The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-11-10
TIIF DAILY
STORY.
The Peppermint House
By /. REID MONTGOMERY.

F-N
tfTF the living wasn't so iat
here I'D move on. coniiaed
\ Charles to the cook.
Ellen looked nm nom her novel:
"yon'd never lind another place
where it'S 40 easy. she retorted,
..hut H's sTrh Lonesome. spent my
dav IN al nv sisters Yesterday and
the children arc "a cute. This
bonss needs a child 10 brighten It
I'm thc did ladv 2iyes me The cre6pS
dc Way she. sftg in that darkeneN
roor, ali tho limo Tho big grounds
don't Al ber a mic Of good.
-, 80 thinking" m
; ma - rater and dig
were aoo - lover nice
" WTeu = ~ ~ Yard that high
ano H"1ouS 49,, eyorybodv put
DIlsA ""H sonctimes.'' said
sharia. ",,at sbo shuts her happi-
s stdo walls, There'r
eas. ~ .nr,d NJ a laugh In here.
rIIos haJ ratnrnod 10 her tale
,,.iad Isdv who vearned TO
w." monqa, ueople and she
hoc,nnnd head rather i'm.
sUon : ctnrIes pleased with
m no~nyersation dtbned on,
mi lonesome wears before
sn CLa.,o. had haen Younger he
-s.ardod nor with speculative
n1o enJ sha had cherished homes
Ne charIes Winter hut IL
49, Id az though the uulet routine
NJ rfJo1y's home had dulled the
- rbn dId all tho heavy work
ahont N eplace. He had gradually
Stopped inviting tho pleased.taced
cook TO 20 out. The grounds we're
40 spacious that they could stroll
about in the flower-scented dusk
without wishing to go outside the
tall iron gates that we're only open.
ed when the mistress went out for
her lonely drive behind her fat
horses, an unique figure in her
heavy black garments amongst the
gtream Of swiftly-moving motor
cars. And Ellen, who had found
herself unable TO repress her liking
for tho plump Charles, had. In heI
first angry moments OF disappolnt
ment decided to wound him into a
pronosal and had accepted the at
fentions OF the policeman who often
chme IN at the tradesmen's gate in
fha red.and.white wall OF bricks
This was. however, the wrong tack
rs take with Charles who looked on
~ the ouasj.courtship unmoved and
E1Ian finally fell back into the OLD
pleasant friendship as Charles
shamed 10 have no intention o! ce
nenting their friendship into any
thing more permanent.
rII., No, ,1r,ost nra,tv with no,
h,scL.Jashsd biue ewes and satin,
bIaciS hair hut she wanted Charlie,
Snd took refuge in the thought thai
hren II the almost enchanted sill
mass az tho wealthy estate had dou
hled him into s~Ieenjness he nj lqas;
rburted no other girl. So she con
tented herself bv living in the nm
rnai world OF romance where every
preltv girl ultimately became >
nrenn and never sp%cculatrd mpon =
world which would soon be uncom
;fo.tabIv crowded with princesst.
and queens with no ordinary peopl'
Is cook and clean. She did no
kless that Charles had once sRok
an 10 his mistress about marrying.
mo" Mrs. Meadows. had said, II
Won marry Ellen Won must both go
i won't have ms routine Interrupted.
I was unhappy in my married lift
and Won would he. also. believe H.
"a Inevitable, | have remembered
YOU both in my will, substantially.
After I have gone out those BIZ
gates for the last time YOU may mar.
~, / am going to d uble both youl
salaries though. Money compen
ates for everything"
Charles had nor mentioned the
matter to Ellen, he felt sure Of hel
and the sleepy atmosphere Of tho
nJaca made him disiuclined TO any
EsETnment He knew. secretly. ina,
SIIen p.onId bave nj The fat liyjna
4 Tho rreat house thar was swift
faIIing into decay becauke Of tht
6wner'e boardinE "a 90 To n cbear
SfittIo home With him
T%Tnstnirs Mrs Meadows felt
v~trSnreIv restIasS h
sSrJnS nod touched bnr a.ed Hood
S,sitb }ba old Ionrin9s Nemnries
~ tba Iast When ber dauEhtes lone
5as5 ~ boI fiIIeI lin vresI
SeT.o T,,tb thn sound ~ 1nuphtnr
SSSo;Io5 Sar Movjng heavily aornea
az n-r;caiess Or;aDtoi rnp Win 10
Gr1 haitc nottern ~ The Trso ~
ISnpo. rpTan IN fbronrb tho dFn,
49, ~ tba g1.oTnd sbe Ioor,
eSAo Sawn int %er 1ardon FTom Tho
uo" G,;nJor. Tho noIo sd
s5e1t LnToLs ~ nc hizorro reJorJ,
o.ntts D LII shoro with INC rscnn,
Whlte wal suo"s WIN t"e igSti,