The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-12-30
A PINK GERANIUM
BY LAURA MONTGOMERY

iy, mother and have decided 10 buv
In some nice suburb near Chicago
never felt really at home in New
York"
How perfectly lovely" returned
Grace. wistful dark eyes on the others
face. TO move into a cottage and feel
that the roof is really all your own, to
step out Into grassy yard and be
free TO dig about and set out shrubs.
Why. Betty. wouldn't care II the
cottage was only three rooms and far
out In the country"
Betty smiled. -Just as romantic an
ever" she teased. You used TO talk
about q kitchen done In blue and
white, with crisp white curtains blow
Ing out from easement windows. and
l believe you insisted upon a pink
geranium In the pot on the shelf above
the sink. Now, for myself. am quite
willing to leave culinary decorations
to the servants"
shall you keep a maidr asked
Grace, who went downtown daily to
an office and chung to a strap twice
q day.
Betty's head lifted pridefully. MY
dear, l haven't had a chance to tell
you yet, but that uncle of mother's
IN Australia died and left US a Dot
OF money. We never cared for the
East, and we decided to come back
here and get q fine little home where
we know everybody
'Then Of course you'll buy in Briar
Cliff" said Grace confidently. I'm
determined to get house on the
lake." replied Betty" and think how
you'll enjoy your week-ends out
there. Wen golf every spare"
i don't know how" Grace thought
OF an old friend Of hers, back in that
happy past. who had discouraged the
learning of the popular game He
had told her how he admired her do
nestle tastes and she, thinking con-
fdently Of the little blue-and-w
kitchen, had not learned to play. That
Don had not been to call on her for
over two months had been q source
OF keen disappointment to her.
You'll soon pick 1t up" laughed
Betty. Suppose we taxi out to Briar
Cliff this afternoon and look at
houses? Mother is tired out from her
trip and wants to rest, but like to.
be doing something every minute"
Grace looked about the handsome.
foyer Of the Michigan boulevard no.
tel with rather awed eyes.
During the swift ride out to the
suburb the bracing lake air sent a
dash of color into Grace's white
cheeks. She scarcely listened to her
chum, who chartered on Of sunrooms,
terraces and refrigerators cooled by
electricity
AT last we can have just what we
want" went on Betty, "a low rambling
bungalow type"
Grace reused herself: won't
bungalow Of that type cost lot OF
money!
Betty nodded: 1--WE expect to
spend about thirty thousand dollars
for it, she said enjoying Graces
start of amazement, land" here the
tender-hearted youth Of her was
crystallized into rather shy speech
II remember how dreadfully we
wanted home of our own. never
dreaming that Uncle Don would think
of us in his will, and | have made up
my mind that | will buy from a young
salesman, some one who really needs
that commission to get a start"
Grace, mentally computing the per
cent that would be paid to real es,
tate firms assistant, gasped. On thir-
ty thousand dollars even the smallest
per cent usual to the salesman would
be considerable. Don had once talked
of going into real estate In Briar Cliff
and she wondered If he had little
Office near the station. II would love
10 ask her to let me look around
little before she goes to Van-Murray's
Office" she thought, but perhaps Don
would be vexed." She had lively
recollection Of Don's pride.
Betty did not notice her chum's
silence, for already the taxi man had
been paid off and Betty entered the
Office Of Van-Murray. She looked
about her swiftly and her eager.
! amused eyes went past the portly man
seated at a handsome desk who rose
courteously to receive her. The young
] man by the window did not look up
until Betty stood before him and
voiced her request wouldn't you
prefer to have Mr.. Van Murray show
you the list for such a place"
No." said the caller briefly, 'you
will do. l will look at the photo
graphs, for / want style, and my
friend" she indicated Grace, who had
flushed to lovely rose. twill look
into the drains and culinary arrange
ments. She is domestic. whereas II"
she waited as Don paused beside
Grace's chair end shook hands with
her. do you know each other"
"Have you been out here before,
Betty?' she asked confusedly.
Betty nodded calmly: 81 remember
things" she said graphically, while
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