The spectator., 1921-01-11
DAISY BROWN
By JACK LAWfoN.
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Co. 1921. Western Newspaper uniono

up the hill. If 1t continued he would be obliged to seek shelter at some farmhouse along the way. Driving fur ther, with great rifts 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 fool affair, he told himself i'm patiently, it's 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 nearby cottage, he turned in at the driveway and made his way to 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. Lyn sat before the cozy sitting room fire. his eyes resting admiringly upon Daisy Brown" who sat opposite.
 "I was making" Daisy Brown told him. little pies when you came. Fluted ones of mince, and cranberries. The kind" she laughed softly, that you used to like when you were boy"
 "I wonder" Lyn Walford said. If ever was boy I 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 drowned, and unaccount- ably. for his nature was reticent. He was moved to confidence. My jour ney," he told the attentive Daisy Brown. ''is rather foolish conces- sion to form. An old uncle whom for years l have not seen took 1t into his head during his last Illness to be- queath to me his estate, upon condi- tion that I share the same with his ward and stepdaughter as husband and wife This unusual young wom- an has installed, I believe. in the fine old rooms n sort of roadside tea house. which has become so popular with auto parties that dollars are pour ing into her coffers. The young wom- an certainly possesses Ingenuity and cleverness, to have made of this crum- bling dead old house an assured finan- cial success. But I am on my way to- night. to tell my uncle's stepdaugh- ter that I am not eligible for that po- sition. As she has put in no refusal to the condition of the will I take It that she leaves that decision to my self. It's an idiotic position in which to place a man, but I shall leave the ambitious woman sole mistress of her realm"
 What" asked Daisy Brown. lis the name of this young womans tea room. and where Is the house?"
 "A communication which l received from her" Walford replied had an inscription painted at the top; The House at the End of the Road Be heath 1t, that poetic quotation about Living in house at the side of the road, and being friend to all' It 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 freight. the sweet sincerity of her gaze was refreshing, somehow, to Lyn's tired spirit.
 "I know the place very we'll" she said softly, and l know-ths 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 yousshould come, and to practice, per haps. for some future plan of self support. She has been successful, but that Is because she has worked so hard, cooking and baking herself, and really trying to be- too, a friend to all.' Your uncle's last Illness had taken all that he had. It was long illness, and Marguerite was as faith full as she could he. So, he liked her. and as he had always liked you. It was due to his affection for both that he planned the mistaken will" Daisy Brown dimpled into n smile. But the managing sort of person will not want the gift of your uncle's house." she said. 'and I am quite sure that she would not wish either to manage your uncle's nephew. You see, she has tiny home of her own that used to be her mothers when her mother was Daisy Brown. and there, this am bitious Marguerite is Just Daisy. too, to the old couple who lived there with her when she was born. And in that little house your uncle's stepdaughter