The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-10-11
In tae LittIo
House
Ey FRANK II. WILLIAMS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


the little house in the trees and every
day SHE looked at it wistfully and
eagerly.
SO far it hadn't been occupied
though ii sign in the front yard adj
Ncrt!Sed that it WAS for sale for cash
or ON terms. And every time Grace
saw the house still empty she sighed
with relief.
Grace wanted that house for her
very own. Or course there wasn't APP
parently chance in the world that 1t
ever would be hers. She had no
money with which to buy it, she had
no kith nor kin who might buy 1t for
her, and there was no ardent young
man in Grace's life eager and anxious
to make her its presiding genius.
But still the desire was there in
Graces 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 chin.
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 determined effort to try
again.
BY the end of the day, however,
she had determined upon a course Of
action which she knew was wild,
crazy, foolish in the extreme. But
what if it was all this ana more, too?
1t was at least something different
from the eternal drudgery and grind
of her present life.
Early that morning found Grace
rather timorously knocking at the door
of the little house
Presently pleasant faced young
matron answered her knock. Grace
liked her at once, and wondered what
her husband was like.
Il wonder If you'd have any work
for me helping you get settled in
this house?' Grace queried. Il just
quit my job in an office today. 1 got
so tired of office work l couldn't stand
it any more, and this house-well, I've
always liked it. Here's a reference
from my employer"
Come in 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 hero and there about the room,
gave prufnlse of being extremely at
tractive. Grace liked the room and
the furnishings at once.
Gravey the matron read the short
reference and then looked up and
smiled.
My name is Mrs. Branning," she
volunteered. Before l was married
felt much the way you do. I'd like
to have your help. Could you come
by the day.
The matter of pay was settled at
once and the hour at which Grace was
to 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 a
hot
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 lucky
girl Mrs. Branning was, and she, like
Grace. had once worked in an office
and felt tired and discouraged.
Grace and Mrs. Branning got on
splendidly together. They were
both about the same age, and their
experiences had been quite similar,
with the exception that Mrs. Branning
was married, while Grace was not.
You ought to be married" said
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
ell of life-husband and home, like
this.
Yes" said Grace slowly. 81 wish
were"
Once more life seemed to Grace
to be interminable and unutterably
blue. Suddenly she dropped into a
chair and covered her face with her
hands. 1t was only by a strong effort
that she kept from bursting into tears
Mrs. DRAWINGS hand patted her
shoulder.
There, don't worry" said Mrs
Branning. I'm going to find you Il
huSband-a nice man."
Grace looked Up, bluShing excitedly.
You will?' she cried.
"Nes, soon."
But. though this promise meant so
much to Grace. it seemed at once to
pass out of Mrs. DRAWINGS mind. The
neyt dav when Grace repOrted for