The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-23
EDening Story
A House to Rent.
BY cLARIssA MACKIE.

cision, brushed an imaginary speck
from the shoulder Of his immaculate
black coat. opened a window so that
the room might air while he dlned,
and then with one glance around the
four grim walls he closed the door and
walked slowly down stairs. On the
floor below he hesitated as he always
did when Miss Wren's door was open.
He liked the cheerfulness of crimson
carpet. the wicker chair, the big Bos-
ton fern. the sewing table and an
occasional glimpse of Elsie Wren, sew
/ ing or reading or feeding her bird
with little housewifeiy airs that
seemed strange in a fashionable board
| ing house.
But Elsie was not there. and her
door was almost closed. SO he did not
absorb any of the nominees which he
craved. He went down and dined with
dozen other lonely men and women
who tried tc make homes for them
! serves out OF four walls in another
mans house, and with more or less
success.
/ James Brent ate his dinner in an
tabstracted manner. He never joined
in the general conversation about the
| long table. but occasionally some one
would boldly address remark to him,
and he would answer in his deliberate
manner, pleasantly, but reservedly.
He was a lonely man, alone in the
world. and lately he had grown to
detest the four walls OF his room on
the third floor front. The very sight
of Elsie Wrens red carpet thrilled him
he wanted a CHEEKY room with a red
carpet, a singing bird a Boston fern
and wicker chair with
! This thought came to him as he
took his after-dinner stroll down the
/ street of the small town where he
| lived Over there on the hill was the
university where he taught every day.
! He wanted home to come to after
the days teaching, but he had moth
| ing to offer such a bright, charming
| little woman as Miss Elsie Wren, who
was a music teacher swell as the
favorite inmate of the boarding house.
If 1 had a home to Offer" thought
Mr.. Brent. blushing painfully in the
dark, but 1 could not take a wife
home to boarding house, tho it
has been done" he added hopefully.
| Out of the darkness an automobile
flashed its lights. In the sudden glare
Mr.. Brent saw a white and black sign
nailed on a tree-he saw a gate. a
little lawn, and a small house-then
darkness absorbed the picture as the
car disappeared.
the bachelor as he leaned on the
| fence. "A house-to-rent-'
"a week or two later he went out
for his Sunday afternoon stroll, over
taking Elsie Wren a block beyond the
! house. He had to hurry a little to
Isn't it a lovely day?'' she asked.
He agreed, then he added nervously,
Are you in a hurry?'
Yes - and no." she laughed
| why?
i've been looking at a house
would like your advice" mumbled Mr.
Brent, opening the gate of the little
place and closing it behind her His
fine. clean-shaven face was set in tense
lines; never had greater problem
| confronted the gentle mathematician
than this one.
Fancy your taking a place and
keeping house." murmured Miss Wren,
as she followed him into the wee hall.
Isn't it the cutest place-one could
have plants in that window, she said
with the flower-lover's eagerness.
Yes, in any of the rooms-the sun
follows the windows all day." he heard
himself saying eagerly. Awnings in
the summer will make it cool-'the
rooms upstairs are charmingly ar
ranged. but they are, of course, unfur-
nfshed. so are the kitchin and dining
room" He opened the doors. bat Miss
Wren quickly furnished them in her
mind, and the few suggestions she
uttered betrayed the yearning of the
single homeless woman for a real
abiding place of her own.
zone room is furnished" he said at
| last, when it was time to go.
Which one?"
THE living-room. I've had it fur
nished like one I've admired and"
he opened the door of the south room.
and Miss Elsie Wren stood dumbly
upon the threshold while her fair face
grew pink. pinker pinkest. Here was
| a reproduction of her own CHEEKY
room at the boarding house-a room
furnished with odds and ends from
| her old home-a crimson rug, gray
walls. white woodwork, cloudy white
I
| fireplace, a wicker chair, tables, a big
easy chair. masculine touch not in
cluded in Miss Wren's room!
i "Oh-how strange!" she breathed.
"You-like it?" he asked, looking
worried.
eyes.
| 1--WE could be happy here-together.