The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-12-07

The mnpie-bordercd street was n.
stlll as a country sunday: so quiet
that there seemed an echo to my foot
steps. II was four o'clock In the morn
ting: clear October moonlight mistcd
through the thinning foliage to ths
shadowy sidewalk aud lay like trans
parent silver fog upon the house Of my
admiration. as ! strobe along. return.
ing from my first nights work on the
Wainwright Morning Despatch.
I had already marked that house n
the finest Ito my taste) In Wainwright,
though hitherto. on my excursions 10
this metropolis, the state capital. was
not without certain native Jealousy
that Spencerville. the county-seat
where I lived. had nothing 10 good.
Now. however. J approached Its pur-
lleus with a pleasure la IL quite unal.
ioyed. for was nj last myself n resi-
dent (alheIt of only one days stand
lng) 81 Wainwright. and the house
though ! had not even an Idea who
lived there-part of my possessions ms
a citizen. Moreover. might enjoy the
warmer pride Of next-door-neighbor.
for Mrs. Apperth~aite's. where ! had
taken n room, was just beyond
This was the quietest part Of Vain
wright: business stopped short Of H.
and the fashionable residence Sec
ton" had overieaped this forgotten
backwater." leaving Il undlsiurbed and
unrhanging. with that look about u
which Is the quality Of few urban
quarters. and eventually % none. rs n
town grows TO be- city-she look 81
stlll being a neighborhood. This friend
illness on appearance was largely the
efnnnation 81 the homely and beauti-
ful house which 30 greatly pleased my
fancy.
II might he difficult 20 say why ]
thought II the finest" house In VAIN
wright. for a simpler structure would
be hard 10 Imagine: II was merely n
big. old-fashioned brick house. painted
brown and very plain. set well away
from the street among some splendid
forest trees. with a fair spread Of fat
lawn. hut II gave back n great deal
FOR your glrrce. just as some people
do. II was a large house. as ] say. yet
u looked not like a mansion hut like
a home: and made you wish that you
lived In II. OR. driving by. ~ an eve
ming. you would have liked 10 stop
your car and 20 In: II spoke so sure
ly Of hearty. old,fashioned people llv-
ing there. who would welcome you
merrily.
were a grandfather and n grand
mother: where holidays were warmly
kept: where there were bolsterous
family reunions 20 which uncles and
aunts. who had been born there. would
return from no matter what distances
a house where big turkeys would be-
on the table often; where one called
-the hired man." (and named either
Abner or Ole) would crack walnuis
upon fiaiiron ciuiched between his
knees on the hack porch; II looked
like a house where they played cha
rades; where there would he long
streamers of evergreen and dozens ~
wreaths OF holly at Christmas time
where there were fearful. happy we'd
dings and grca, throwings % rice after
little brides. from the broad front
steps: In n word. II was the sort of n
house 20 make the hearts OF splnsters
and bachelors very lonely and visit
ful-and that Is about as near as can
come 10 my reason for thinking II the
finest house In Wainwright.
The moon hun: kindly above IFS
level door In the silence ~ that oc-
tober morning. ms I checked my gali
to ioiter along the picket fence: but
suddenly the house showed light ~
It's own. The squirt ~ n match took
my eye 10 one of the upper windows.
then steadler glow OF orange told
me that lamp was lighted. The win.
dow was opened. and man looked
our and whlstled loudly.
stopped. thinking he meant tn At
Tract my atSntlon; that something
might be wropg; that perhaps some
one was needed 10 go for doctor. Ny
mistake was Immediately evident. how
ever; I stood In the shadow ~ the
trees bordering the sidewalk. and the
man az the window had not seen me.
'f,oyi BOY :" he called. softly.
-where ARE you slmpls'loriai"
He leaned FROM the window. looking
downward. "why. there you are" he
exclaimed. and turned to address some
invisible person within the room. Hes
right there underneath the window.
m bring him mp" lie leaned
out again. swat there. Simpledoris %
he called. "Iil he down Ia a iiffy and
let you In"
Puzzled. Z stared NJ the vaean, lawn
before me. The clear moonlight ~
yealed II brightly. and ., was empty Of
any living presence; there were M
bushes nor strawberries - nor even
shadows--that could have been mis-
taken for a hoy. N "slmpledoria" was
. bog. There ives no dog In sight