Smyrna times., 1925-01-21
Appropriated
Grandfather's
Deserted Home
By JOHN ST. CLAIR

|
ton, pointing to the old colonial build
ing at the end Of the village street.
II wonder how much it would cost
us, Ellis?" whispered Dorothy, Clinging
to his arm.
Ellis Milford was a hard-wOrking
clerk in Ole of the big insurance Of
fees, and their home had been only
four-roOm fiat in the dusty city. But
every Sunday they had gone forth
from the metropolis dreaming of just
such a place as this.
The house had been untenanted for
many years, and it was rumOred that
the owner resided ia England No,
there had never been any effort to rent
it. 1t would be hard to do so, anyway,
because nobody wanted an Old-fash-
iOned house when you could get a |
brand new one on the tnstallment plan.
At which information DOrOthy's heart |
beat high with secret joy.
You see, Ellis, 1t is my English |
blood" she explained "YOu know |
grandfather was an Englishman, and |
though 1 never saw him, klOw have |
inherited his taste for just such an
Old-fashiOned hlme."
Dorothy's grandfather had settled in
America and calmly disinherited his
son, DOrothy's father. Still, Dorothy
always attributed all the English traits
in her disposition to this semi-mythical
person.
Dorothy" exclaimed her husband,
Tets go inside and have a look around.
l saw one of the window shutters was
nearly off its hinge, and l believe the
| window behind 1t is broken"
| 1t was broken. Ellis climbed through
| and, standing inside, swung Dorothy
| into the room. They wandered from
room to room. 1t was true the Interior
was in poor condition. But still the
house was habitable, and a little money
Invested judiciOusly would turn it into
a very comfortable abode. And, the
greatest find of all, in the attic there
was old furniture, all sorts of odds and
ends which would go far toward the
| furnishing of the less snowy roOins, at
least
Ellis" said Dorothy, in a tone
which even three months Of married
life had taught him to attend to, I'VE
must have this house."
You amt going to live there, are
ye?" Inquired a villager who watched
them emerge through the front gate
with ill-cOncealed interest.
Eyes, we have rented this place from
the first of next month";" Dorothy an
swered
well, I swan exclaimed the yOkel.
Dorothy" said Ellis reproachfuly,
! when they were out of his hearing.
But, Ellis, l meant it," declared
Dorothy, almost crying my dear, we
are going to have the rooms papered
and the windows mended and move in
on the first And when the landlord
calls to make trouble for us well have
the rent ready for him"
Dorothy's words proved prophetic,
| for on the first day of the month fol
lowing motOrvan stopped in front of
| the old house and Dorothy superintend-
| ed the disgorging of the furniture.
| They'll turn US out" said Ellis
! when they were settled at their fire
] side, gazing admiringly upon the new
ly-papered walls.
| mot if we have the rent, my DEAR
said Dorothy.
/ Summer came on and soon the gar
| der was ablaze with flowers. Ellis
| could hardly wait for the clock to strike
j to leave his office. And as the months
rolled by and the neighbOrs took thel
occupancy of the house as a matter o
course, their fears gradually dwindlet
until
Until that Sunday mOrhing when tn
strange man came walking up the mid
81 die drive.
Q The newcomer was an EnglishmaT
; but he appeared much less angry thai
Dorothy and her husband had antic
pated. In fact, his first words wer
decidedly apolOgetic.
I'm sorry TO trouble yOu," he saiC
"and l don't know, Of course, wha
your title will show; but the fact il
there is reason to believe that thi
property is part of an estate which
have come over from London to haI
die on behalf of the heirs. 1t seem
to have been forgotten, as the owne
did not enumerate 1t in his will. YO
have your title-deeds?"
No, Ellis had no titledeeds. In fac
he was so equally embarrassed that
blurted out the history Of the acQuis
tiOn.
Most extraordinary! Most extraO
dinary!" said the visitor. What
tribute to the-er-masterful habits
your great nation your action is. NOv
in my country, nobody would ev'
- dream of taking house he fancied-
- perhaps your couhtrymen aren't
quick with the rent" said DorOth
-, 'YOu see, we have four mOaths' q
~ ready for whoever the landlord is."
all MY dear young lady, thought
mr. explained to you that he was dead
~ replied the other. HE was an ecce
~, trio character, old Mr.. Samuel Loft