgot her
own awe of the male and flung her
arms around Pills neck. The next
moment they were laughing and chat
| ting as If they had been friends for
years.
We'll nominate you master of the
wardrobe" stated Barbara. you
may visit us as much as you please"
Thanks. That will do very well for
the present" remarked Phil dryly.
After that, perhaDs-er-,lon't Won