The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-02-09
The Man From
L.atham's
By cLARlssA MAcKIE

Did you order the window shades
Sallyf" asked Miss Ruth Diller when
she returned from visit TO Chicago
The very day you left, dear. White
holland for all the lower rooms. lou
said the others could be turned ana
used another year. ] am expecting
them 10 be delivered any day now.
4 hope they will send a man to
hang them" remarked Miss Ruth as
she walked c0mplacenty around the
hDe old house where they lived 10
gether. There was a strange look on
he elder Miss OILERS face. mix
turs OF pride. contentment quit
aud apprehension. Occasionally she
brushed her snowy hair back with
thin. nervous hand
Ruth I" suddenly screamed sally,
pulling al her sisters left hand,
what is the matterf' demanded
Ruth with conscious smile.
"where-did you get this ringr
asked sally in a mufiled tone.
Judge Bronson placed Il there, my
dear" said Ruth proudly. as they pom
admired the splendid diamond cluster
ring.
And you are going TO marry MIN
"Certainly-in the spring. OF course
you win live with us, Sally, dear
.perhaps." said Sally seriously, but
/ she kissed her sister and wished her
/ happiness with a feryor prompted by
the deep love they bore for each other.
As Ruth went upstairs TO put away
4 her things Sally sat in the parior win.
/ dow and looked out at the well-kept
| grounds with the flower gardens,
/ where they had worked together.
/ Judge Bronson had been an old sweet
heart of Ruths, but lovers quarrel
had separated them and he had mar
ried another girl and lost her. Lately
he had renewed his courtship OF the
elder Miss Diller.
at will be lonely bare" thought
Sally with a heavy heart, as she got
mn TO prepare the evening meal. Il
wonder IL there will be any pleasant
surprises for met
The next morning Judge Bronson
came with his big automobile and car.
ried Miss Ruth away for the day.
Sally smilingly refused 10 go with
them. II am expecting the man from
Latham's," she explained.
Sally was crying-a lonely little hg-
ure in a gray house frock, with
mist OF brown hair lightly busted with
white Even Sally was losing her
youthi Then the doorbell rang
sharply.
Sally opened the door 10 find that
the man from Latham's had at last
arrived. He had covered delivery
car In the driveway and was bringing
roll Of window shades up to the
porch.
Good morning. One more package
Of shades" he called as he returned
TO the car
Sally left the door open and went
into the big living room. where the
sun was shining, plants were blooming
and where goldfish and canaries lived
happily in the pleasant environment
A glance at the mirror showed traces
OF tears. She wiped them carefully
away and dabbed bit OF powder OF
her pretty nose.
.'Here am" said the pleasant voice
OF the man from Latham's, "all read,
to begin work"
"You might start in the front room,
said Sally, coming out into the BIZ
hall where he waited, surrounded b.
rolls of snowy window shades. Have
you a stepladder?"
, Everything ready" said the mai
briskly. with a sharp side glance a
I Sally that made her uneasy. She won
dered II he knew she was alone, AM
/ she was glad that the silver was locke'
I'D In the hidden cupboard.
: she stood in the doorway an
watched him narrowly, and then witt
growing interest. He looked direren
from any other workman she had eve
observed. His clothes were handsom
and well cut, like Judge Bronson's
He removed his coat and hung IL owe
a chair. revealing a spotless whit
negligee shirt, with a handsome sill
Z scarf. anu ~ Nt iiiNf1 MS iAhAih ~
e adjust the ladder she glimpsed
platinum watch on his wrist
q what manner Of workman was this
He worked faster and more eff
ciently than anyone she had ever seer
and soon all the lower shades wer
hung and found 10 A. perfectly an
10 run up and down with remarkabl
smoothness.
e Don't you ever do anything excer
3, hang window shadesf" she inquired
: as they returned 70 the parlor - tina
n he could get HIS coat and hat
: 4 wish ] had n~thing else 70 DO
I he laughed aud his laugh made be
= sIt 81. with strained look Oh he
+, tear.stained face
Have sou ever been here before
for IAtham'sT she asked
No-uol for Latham s-f0r as