The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-07-19
The BLUE TEAROOM
BY JANE GORDON

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60. 1874. Western Newspaper Union.)
Barring was mentally and PHYSICAL
tired. Fame Is often dearly won. Hi
last book was great success, blu
now the physician looking concerned
ly at the dispirited young man, ad
vised sea air and long walks in thu
country.
Leave all work behind" he said
land take a relaxing, restful holiday
H Barring thought this advice over
then-as though In suggestion, came
4 letter from the agent who had hii
country property In charge.
Earrings grandfather, dying wher
Douglas Barring was a lad at school
had bequeathed to his orphaned grand
son the old family home in a far sea
side village. His grandfather's agent
had rented the house from time to
| time.
| 1T Is possible" LOring, the agent,
| wrote, that l might make a sale for
you, but must confess that think
| yOo cAVuiu uAQC1 6Lduu Tic 6lLudtiOn
as 1t now Stands. The old house was
going Into decay when young man
and his wife rented it. They repaired
1t at their own expense, as / assured
them, from the understanding that you
had given me, that the place would
not be offered for sale-to others than
themselves
when war was declared the young
man went across. He returned a, semi
invalid-shellshOck His girl-wife had
carried on the place as well as she
could during his absence by giving
meals and taking summer bOarders.
She was about to give up when the
plan Of sort of restaurant came to
her, and now the place Is doing nicely
and the young couple are eager to
buy-as soon as they can-which Is
not yet.
"They surely have made the place
over, and their business is paying in
that location. Do you wish to give
them the chance to buy later or must
L sell your Tandfather's home at
once?"
Douglas Barring replied to his
agents communication and requested
that he be met at the faraway sta
ton. After the letter was posted
Douglas experienced pleasant. youth
full sort Of anticipation-of adventure
to come
A thrill of pride possessed Douglas
Barring when the automobile drew up
before his grandfather's home An In
ing had said. His coming had also
been heralded, for the ex-soldier's
wife met him at the white, vine-draped
door. She was a shy young woman
and left him Immediately In the wide
blue dining room as she hurried out
to prepare him refreshment Barring
gazed about in pleased surprise. The
long, low-ceilinged room was delight
to the senses. No interior decorator
could have arranged 1t with more
charming effect. The dull blue-tinted
walls the white wainscoting The
rows of old blue plates, blue candle
sticks on either side of the wide |
bricked fireplace; on the small tables |
blue bowls filled with marigolds. And |
Just before him the sea, blue now, and |
restful too. A motor stopped before
the door and merry party entered |
At the farther table they awaited their
order of chocolate and mullins A pay
Ing business, no doubt; 1t was not
strange that his tenants wished to re-
main.
"Mr. Barring?" a soft and pleasing 1
voice asked the question, and the au-
thor looked up into the very blue eyes
of pretty young woman. "YOur room
is ready upstairs, If you would prefer
to go there before lunching. We have
fixed your grandfather's former room
for you," the young woman added.
She was placing his meal on the
table In the now vacated dining room
when he came downstairs later.
'This is all very delightful" Bar
ring said. my physician ordered a
did not know how was going to en-
dure 1t. Those places usually bore
me. Now" he smiled up at the girl II
"-nOw I am all anticipation"
The young woman took a chair OPP
posite his own; frankly her blue eyes
met his. "And we are to be allowed to
stay?" she asked directly. Her tremu-
GUS laugh stopped the words he
would have said. May tell you our
heart story and our need? My broth II
sr came home from the war-a wreck IL
n mind and body. His little wife tried II
o carry on the burden Of his support III
md care. She was falling In the fight II
when l gave up college and came II
lere to try to help them.s intended II
o be teacher. But" the girls eyes II
honer"I have had lovely time turn II
ng the dingy old dining room Of your II
into blue tearoom.' II
Ind we are making money. Soon. IN