The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-04-19
The WINDOW
BY AGNES G. BRoGAN

and saw the window. The window
seemed to typify that home he de-
sired.
In crying contrast to its neighboring
windows, the shining white curtained
glass beckoned, while two potted ger
saniums tagged a welcome.
Jack was tired of hotels, tired Of
disappointing bachelor apartments,
and though he had not passed down
Ing Il lodging place there, that is ex-
actly what he did, and for this was the
gay little window responsible.
Twill you," he briefly asked u maid
who opened the door to him, ''let me
know If the room IN the second floor
Is vacant, the one with red flowers in
the window? And may l see it?"
Jack assembled the gloomy stairway
upon being told that the room was to
be vacated the following morning. The
maid inserted a key in a lock and left
him.
The room was as inviting as Its
window promised. When Thorpe
lighted the lamp and touched a match
to the gas crate, he sank into a Gre
tonne cushioned chair with a grateful
sigh. Here was real home at last.
Mrs. Bickers came up presently for
an interview. The bright place on the
wall paper, she Informed him, was
where the former tenants plano had
stood. The piano had been moved that
morning.
The room would be ready for rent
ing tomorrow, Mrs. Bickers agreed,
and he paid the advanced price asked.
"Just leave the key on the hall rack
when you go out" Mrs. Bickers said,
and left him.
He was enjoying a cigar before the
glowing fire when a tap sounded at the
door and In response to his questioning
young woman. She was n %pale-faced
young woman and her big blue eyes
were brimming with tears.
what do you want?" asked Jack
impatiently.
81 want to come H." she retorted.
UNLIMITED, she drew. h companion
chair to the fireside and was, apparent
ly, soon lost in thought.
81" said Jack informingly, "have
just rented this room"
The girl turned to look at him.
"Have your" she asked. II hope you
will like it."
II know that l shall like it," he re-
piled. II knew from the moment l saw
those red geraniums In the window"
The freight induced Jacks remin-
iscence.
"We used to have a window like that
at home, when | was a boy. White
ruffled curtains and all. 1t looked out
on the side of the garden where a SUI
dial stood"
did your" asked the girl eagerly.
I'VE had a window like 1t, too, at
-Grandma's. Grandma raised us moth
erless children. But our window looked
out from a sunny kitchen to where
we could see birds hopping about on
the trees, and in winter time, their
little tracks all over the snow"
The man nodded understandingly.
az know, that all spells home"
you won't like the meals here" the
girl said. Better go outside for them
its too bad you have to-"
ooh, well, there must be some draw
back. One does not find Il home every
day." 0
Nor lose one, thank goodness"
sighed the girl.
With new iHterest he regarded the
strange visitor.
II lost mine today" she explained
ruefully.
but why?" Sympathy was in his
glance.
Couldn't pay the rent" the girl told
him. IF | can't make another home
for myself there will always be grand
mas to go to-" she added.
'Tell me- he begged im~pulsively.
Grandma educates her orphaned
grandchildren and then turns us out
of her over-full nest to make our own
ways. My way was to be music
fame, success, you understand, waiting
In the world outside. l have just two
dollars left. I'm going to stop at a
~. W. tonight, and tomorrow go out
and look for an ordinary job. The
world but music"
"Your name?" the man asked, won't
you tell me your name?'
"Burnie," answered the girl, her
sweet face grew wistful. Back In
grandma's cottage they call me Mar
got"
With q sudden gesture she tossed
hat and cloak to a chair. "Ill get out
my tea wagon and have tea. And you'll
stay? 1t will be a sort of celebration,
the old tenant deposes, long live the
new"
Some new, inexplicable desire held
Jack Thorpe longingly in the gayly
cushioned chair.
I'm installing a new music store
right here In Cooper road" he told her
later, land with your experience along
that line, I'd be glad to offer you a
position In it. It might do for a
time, Margot," the name came natur-
ally, land you could then continue on
in this little home you have made.
Your plano could be brought back to-
morrow. The new tenant declines-re-
instate the old"
And Margot happily agreed.
Now grandma, proud and gratified,
tells the folks of Linden Village how
Margot gave up her promised career
for love, with the saving graces that