The Lamar register., 1923-03-07
THE BLUE TEAROOM
BY JANE GORDON
Ce. Isas. Western Newspaper Union)

no" the phS Ssitlhu lbOhlnB HOHttTntu-
ly at the dispirIted young Tan. ad-
vised sea air and long walks In the
country.
Leave all work behind" he said
''and take a relaxing. restful holiday.
Barring thought this advice over.
tllen-as though In suggestion, came
letter from the agent who had his
country property in charge.
Earrings grandfather. dying when
Douglas Barring was a lad at school,
had bequeathed to his orphaned grand
son the old family home in 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 l must confess that / think
you should understand the situation
as 1t now stands. The old house was
going into decay when young man
and his wife rented 1t. They repaired
it at their own expense, as l 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 semi
Observation-Disclosures. 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
'yThey 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 grandfathers home at
oncef"
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 Il pleasant. youth
ful sort Of anticipation-of adventure
to come.
A thrill OF pride possessed Douglas
before his grandfather's home. An In
viting place, and well kept up. as Lor-
Ing had said. His coming had also
been heralded, for the eI-soldier's
wife met him ut 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
gHzed about In pleased surprise. The
long low-ceilinged room was a delight
to the senses. No Interior decorator
could have arranged II 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. motor stopped before
the door and a 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.
MFR. Barringr' soft and pleasing
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 lunchlng. We have !
fixed your grHndfather'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 II
long stay in sea air. and | confess |
did not know how | was going to en- |
dure IT. Those places usually bore
me- Now" he smiled up at the girl |
now l am all anticipation"
The young woman took a chair op-
posite his own; frankly her blue eyes |
met his And we are to be allowed to /
stay7" she asked directly. Her tremu-
lous laugh stopped the words he I
would have said. May tell you our
heart story and our needf Ny broth |
er came home from the war-a wreck |
in mind and body. His little wife tried |
to carry on the burden Of his support |
and care. She was failing in the fight |
when l gave up college and came |
here to try to help them. | intended |
to be teacher. But" the girls eyes
ahnna .sI have had "a lovely tfrne turn-