The guardian., 1940-11-02
We WILL
BE!'
.
By LAWRENCE WARD
Mcclure Syndica.e-W -WNU Service.l

OF his Immaculate black coat,
opened window SO that the room
might air while he dined, and then
with one glance around the four
grim walls he closed the door and
walked slowly down stairs. On the
floor below he hesitated as he al
ways did when Miss Wren's door
was open. He liked the cheeriness
OF the crimson carpet, the wicker
char, the big Boston fern, the
sewing table and an occasional
glimpse of Elsie Wren, sewing or
reading or feeding her bird with
little houseWifely airs that seemed
strange in fashionable boarding
house.
But Elsie was not there, and her
door was almost closed, so he did
not absorb any of the nominees
which he craved. He went down
and dined with a dozen other lonely
men and women who tried to make
homes for themselves out of four
walls in another mans house, and
with more or less success.
James Brent ate his dinner in an
abstract manner. He never Joined
in the general conversation about
the long table, but occasionally
someone would boldly address a re-
mark to him, and he would answer
IN his deliberate manner, pleasant
ly but reServedly. He was a lonely
man, alone in the world, and lately
he had grown to detest the four
walls of his room on the third floor
front. The very sight of Elsie
Wren's red carpet thrilled him-he
wanted CHEEKY room with a red
carpet, singing bird, a Boston
fern, and wicker chair with
This thought came to him as he
took his after-dinner stroll down the
street of the small town where he
lived. Over there on the hill was
the university where he taught ev-
cry day He wanted a home to
come to after the days teaching,
but he had nothing to offer such a
bright, charming little woman as
Miss Elsie Wren, who was a music
teacher as well as the favorite
inmate of the boarding house.
"If had a home to offer" thought
Mr.. Brent, blushing painfully in
the dark, "but l could not take a
wife to a boarding house, though
it has been done" he added hope
fully.
Out Of the daIkress an automobile
! flashed its lights. In the sudden
glare Mr. Brent saw a white and
black sign nailed on tree-he saw
a gate, little lawn, and a small
house-then darkness absorbed the
picture as the car disappeared.
aha! A house to rent" unused the
bachelor as he leaned on the fence.
"a Ouse-to-rent-"
A week or two later he went out
for his Sunday afternoon stroll, over
taking Elsie Wren on a block be-
| yond the house. He had to hurry
, little to catch up with her swift
pace.
Isn't it lovely day?" she asked.
He agreed, and then added ner-
vously, Are you in hurry?"
"Yes-and no, she laughed.
"Why?"
1--WE been locking at a house
would like your advice" mumbled
Mr.. Brent, opening the gate of the
little place and closing il behind her.
His clean-shaVen face was set in
tense lines; never had a greater
problem confronted the gentle
mathematician Il an this one.
Fancy your ,aking a place and
keeping house, murmured Miss
Wren, as she followed him into the
tiny hall. Isn't il the cutest place
one could have plants in that win
dow" she said with the flower
lovers eagerness.
Yes, in any OF the rooms-the
sun follows the windows all day."
he heard himself eagerly saying.
awnings in the summer will make
it cool--the rooms upstairs are
charmingly arranged, but they are,
of course, unfinished; so are the
kitchen and the dining room" He
opened the doors, but Miss Wren
quickly furnished them in her mind
and the few suggestions she uttered
betrayed the yearning of the single
homeless woman for real abiding
place of her own.
zone room IS furnished" he said
at last, when it was time tC 20.
(which one?"
'The living-room I've had it fur
nished like enc I've admired and"
he opened the door of the south
room, ans Miss Elsie Wren stood
dumbly upon the threshold while
her face grew pink, pinker, pinkest.
Here was a reproduction of her
CHEEKY room at the boarding house
"a room furn shed with odds and
ends from her old home-a Grim
son rug, gray walls, white wood
work, cloudy white curtains, a Bos-
ton fern or two, a cozy fireplace, a
wicker chair tables, a big easy
chair, a masculine touch not includ-
ed in Miss Wrens rooml
"Oh-how strange!" she breathed
"You-like it?" he asked, looking
worried