Evening star., 1934-10-26
);:;;;;;::9 &: Mariana Gordon
by JEANNE ROW1EAN

was working on the building that
was erected on that site.
"The old carpenter I'd worked with
consented to act as my guardian, and
that kept me from going into some
institution.
Because was such o kid and
pretty bitter at that time talked a
lot, and the men on the job egged
me on. I used to spend my lunch
hour Grating about what was going
to do when I grew up. was going to
build homes and flx 1t so they couldn't
be taken away from honest folk.
without money enough to fight for
their rights.
"One day in the midst Of my ha-
rangue I noticed the men around me
motioning me to shut up. looked
up. The contractor in charge Of the
Job was listening. He motioned for
me to join him and tell him why !
was so bitter. I told him, plenty.
THAT night he took me to dinner
with him. I was too scared to be as
tough as I'd been with the men, SO I
told him about mother and the things
I've told you. Somehow 1t interested
him. I saw q lot of him during that
Summer, and in the Fall he went to
the authorities, had himself made my
guardian and took me to Cleveland
with him and put me in school.
HE was a bachelor, had plenty OF
time to give to me and gave 1t and
gave me money as well. He saw
that I had a chance to see all sides
F1 tv,tr Ia ~ ol 70 fa<f
ambition.
Each Summer I worked on the
Job with him, sometimes building fac
tories, sometimes working on the little
houses that had become my hobby.
And out Of this experience I
evolved an idea. I decided I wanted
middle-class people, the white collar
crowd; to have a chance at home
owning. wanted these men and
women who'd never be able to collect
enough money for q down payment on
the kind of home they'd like to have,
to be able to pay their rent into their
own bank accounts.
my guardian agreed it was worth
trying. I figured I'd buy q tract Of
land, cut it UP into lots large enough
for a good vegetable garden and
chicken yard In the rear and flower
garden in the front.
"Of course, there have always been
cheap places but they looked 1t and
the kind Of people I was thinking
about would rather do without, than
live in them. I wanted attractive
houses with the grace Of good archi-
lecture and the assurance Of sub
stantial building. No shacks nor
shanties.
Before we could try out this idea,
my guardian died. That was last
year. He left me lump sum Of cash,
for my personal use, the rest he left
in a building and loan society which
he had headed, to be used in my ex-
pertinent. Experiment in human
nature he called 1t.
"He had suggested try the west
where good property at a reasonable
figure could be found within o short
driving distance Of industrial and
commercial centers.
"I bought this car, my only luxury.
Came out to visit Steele and met
you.
IT was pretty sure Of myself all
along the way. I thought when I
found the right girl she wouldn't
mind keeping house for me without
servants, doing without lot of
things. And then met Silver Hon
dom" He paused.
"And then I met Silver" he re-
peated, land I realized what luz
ury a wife might be. And wondered
If had the right to ask any girl to
give up the beauty that Is bought
| with money"
There are other kinds Of women?"
Marian ventured. a.
You're one, and that's why I'm
getting up nerve enough to ask you
II you'd be willing to be poor with
me?"
Tomorrow, marriage seems TO be