The Cordova daily times., 1920-01-19
HOME BEAUTIFUL
By FLORENCE kNOWLTON.


 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 was blinking one, two-One, two.
 When the great ancestral home had been left to her, the only living de- scendant of 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 a house of 90 rooms, quiet, spinster woman like herself? She sighed heavily. How she would have loved to fill every room with children, and husband, nursery maids and all the paraphernalia of real home! But alas She was thirty-two years old, and 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 paralyzed completely.
 Her desire to do some mothering overcame every obstacle, and she soon figured that she could have children some one else's to be sure, but chil- dren nevertheless. So she founded home for the mites, where they ran wild through the big rooms, and grew fat and healthy in the fragrant air that blew in e from the ocean. For three months happiness prevailed.
 Barbara had just finished her &C., 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 15 pairs of feet to be booted and 15 backs protected from the wintry blasts? "The Lord must provide" Barbara reiterated, trying to throw off all care. "Why, what have we here?"
 It was little Bertha, tugging at her skirt. Miss Babs, Miss Babs, heard d DuISldI Ill tue uOuSe.
 "Only the wind or a 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 a shot when Barbara approached.
 >s What's the idea?" asked Barbara, twi.ling the revolver so that it gilt tered in the dim light.
 "Why-er-why-" the intruder sRmmered. "1 hope you don't mind my calling at this hour?"
 "Mind!' screamed Barbara hys- terically. At midnight?"
 I declare" murmured the man. 'She takes me for burglar"
 What else could I take you for?' Barbara snapped peevishly. You cer- tainly aren't making a social visit"
 My dear Miss Tanning, as per my usual stupidness, I've made a mess of indly-intentioned act. Pm your neighbor, Philip Mead"
 Barbara hardly knew how to act to- Hward the man she had heard so much 0bf, but had never met before. Lets sit down and talk 1t over," she sug- gested, impetuously pulling out chair.
 "Oh, don't sit down." cautioned the visitor. but Barbara had already struck q hard object which caused her to leap Instantly from the chair. The next moment she was holding up a pair of shoes. A second survey betrayed box on every chair, a heap of stock on the porch, a pile of boxes the con- tents of which she could well imagine.
 What have you done?" she queried, iu bewiIderment
 Philip swayed nervously from heel to toe. You don't know how many times I've watched you and your chil- 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 a home and children. But I'm too blamed shy! l lose my wits whenever I meet a woman (the dark ness was helping him along), and there's no one that cares a row of pins for me anyway. When l saw what grand, self-sacrificing work you were doing just had to help. I didn't dare to offer money, so I brought these"
 You darlingp Barbara forgot her orn awe of the male and flung her arms around Phil's neck. The next moment they were laughing and chat ting as if they had been friends for years.
 'WeIl nominate you master of the wardrobe,'" stated Barbara. "You vnou wit eft rouoh ,,o,, ,,looooD