The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1921-03-31

WalfOrd endeavOred TO force his car
up the hill. II II continued he would
be obliged to seek shelter at some
farmhouse along the way. Driving fur
Their. with great riffs blowing upon
every side. was dangerous Lyn pressed
his lips angrily together as he drew
out his watch in the half-light. to as
certain the time. The whole journey
was a fool affair. he told himself Inn
patiently. its object. purposeless and
unavailing. The great house Of his de-
parted uncle might remain unclaimed
In its impossible distant situation as
far as he was concerned. Sighting
the lights of a nearby cottage. he
turned In at the driveway and made
his way to a rear entrance to seek
welcome. A bent old woman respond
ing to his summons raised her voice.
"Daisy." she called. DAISY Brown"
Then in the lamplight Lyn walford
saw girl coming toward him.
Certainly you may come IN" the
girl answered his question Run your
car into the shed. We are accustomed
to strangers seeking shelter on nights
like this"
And after hearty supper, Ign sat
before the coy sitting room fire. his
eyes resting admiringly upon DAISY
Brown" who sat opposite.
Il was making Daisy Brown told
him. little pies when you came.
Fluted ones of mince, and cranberries.
The kind" she laughed softly, shat
you used to like when you were q
boy"
Il wonder" Lyn walford said. 'if I
ever was a boy. feel very old to-
night. And yet he smiled at her,
my unexpected stopping here brings
me an old-time sense of adventure to
come"
Perhaps" the girl suggested, "the
pleasant adventure waits at the end of
your journey"
The man frowned, and unaccount-
ably. for his nature was reticent. He
was moved to confidence. MY jour
ney," he told the attentive Daisy
Brown. sis a rather foolish conces-
sion 10 form. An old uncle whom for
years ! have not seen took IL into
his head during his last Illness to be-
queath to me his estate. upon condi-
ton that / share the same with his
ward and stepdaughter as husband
and wife. This unusual young wom-
an has Installed, believe. In the fine
old rooms a sort of roadside tea
house, which has become so popular
with auto parties that dollars are pour
ing into her Golfers. The young wom-
an certainly possesses ingenuity and
cleverness. to have made of this cruin-
bling dead old house an assured finan-
cial success. But am on my way to-
night to tell my uncle's stepdaugh-
ter that am not eligible for that po-
sition. AS she has put in no refusal
to the condition of the will. take 1t
that she leaves that decision to my
self. It's an idiotic position I'm which
70 nlace man, but I shall leave the |
ambitious woman sole mistress of her |
realm"
What" asked Daisy Brown. ais
room, and where is'the houseT
"A communication which / received !
from her." Walford replied. "had an
Inscription painted at the top: The I
House at the End of the Road Be |
meath II, that poetic quotation about !
Living in a house at the side of the |
road, and being a friend to ALL 1t
was very pretty. Also. I fancy, very /
fetching. She still calls the place by |
my uncle's name of 'Walford,' and |
signs herself Marguerite, your uncle's
stepdaughter."
Daisy Browns face was rosy In the /
firelight. the sweet sincerity of her /
gaze was refreshing. somehow, to
Lyn's tired spirit.
II know the place very WELL" she /
said softly, ''and l know-this Mar
guerite, too. You wrong her when
you think she was too acquiescent to
the will condition. She was just try
ing to hold the place. you see, until
you should come, and TO practice, per-
haps, for some future plan Of self
HdPDoAts ohC uCtil Out
that is because she has worked so
hard, cooking and baking herself, and /
really trying TO be. too. "a friend 10
all Your uncle's last Illness had
taken all that he had. 1t was long
Illness. and Marguerite was as faith
fui as she could be. SO, he liked her.
and as he had always liked you. IL
was due to his affection for both that
he planned the mistaken will" Daisy
Brown dimpled INFO a smile. "But
the managing sort Of person win not
want the eift Of your uncle's house."
shr said. 'and l am quite sure that
she would not wish either 10 manage
your uncle's nephew. You see, she
has a tiny home Of her own that used
10 be her mothers when her mother
was Daisy Brown. and there, this am
bilious Marguerite, is Just Daisy, too.
10 the old couple who lived there with
her when she was born. And In that
n