The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-11-09
In the Little
House
BY FRANK II. WILLIAMS
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Every day Grace Henderson passed
the little house In the trees and every
day she looked ut 1t wistfully and
eagerly.
So far II hadn't been occupied,
though sign in the front yard ad-
vertiSed that Ii was for sale for cash
or on terms. And every time Grace
saw the house stlll empty she sighed
with relief.
Grace wanted that house for her
very own. OF course there wasn't ap-
pnrently Il chance in the world that II
ever would be hers She had no
money with which to buy It, she had
ho kith nor kin who might buy it for
her, and there was no ardent young
man in Grace's life eager and anxious
to make her its presiding genius.
But stlll the desire was there in
Gruce's heart, and the hope, too.
This desire and this hope filled her
days with longing and her nights with
dreams.
But dreams they were which were
too good to last, Grace thought for
on one doleful morning when she
passed the house she saw that the
sign was gone and that there were
curtains in the windows of the
house and smoke rising from the chim'
ney.
Grace put in bad day after this.
Twice she was reproved by her EN-
ployer. Twice she put ON her hat de-
termined TO leave the hateful place
never to return. And twice she put
her hat back on the hook, shook her
self into a determined effort 10 try
agaln.
by the end of the day, however.
she had determined upon course of
action which she knew was wild,
crazy, foolish in the extreme. But
what IL II was all this ana more, too2
1t was ut least something different
from the eternal drudgery and grind
OF her present life.
Early that morning found Grace
rathGr ;imorously knocking ut the door
Of the little house.
Presently n pleasant faced young
mntron answered her knock. Grace
liked her at once, and wondered what
her husband was like.
Il wonder IL Spu'd have any work
for me helping you get settled in
this house?". Grace querled. II just
quit my job in an office today. l go,
so tired of office work couldn't stand
Il any more, and this house-well, I've
always liked 1t. Here's a reference
from my employer"
"Come ln," said the matron.
She led Grace into large living
room which, though large, was cozy
and comfortable, and which, when
furnished with the materials now scat
tered here and there about the room
gave promise Of being extremely at
lructive. Grace liked the room and
the furnishings at once.
Gravely the matron read the short
reference and then looked up and
smiled.
"My name is Mrs. Framing" she
volunteered. Before | was married
| felt much the way you do I'd like
TO have your help. Could you come
by the day?"
"Yes," said Grace eagerly.
The matter of pay was settled nj
once and the hour at which Grace was
20 arrive In the morning - eight
o'clock. And presently Grace found
herself back again in her boarding
house room feeling more alert. more
live, and even happy. She was going
TO be a part Of the little house for d
while, and that was something
The man of the house was gone be
fore Grace arrived Nor did he re
turn before she left In the evening
Grace wondered what he was like
young. OF course gooI looking prob
ably, and successful. What a lucky
girl Mrs. Brannlng was, and she. like
Grace. had once worked in an oflic,
and felt tired and discouraged.
Grace and Mrs. Brannlng got OF
splendidly together They wer,
both about the same age, and theu
experiences had been quite similar
with the exception that Mrs. Branninl
was married, while Grace was not.
"You ought to be married." sale
Mrs. Branning TO Grace suddenly
one day.
Grace looked up. startled; then, see
Ing the candid, kind eyes Of the ma
tron fixed upon hers cOlored.
Married That was what she want
cd Of llfC husband and a home, like
this.
"Yes," said Grace slowly. 81 wlsl
/ were.'
Once more life seemed to Grace
to be lnterminable and unutterably
blue. Suddenly she dropped into 4
chair and covered her face with hei
hands. II was only by a strong effor
that she kept from bursting into tears
Mrs trainings hand patted hel
shoulder
There, don't worry" said Mrs
Brannlng. I'm going to find you +,
busband-a nice mani"
Grace looked ip, blushing excitedly
"YOu Willin she cried