Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-08-10
The Architect on
the Job
By RUBY DOUGLAS

"And youn watch the job all the
time I'm gone, Mr.. Williamsf"
The architect smiled into the seri-
GUS eyes of his young client. Just as
II 1t we're my own dove cote-instead
OF yours" he said, laughingly.
Lucy-that is, Miss Nixon, you
know, will be bit shy about COM
Ing around to inspect the house. 1t
would be different IL we were already
married You know how 1t is" The
prospective bridegroom, himself, Was
trife nervous about the final plans
and conference with the architect who
was to build his home.
1T won't be necessary for her to
watch the building unless, Of course,
she chooses. In that case, I should be
glad to meet her. But depend upon
me to see that everything In the con-
tract Is carried out to q T."
John Williams had built so many
first homes" that the boys in the
office had begun to call him the honey
moon architect.
The house In question was a cot
tage for pair Of the young people of
the town. He had never met the
bride-to-be, but he had enjoyed his
business dealings with the young man
In the case. Usually, the prospective
bride had appeared In his Office far
more often than he would have cared
to see her. But In this case, the young
man alone had come to consult him
about the plans.
And now that the building was about
to begin the young owner found that 1t
would be necessary for him to be out
Of town for some time. He would be
away almost up to the time of his
wedding, and would be unable to
watch his new house going up.
John Williams was a conscientious
architect and made It a point to get
about on the dob" frequently.
I'm going over to the Brixton job"
he said to the boys in the office one
day when the building was pretty well
advanced and there was much detail
to attend to.
Don't hirt with the brlde-to-be,
JOhht tiCy uhkUVuloLcu I'LL.
AS he walked to the curb to get into
his little roadster he began to wonder
what this shy young woman was like.
1t was the first time he had failed to
meet the woman who was to live In the
house he was building.
AS he approached the sloping, shad-
ed lot where the Brixton cottage was
being erected he saw a slight figure
climbing over the lumber at the front
of the house.
Like all men, Williams was a bit
vain and he adjusted his soft collar
and reset his tie before getting out
of the roadster.
"Oh, you're Mr.. Williams, the archi-
tect, aren't your" asked lovely young
woman almost as soon as he entered
the house.
"At your SERVICE" he muttered,
tritely. He thought, afterward, about
the stupidity Of the reply.
i've been so worried about the tap
estry brick for the living room fire.
place. I'm afraid it has too much red
in 1t and l just can't stand red. Fred
says it's mostly browns and grayfsh
smoke color, but I've been so afraid It
Is red that 1 Just had to come over to
see."
Mr.. Williams smiled. But 1t is a
warm-very dull sort of red. Really,
l should scarcely call 1t red at ALL" he
explained. "Come-I'll show YOU"
He led the way to where there was
a stack Of very fine tapestry bricks to
face the fireplace with.
"Oh, they're lovely. And I've had
my worry and trip for nothing" she
said.
"a little thing like meeting the ar
chitect-of course" laughed John VIII
liams, a trlfe nettled.
IF you were the architect of my
house Of destlny-ah, that would be
different, wouldn't III" she laughed.
1T would" he acquiesced.
They went over the house together.
The girl was pleased with the many
little conveniences that he showed her
Her enthusiasm fattered him.
"You seem to know just what wom-
en- want" she suggested as they stood
in the sewing room and he pulled out
the big cutting shelf for her to view.
"They don't seem to want me-" he
said, half cynically. "Pm still on the
shelf"
MOI Not reallyf"
He nodded.
The two met on the Job daily after
that, and when the house was almost
finished they found themselves sitting
on a carpenters tool box one day at
twilight looking into the now complet-
ed fireplace Neither one had spoken
much. The workmen had gone.
ut has been a great privilege-this,"
said Williams, slowly.
"What7 Building this hearthT
"Yes-I hope there will be much hap
piness about it-always."
The girl looked at him in the half
light.
"But-why shouldn't there bel" she
asked after q while.
"Oh-Tm sorry" he said, contritely.
"Of course there will be-much, much
happiness. You-love-himT He could
not help letting the words fall.
"Me" asked the girl. 'Me?-love
Fred BrixtonT
The architect rose abruptly. He did
not know what to say.
"why--it's not my house. It's not
my hearth. It's not I whom Fred
loves. It's my sister Lucy. She's too
shy to come here until she's married
and rye been taking all this interest
for her"
The architect began to see a new