The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-08-23
The Architect on
the Job
BY RUBY DOUGLAS

JOoA6 ia doA ~
II 1t were my own love cote-insteat
OF yours" he said, laughingly.
"Lucy-that is, Miss Nixon, you
know, will be a bit shy about com
ing around to inspect the house. I
would be different if we were already
married. You know how it Is" Thu
prospective bridegroom, himself, was
a trife nervous about the ina plans
and conference with the architect WIZ
was to build his home.
TT won't be necessary for her tc
watch the buildlng-unless, of course
n chooses. In that case, / should be
glad to meet her. But depend upon
me to see that everything In the con
tract Is carried out to a T."
John Williams had built so many
first homes" that the boys in the
office had begun to call him the honey
moon architect.
n house In question was a cot
tage for a pair of the young people Of
the town. He had never met the
oride-to-De, 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
70 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 M made it a point to get
about on the "job" frequently.
I'm going over to the Brixton job"
ne aid to the boys in the office one
day when the building was pretty we'll
advanced and there was much detail
TO attend to.
Don't fiirt with the bride-to-be,
Tohn," they ~admonished him.
AS he walked to the curl 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
nouse 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-
feet, aren't your" asked a lovely young
woman almost as soon as he entered
the house.
sat 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 it and / just can't stand red. Fred
says it's mostly browns and grayish
smoke color, but I've been so afraid it
is red that l just had to come over to
Mr.. Williams smiled. but it is a
dull sort of red. Really,
[ should scarcely call it red at ALL" he
explained. "Come-I'l show you"
He led the way to where there was
A stack of very fine tapestry bricks to
ACE the fireplace with.
"Oh, they're lovely. And I've had
ny worry and trip for nothing" she
said.
"a little thing like meeting the ar
,hitect-of course" laughed John Will
Jams, a trifle nettled.
IF you were the architect of my
of destiny-ah, that would be
lifferent, wouldn't it?" she laughed.
1T would" he acquiesced.
They went over the house together. F.,
he girl was pleased with the many
title conveniences that he showed her. J.,
Ter enthusiasm fiattered him. !,
"You seem to know just what wom- ;
n want" she suggested as they stood :
j the sewing room and he pulled out !
he big cutting shelf for her to view. :,
"They don't seem to want me-" he :
aid, half %cynically. "Tm still on the :
lelf." .
mo? Not really?" Q
He nodded. 9
The two met on the job daily after o
and when the house was almost -
nished they found themselves sitting 4
/ a carpenters tool box one day at n
looking into the now complet- a
fireplace. Neither one had spoken
UGH. The workmen had gone.
ut has been a great priyilege-this,"
id Williams, slowly. v
"What? Building this hearth" e.
"Yes-I hope there will be much hap q
ness about it-always." sl
The girl looked at him in the half G
hit. o.,
"But-why shouldn't there be?" she
ked after a while. ~
sorry" he said, contritely. W
# course there will be-much, much q,
p~piness. You-lOve-him?" He could o,
t help letting the words fall. y,
'Me?" asked the girl. "Me?-love in
ed Brixton?"