Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-04-20
THE NEW HOME
BY ADA BORDEN STEVENS

at each other ACROSS the dining table
set for two. Just So they had looked
for three weeks. ever since Tom and
Dorothy had left on long trip. Even
with the other children gone, it had
not been 50 lonesome while Tom and
his wife We're in the house. There was
young life and laughter, and four to
exchange experiences at every meal,
Dinner never had been dull. then.
Even Mother Batemans broken teacup
seemed important with Dot to sym
pathize.
Since their departure echoes rang
through the large, old-fashioned rooms.
Father and mother took to sitting in
the dining room evenings To-day each
knew that climax was nj hand.
Say, mother" 1t was father who
began It. Cant you think of anything
besides that kitchen? Seems to me,
after all these years you might have
something else to talk about"
you aren't particularly interesting
yourself, pa. going to and fro the way
you do all day. | should think you
might"
Now, Sally, don't turn down Pine
street instead OF Chestnut every other
day to make variety?" He brought a
sudden fist to the table. The trouble
with us is, we've got into rut We've
thought OF nothing but those children,
and now they want their own homes
They don't want to sit every day at
our table, listening TO our pressing, or
helping with your dishes; no, Dot
wants dishes Of her own. We thought
Tom would always live with us in this
big house, but they went Off this way
TO sort OF break the shock. Well, as
far as I'm concerned, It's broken. When
Tom and Dorothy come back, they are
| going to their own home !"
Mother Bateman sat down before
| the piano after a hasty glance over
her shoulder, then rose to shut the
hall door, glad no one could see how
foolish she was. Then she sat on the
old stool, and her fingers found the
notes OF Robins Return" She stopped
a little scandalized at these old mem
cries, and took up modern piece Of
music left there by Dorothy. She tried
few bars; 1t wasn't so impossible
II believe I'll take 1t up again." she
thought, and went about her work with
new courage.
A daring thought struck her. Tom
was the only son within miles. Those
children of hers had startled her al
most as much by their wide flights In
search of fortune, as ducklings startle
a mother hen.
Fred's room, for instance. Fred was
u China. A revolutionary idea oc-
cured to her; why keep things as they
had always been? There was pioneer
spirit In Mother Bateman, but she had
been too busy TO give it a hearing.
When pa came home to dinner, Moth
er Bateman seemed eager and excited.
whats happened, ma? Somebody
left you a fortunef'
She laughed. mo. pa, | just had
sudden Idea
Goodness gracious. Sally, it must
like that"
st isn't we'd ought to have thought
of It long ago. How long are those
children going to be gone? Two weeks
more7 Well Jim, | was looking the
house over and IL seems to me II would
take mighty little fixing to make up
stairs into first rate little apartment.
all by itself. Jim, let's do 1t, and have
It ready when they come home.
Jim looked at his wife with new in
terest "Sally," he said, you're won
der ! I'll speak to Brown and Rogers
on my way down town"
There was plenty to talk about dur
ing the next ten days and two animal
ed "old folks met Tom and his wife
at the station. 1t was the young folks
who seemed spiritless.
"Well," said pa, Il suppose you chill
dren will 90 house hunting first thing"
"Oh | don't know" Tom spoke with
resignation. Dot and | were reading
ads all the way down, and there isn't
IA thing where we want to live. l guess
Wen settle down with you; hey, moth.
err"
WELL" said Mother Bateman, doubt
fully. wen see; there's an apart
ment on our street, separate front door
and electricity for pretty reason
able sum- Ia have more time If you
children were out OF the way"
Tom looked at her In establishment,
He had never heard her talk like that
before But they were stopping at the
door and nothing could be said or
done until they We're safely In the
house
why, WHY'S this where the apart
ment iS?' For where there had been
one front door two stood In friendly RI
valry waiting for the touch of the
proper key.
Dad cried Tom, Il wished--I-the
old house, Come on, Dot we can ex-
plore later; LET'S carry mother IN to
supper"
With quick understanding they made
chair and picked up the flushed little
lady, whose hair was silver under her
hat.
Queen Bee" they said, 'let us wait
on you this once and tomorrow we
shall invite YOU 70 cur own little home