Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1920-10-21
THE STERLING HOME
BY IDA W. GOULD.

Her name was Zarella How, and she
was neither young nor pretty. Her
dlsheveiled hair and ink-stained fing-
ers were not attractive. Over her desk
hung a motto, Nothing worth win
ming except by hard work"
The fruits of this w0man's work sur
rounded her. A bust of Clytie, earned
/ by the sale of The Sailors Revenge"
stood near the set of Dickens, result
ing from the Midnight Mystery"
Once her energy slackened then she
let her eyes refresh themselves with
the sight Of her real antique prayer
| rug, bought by the sale of "Anothers
Child" Over the piano hung n we'll
earned water color, one made possible
for her by selling "The Double Muir
der" Upon the mahogany table were
fine bits of pottery. The very robe
Zarella worked In was japanese
kimono, delicately embroidered in ar
tistic fashion. That resulted from "a
Temperance Tale"
With splendid health and small
income from investments, she lived in
top room of house that sheltered
many other business women. Her COur-
age was supreme; no amount of re-
jected manuscripts restrained her as
sduity
AS early dawn glimmcred, the wOm-
an flung her last production aside, put
ptt Nuht 81
cry afternoon she sent the work off
to the editors of a limerick contest
which had been running some weeks.
She aspired to build small home like
one illustrated in STERLING Homes"
A faint odOr of hcliotrCpe pervaded
all her belongings. In her plan Of Il
house bed of heliOtrOpe plants just
outside her wOrkroOm was Indicated
HeliotrOpe was her mothers bestowed
flower. ZGrella always bought hello
trope perfume instead of the more
common violet.
She remembered her mother work
ing at the common tasks in the old
homestead, and a saying Of her moth
er's brought the most vivid and tender
memories to her.
always keep something sweet smell
Ing that grows about you, to take
your mind Off your drudgery."
She would have a Dutch colonial
home, box trees Qike prlm old maids)
on each side of the brick wall. She
would have plenty Of heliotrope plants
In her home. She would have brass
knocker on her front door, Il lilac bush,
n shelf for pitchers, and a cupboard
like one described in New England
story Of long ago. There must be
high shelf with brass candlesticks, and
banjo clock. Outside, she desired
duck pond and few weeping willows
gracefully reflected in the small sheet
Of water. She knew she could gather
fresh material for more stories In such
surroundings. She pictured herself ~
Ing in the hammock, looking ut the
heecy shapes above her, inhalng per-
fume from her flower beds.
She would paint her house white,
Will green DlllluS. one IONcu SllSlen-
ing white paint.
She remembered when her mother
had taken her to visit sea captains
wife in Newburyport.
The sea captain had an absolute
passion for white paint How kind
everyone had been there. Perhaps she,
Zarella How, might pass along those
same happy memories to some little
girl, when she really owned her Ster-
ling home.
The captain had given her n bunch
Of catnip and a shell at parting. The
shell still did duty as paper weight.
The catnip had long ago been con-
sulued by cats long since deceased.
Zarella's musings were interrupted
by knock, followed by the entrance
of the top floor matrOn:
Good evening, Miss How. A speshull
d'livery for yer, just come; boys wait
In"
Xarella broke the seal, read the con-
tents Of the letter, cXclaiming In de-
lighted cry to the astonished listener:
MARY, hear this; no, first tell the
boy, here's the receipt for the letter"
"No bad news, miss"
-goOd-nOthing like It ever
came my way; hurry, then come back,
but don't tell anyone"
Mary made haste and was soon seat
ed ndmiringly fensting her eyes on the
beauty Of the klmono.
Listen, Mary"
Mudnm-EnClosed find our check
for five thousand dollars.
"NOu are winner, not for the clever
ness of your last lines, but for the sus.
tanned Interest shown. out Of 10000
answers yours are noted for general
merit but principally for being the
only contestant sending IN answer ev-
cry duy since the contest began.
"I. Kuul, Editor, The ScarchlIght.'"
"GIOry he TO God miss is II writing