The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-08-31


Young Baldwin Barnes, on Satur-
day morning, ate breakfast alone in
the little house. He read his paper
and drank his coffee. But the SAVIOR
of things was gone He missed
Jane. Her engaging chatter, the
spirited challenge, even the small ir-
ritations. "She is such a darling
DEAR" was his homesick meditation.
Oh, a man needed a woman on
the other side OF the table. And
when Jane was married, what then?
Edith
Oh, if he might! If Philomel might
sing for her! Toast and poached
eggsl Nectar and ambrosia! His
little house castle!
But it isn't mine own," the young
poet reminded himself; there is
still the mortgage" He came down
to earth, cleared the table, fed the
pussy-cats. Then he went down to
the post-box to get the mail.
The Barnes mail was rarely vo.
luminous, rarely interesting. A bill
or two, a letter from Judy-some
futile advertising stuff
This morning, however, there was
a long envelope. In one corner was
the name of the magazine to which,
nearly six months before, Baldy had
sent his prize cover design. The
thing had almost gone out of his
thoughts. He had long ceased to
hope. Money did not miraculously
fall into ones lap.
He tore open the envelope. With
in was closely typed letter and a
pale pink check.
The check was for two thousand
dollars. He had won the prizel
Breathless with the thought of it,
deprived of strength, he sat down
on the terrace steps. Merrymaid
and the kitten came down and an
gled for attention, but Badly over
looked them utterly. The letter
was astounding. The magazine had
not only given him the prize but they
wanted more of his work. They
would pay well for it--and if he
would come to New York at their
expense, the art editor would like to
talk it over!
Baldy, looking up from the preg-
nant phrases and catching Merry
maids eye upon him, demanded,
"Now, what do you think of that?
Shall I resign from the office? I'll
tell the world, WILL"
Oh, the thing might even make it
possible for him to marry Edith.
He could at least pay for the honey
moon-preserve some sense of per-
sonal independence while he worked
towards fame. If she would only
see it. That he must ask her to live
for time-in the little house. He'd
make things easy for her-oh, well,
the thing could be done-it could be
done.
He flew up the steps on the wings
of his delight. He would ride like
the wind to Virginia-find Edith in a
rose-garden, fling himself at her
feet Declare his good fortunel And
he would see her eyes!
Packing his bag, he decided to
stop in Washington, and perpetrate
a few extravagances. Something for
Edith. Something for Jane. Some
thing for himself. There would be
no harm in looking his best
He arrived at Grass Hills in time
for lunch. His little fivver came up
the drive as proudly as a limou-
sine. And Baldy descending was
a gay and gallant figure. There was
no one in sight but the servants who
took his bag, and drove his car
around to the garage. A maid in
rose linen said that Mr.. and Mrs.
Simms were at the stables. Miss
Towne was on the links with the
other guests, and would return from
the Country Club in time for lunch
at two o'clock. Miss Barnes was
upstairs. Her head had ached, and
she had had her breakfast in bed.
sWill you let her know that / am
here?"
The maid went up and came down
to say that Miss Barnes was in the
second gallery-and would he go
right up.
The second gallery looked out
over the river. Jane lay in a long
chair. She was pale, and there were
shadows under her eyes.
''Oh, look here, Janey," Badly
blurted out, "is it as bad as this?"
'sI'm iust-lazy." She sat up and
kissed him. Then buried her face in
his coat and wept silently.
"For heavens sake, Jane," he pat
ted her shoulder, whats the mat
ter?"
81 want to go home"
He looked blank. Homer"
Eyes" She stopped crying.
"Baldy, something has happened
and I've got to tell you." Tensely,
with her hands clasped about her
knees, she rehearsed for him the
scene between Adelaide and Fred
erick Towne. And when she finished