The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-06
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when Brown Meets
Brown
BY MARY MoRIsoN

Brown
BY MARY MoRfsoN
Copyright, 1921, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndieate)
~ iy!SItY BROWN stood looking
iiut at the falling leaves on
4 = .dyyesant Square. He was
M ielllg rather temperamental as he
atghed the season dying before
SITS eyes. The thought Of all the
nice things he had missed during
the summer haunted him-he Wish.
cd he had gone In for more tennis
ind golf, that he had not spent so
much time In doors. His mood was
one OF pleasant melancholy rather
than actual nnhappiness, and the
sharp discordknt ring Of the tele.
phone was distinct Jar 70 his
ireryes.
ayes, hello, he answered, trying
flo remember that the voice with
the smile wins.
"Msy speak to Miss Brown
asked man at the other end Of
Ithe wire.
"fhere Is no Miss Brown here;
/ am Mr.. Brown" answered Henry.
II want Miss Henrietta Brown
III ~ Stuyyesant Square" persist
ed the voice.
We'll; the names all right and
the address Ia all right but tbs
genderss ALI wrong. what's the an.
Ter?s Henry was annoyed but in.
;rested,
isNo. no." came through the re.
liver, "it's not,a joke. Miss Brown
has just moved in on the second
y ,flodr.s,
! soh, well, said Henry, you have
The wrong number. I'm on the first
4 aoof,s and. he rang off.
Hegreturned to his stand by the
window and muttered to himself
about the nuisance OF having been
born with O name like Brown. "A
feminine shadow 1.-THE next floor"
u he exclaimed. "Well, It's queer
little Old world we live In"
From that day on there was no
doubt as to the presence OF Miss
Henrietta Brown upstairs. He
grew to hate the telephone-foi
whenever it rang 1t always seemed
10 be for Henrietta. People seeing
his narne In the book Just took 1t
for granted that Henry" must be
. mistake and substituted Henri.
kkstta': and apparently everybody
"a the world knew and wanted to
talk 10 her. His apartment became
sort Of receiving station for her
parcels and caliefs. And Henry,
without having ever seen the lady
u 3eafd her voice took an ardent
Do Ike 70 her
oyetnber wind howled through
ne Sduage outside and the steam
wouldn't come up, Henry felt that
insult was being added to injury
Rhen alarge drop from the ceiling
sboye fell with a gentle splash In.
4 10 his coffee cup. A leak from Hen.
" rietta's apartment! At last, he had
definite cause for complaint and
up the stairs; three steps at
time, he went to tell her a few
sihbnie truths. He gave her bell a
vicious push-aIid the door opened.
- Henry first thought that he was
1reAming-that nothing as pretty
and dainty as the appariton that
greeted his eyes could be real. And
when the vision spoke and said
eG6od morning In that indescrib-
able way usually only attributed
to the heroines Of fiction he forgot
thblhtpred.lp resentment Of weeks,
De forgot the telephone calls and
the parcels-he even forgot his
Dmanhers and stood there staring,
speeehiess.
..Dld you want to speak to me?"
continued the lady, smiling at his
vary apparent discontinue; and
len struck by sudden thought,
rBnt perhaps you are looking for
M. Henry Brown In the apartment
downstairs. People often come up
| herd first before they know the
Wild ways OF an apartment house
with two Browns in It. Merriment
raalated from her as the rays from
Henry sulped. mo: you see, !
3 ami Henry Brown"
.'0h,. said Henrietta, holding out
friendly hand. What can l do
Tor you? Won't you come int"
Henry entered. explaining as he
came. II Just ran up to see II ]
couldn't be OF some assistance to
you. There seems to be Just q
tiny leak In your fitchen-and per.
i,apb 4 could ffx It up for you IN a
mintite. The janitor, Of course,
doesn't get up as early as thisl"
fI6 Irpoke In a jocular manner, but
his Head was swimming with
sense OF his own unworthiness and
utter abasement for the cruel
i things he had said and thought
about Miss Henrietta Brown.
Henrietta laughed In the most
Joyous way in the world. Thanks
awtuily, she said. "But It wasn't
\ d leak at all, you know. I Just
forgok to turn off the water when
iran down TO the c6fne. to buy q
paper and when came back the
Kitchen looked like the Mediter.
,raneafi. Wasn't It too stupid Of me!
hope: though, It didn't ruin rare
Chinese print or q first edition OF
yours!" AZ the idea OF such a
catastrophe, she looked SO be.
witchihgly contftte that if Henry
had had any lurking animoslty left
| N his system, Il would have van.
shed before such picture OF
satity In distress.