The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-03-19
Furnished Rooms
Were Wonderful
By GENEvRA COOK
GO by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicatel
fWNUJ Sprvice.)

NLlO THORNLEY,, vivid and mod
ish in a costume of black and white,
sat in Seventh avenue subway.
wedged in between tired mother with
two pale children and a whimpering
baby. and swarthy Italian with fierC e
mustach and fiercer eyes. Above ner
Jimmy Burton swayed lithely, holding
to leather strap.
Suddenly he bent his head, and said,
close to her ear, Gee, Clio, you look
so darling sitting there. Just like a
flower"
In spite Of the fact that her an
swering smile was half a frown, he
went on, his honest brown eyes smiling
into hers "Gee, Clio, If you'd only
marry me-Clio?"
Fourteenth street," shouted the
guard.
AS they pushed through the crowd,
Clio glanced at Jimmy with scOrn.
Marry you, Jimmy. And live in three
furnished rooms and half a bath, and
wear funny clothes, and 60 to movie
once a month. ride all my life in the
subway! Why, you couldn't even af-
ford to get taxi to propose In"
Jimmy was silent AS they reached
the row Of dingy red brick apartments
where Clio could distinguish the en-
trance of her home from the one
where Jimmy lived with his Aunt
Sally only by the number. and by a
rronIro6 rod vaco in Mrc 0,Chouuh.
nesy's window on the first floor, he
said wistfully: swell, but Clio, we
could make home out of even three
furnished rooms-if-if we loved each
other"
'Love isn't enough furniture, jim
N.Y." said Clio, wise.s slipping the
iatchkey into the door. Good night"
1t wasn't long after that. that Clio.
invited in to play bridge with Aunt
Sally and Jimmy. found the fourth TO
be carefully pink-and-white girl with
wide baby blue eyes and a slight lisp.
who had room in the apartment
above. Her name was Elsie Jane
Wright; like Clio, she had position
in Mays; and her chief occupation
just now was the alteration of Jimmy
Burton.
"Jimmy's Aunt Thally thinks it's
the most wonderful thing in the world
to have a home" cOoed Elsie Jane
across the table. " think tho. too. But
Of course you don't like homes, do
you, Clio?"
lnntad O( fhA rvyfnd
Clio could feel the eyes of Aunt Sally
upon her; her opinion held weight with
Jimmy, she knew. For an instant she
hesitated. Then, the color mounting
in her cheeks. she rallied to her own
standards. She wasn't going to pretend
what she didn't believe.
II think" she said, shat It's per.
fectly marvellous to have home when
you can afford one. A real house, with
an upstairs and downstairs all your
own. and yard with garden, and
period furniture, and oriental hang.
ings, and persian rugs Something that
you could furnish beautifully, and
really call home"
Elsie Jane widened her blue eyes
In a sort of sorrowful wonder. "Just
think" she said in her soft baby voice.
looking up at Aunt Sally. show much
Clos missing. Why, think the tiniest
little furnished apartment Is the cutest
thing" She turned to Jimmy, smiling
up into his face. 81 love them. Don't
you?" Clio couldn't be sure. but she
thought that for just an instant their
eyes met.
The next few weeks heightened for
Clio into what seemed like years.
There was a succession of bridges,
with Elsie Jane often serving the
lunches under the tuteIage of Aunt
Sally. Elsie Jane in frilly apron.
Jimmy never repeated his error of
proposing in the subway. because ev-
cry night when they went home, Elsie
Jane was there, too. And at last, on
one poignant day when the first breath
of spring was in the air, Clio rode
home alone.
Well, she thought, if Jimmy wanted
Elsie Jane, he must have her. Because,
of course, Jimmy must be happy. Clio
was very clear on that point. And Il
he and Aunt Sally couldn't see through
the flimsy pretense of fudge and hand
embroidered dish cloths to the soul of
Elsie Jane. who only wanted to be ba-
bied and supported by Jimmy-Clio
fought back tears that stung at her
eyes. and clenched her white hands
till they hurt.
Suddenly she was aware of voices
calling her name. It was Aunt Sally
and Jimmy and Elsie Jane.
"Tm just telling Them" cooed Elsie
Jane. "Pm going to work in the house
hold linens-so can learn about them
-uh-uh-sheets and pillow cases, and
things. :" She looked up at Jim
my. blushing.
But Jimmy was looking at Clio. He
didn't even answer Elsie Jane. He was
saying: Gee, Clio, what you need is
some air. I'm going to take you up by
the river"
Then Elsie Jane was crying: "Oh,
yes; we'll all gol' And then Aunt
Sally, with one brief smile at Clio
and Jimmy standing there, said firmly:
"Oh. no, Elsie Jane. This is the night
you said you wanted to learn how to
roast beef. You're coming home with
mev