Middletown transcript., 1921-10-15
A HOUSE TO RENT
BY cLARISSA MACklE.


.cision. brushed an imaginary specK
from the shoulder Of his Immaculate
black coat, opened a window SO that
the room might air while he dined, ana
then with one glance around the four
grim walls he closed the door ana
walked slowly down stairs. On the
floor below he hesitated as he always
did when Miss Wren's door was open.
He liked the cheeriness of the 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 blrd
with little housewifely airs that
seemed strange in 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 ne
craved. He went down and dlned
with a dozen other lonely men ana
women who tried to make homes for
themselves out of four walls in an
other mans house, and with more or
less success.
James Brent ate his dinner in an
distracted manner. He never Joined
In the general conversation about the
long table, but occasionally some one
would boldly address a 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 Wren's red carpet thrilled
him-he wanted a CHEEKY room with
red carpet, a singing bird, Boston
fern, and q 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 universi-
ty where he taught every day. He
wanted a home to come to after the
days teaching, but he had nothing to
offer such a bright, charming little
woman as Miss Elsie Wren, who
was a music teacher as well as the
fayorite inmate of the boarding
house.
IF had a home to Offer" thought
Mr.. Brent blushing painfully in the
dark, "but 1 could not take wife
home to a boarding house, though it
has been done" he added hopefully.
Out of the darkness an automobile
flashed it's lights. In the sudden glare
Mr.. Brent saw a white and black sign
nailed on a tree-he saw a gate,
little lawn, and a small house-then
darkness absorbed the picture as the
car disappeared.
"Aha! A house to rent" unused
the bachelor as he leaned on the fence.
"A Ouse-tO-rent|"
A week or two later he went out
for his Sunday afternoon stroll, over
taking Elsie Wren block beyond the
house. He had to hurry little to
catch up with her swift pace.
"Isn't it lovely day?" she asked.
He agreed, then he added nervously
"Are you in hurry?"
"Yes-and no. she laughed. "Why"
| "Tye been looking at 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 eager
ness.
"Yes, in any Of the rooms-the sun
follows the windows all day." he
heard himself saying eagerly. "Awn-
ings in the summer will make it cool
the rooms upstairs are charmingly
arranged, but they are, Of course, un-
furnished, so. are the kitchen and din
ing ROOM" He opened the doors, but
Miss Wren quickly furnished them in
her mind, and the few suggestions she
uttered betrayed the yearning Of the
single homeless woman for real abid-
ing place of her own.
Zone room is furnished" he said at
last, when it was time to 60.
(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 fur
nished with odds and ends from her
old home-a crimson rug, gray walls,
white woodwork, cloudy white cur
tains, Boston fern or two, coy
fireplace, a wicker chair, tables, big
easy chair, a masculine touch not in
cluded in Miss Wren's room!
"Oh-how strange" she breathed.
"You-like it?" he asked, looking
worried.
II must!" Tears were in her kind
eyes.
1--WE could be happy here-together,
Elsie Wren," he declared desperately.
There was a little silence while the
fate of the house hung in the balance.
| Suddenly she lifted happy eyes to
| hlo topdor 0noc "Wo will ho hanpu