The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-05-13
SHINING PALACE E

sor Castle? The Royal Familyl
Whoever heard o. such thing?"
But he kept right on obeying Or
ders; and one day astonished Nora
by inquiring where "the royal bed
chamber" was to be-upstairs or
down?
Overhearing the question, Don
collapsed with mirth. A royal bed
chamber seemed so foreign to this
sturdy old builder with the New
England twang in his voice, and
the New England sense of humor
ESQ often mistaken for something
quite the opposite) lurking in the
depths of his blue eyes.
The weeks passed rapidly. Mid
August was there before they knew
it; but Tom Littlefield continued to
arrive at seven o'clock, and not
once had he been tempted to "quit
at noon"
Don arose early in those days, tip
toed about the shack getting a light
breakfast, and sometimes left be-
fore Nora was awake. Later she
followed with the children and a
picnic lunch; the baby took his nap
in an old packing box, oblivious
to the sound of hammer and saw;
while small Donald sat on a nail
key and handed things to his father
as requested, forgetting in this abb
sorbing interest that he'd intended
tunneling to Italy that season.
1t was Leonora who suggested
moving in. "It'll save the long walk
night and morning, Don. It'll save
time; and it can't be much more in
convenient than the shack is now.
The living room" C"Ban room,"
corrected the builder dryly) sis en-
tirely finished. The fireplace burns
like a breeze; and there's sink in
the kitchen even if there's no water
running into it."
"And speaking of water" OBJ
served Don, "the report on this well
water is o. K, Nora. 1t came this
morning. Why shouldn't we mover"
Thus there came a day when with
the aid of two Portland movers
(hailed by Jim Perkins as they
passed through town., Morals beau
tiful piano stood on the spot planned
for it; and Don said: "Christen the
ballroom, Nora. Play something
appropriate. On with the dance,
let Joy be unconfined.'
So, seated upon an upturned box,
Nora played; and looking up as the
haunting strains of ''The Beautiful
Blue Danube died away, beheld
the entire working force, apparently
hypnotized.
Old Tom Littlefield stood in the
doorway staring straight ahead
through q window that faced the
sea. One of the Portland movers
(perched on a barely appeared to
have gone into a sort of trance;
while the other was wiping suspi-
cious moisture from his eyes, and
Jim Perkins stood before the fire.
place, arms folded, head sunk for
ward, lost to the world.
Don, as the music ceased, didn't
look up at all. His wife suspected
that he was in the same plight as
the second Portland man. Even the
children remained quiet; and at
last the mover seated on a barrel
said: ~ remember that tune. Seems
as if my wife must ha' played it
when we was goin' together"
"That's queer" the other man OBJ
served, shamefacedly thrusting his
handkerchief into a pocket, "but
darned if ! wasn't thinkin' that very
thing! Kind o'--kind O. brings things
back, don't it?"
The carpenters blue eyes twin
killed. at this confession.
''It sure does," he admitted. II
donno as ! ever heard that piece
before, but it did somethin' to me.
If you want the truth, Mis- Mason,
/ want here at all. / was seem
Nelly home after a church supper
forty years back. You better lock
up that piano and keep it locked if
you want this downstairs finished by
November first"