i
THE ENCHANTED BARN I
copyright 1918, by J. B, Llppincott Co.
But the young man saw how
it was, anti lie bowed as grace
fully as if asking about barns
was a common habit of young
women coming into his office.
“Oh, certainly,” he said;
“won’t you just step in here a
moment and sit down? We can
talk better. Edward, you may
go. I shall not need you any
longer this evening.” ^
“But I am detaining you; you
were just going out!” cried Shir
ley in a panic. “I will go away
and come again—perhaps.” She
would do anything to get away
without telling her preposterous
errand.
“Not at all!” said young Mr.
Graham. “I am in no hurry
whatever. Just step this way,
and sit down.” His tone was
kindness itself. Somehow Shir
ley had to follow him. Her face
was crimson now, and she felt
ready to cry. What a fool she
had been to get herself into a
predicament like this! What
woidd her mother say to her?
How could she tell this strange
young man what she had come
for? But he was seated and look
’ ing at her with his nice eyes, tak
ing in all the little pitiful at
togipts at neatness and style and
beauty in her shabby little tbilet.
She was awfully conscious of a
loose fluff of gold glinted hair
that had come down over one iiot
cheek and ear. How disheveled
she must look, and how dusty af
ter climbing over that, dirty
barn! And then she plunged into
her subject.
CHAPTER III.
“I’m sure 1 don’t know what
you will think of my asking,’’
said Shirley excitedly, “but l
want very much to know wheth
er there is any possibility that
you would rent a beautiful big
stone barn you own out on the
old -Glenside road near Allisier
avenue. You do own it, don’t
you? I was told you did, or at
least that Mr. Walter Graham
did. They said it belonged to
‘the estate.’ ”
“Well, now you’ve got one on
me,’’ said the young man with a
most engaging smile. “I’m sure
I don’t know whether l own it
or not. I’m sorry. But if it. be
longs to grathfather’s estate—
his name was Walter, too, yon
know—why, I suppose I do own
part of it. I’m sorry father isn’t
liere. lie of course knows all
about it—or the attorney—of
course he would know. But I
think he has left the office. How
ever, that doesn’t matter. What
was it you wanted? To rent it.,
you say?”
“Yes,” said Shirley, feeling
very 'small and very much an
impostor; “that is, if I could af
ford it. I suppose perhaps ft will
be way ahead of my means, but
I thought, it wouldn't do any
harm to ask.” Her shy eyes
were almost, filled with tears,
and the young marl was deeply
distressed.
“Not at all, not at all,” he
hastened to say. “I’m just stu
pid that l don’t know about it.
Where did you say it was? Out
on the Glenside road? A barn?
Come to think of it, I remember
one of my uncles lived out that
way once, and I know there is a
lot of land somewhere out there
belonging to the estate. You
say there is a barn on it!”
“Yes, a beautiful barn,” said
Shirley anxiously, her eyes
dreamy and her cheeks like two
glowing roses. “It is stone and
has a wide grassy road like a
great staircase leading up to it,
and a tall tree over it. There is
a brook just below—it is high
up from the road on a little
grassy hill.”
“Oh; yes, yes,” ho said, nod
ding eagerly, “I see! It, almost
seems as if I remember. And
you wanted to rent it for the
summer, you say! You are—ah
—in the agricultural business, l
suppose?” He looked at. her re
spectfully. He kne>v the new
woman, and honored her. He
did not seem at all startled that
she wanted to rent a barn for
the summer.
But .Shirley did not in the least
understand. She looked at him
bewildered a moment.
* “Ob^ no! I am only a stenog
rapher myself-dnit my mother
—H>at is—” she paused in con
fusion.
“Oh, I see, your mother is the
farmer, I suppose. -Your home is
near by—near to the barn you
I 4
want to rent?”
Then she understood.
“No, oh, no!” she said desper
ately. “We don’t want to use
the barn for a barn at all. I
want to use it for a house!”
It was out. at last., the horrible
truth; and she nat trembling to
see his look of amazement.
“Use it for a house!” he ex
claimed. “Why, how could you?
To live in, do you mean, or just
to take a tent and camp out there
for a few days?”
“To live in,” said Shirley dog
gedly, lifting her eyes in one
swift defiant look and then drop
pig them to her shabby gloves
and thin pooketbook, empty now
even of the last precious nickel.
If he said anything more she was
Nure she should cry. If he pa
tronized her the least bit or grew
haughty now that he saw how
low she wasxeduced, she would
turn and fly from the office and
never look him in the face.
Hut he did neither. Instead,
he just talked in a natural tone,
as if it were the most common
thing in the world for a girl to
want to live in a barn and noth-^
ing to be surprised over in the'
least.
“Oh, I see,” he said pleasantly.
“Well, now, that might be ar
ranged, you know. Of course I
don't know much about things,
but I could find out. You see,
1 don’t suppose we often have
calls to rent the property that
way— ’ ’
, Ino, of course not, said Slur
ley, gathering up her scattered
confidence. “I know it’s queer
for me to ask, but we have to
move—they are going to build
an apartment bouse where we are
renting now— and mother is
sick, i should like to get her
out into the country, our house
is so little and dark; and I
thought, if she could be all sum
mer where she could see the sky
and bear the birds, she might get
well. J want to get my little sis
ters and brothers out of the city,
too. But we couldn’t likely pay
enough rent. I suppose it was
silly of me to ask.'’
‘‘Not at all!” said the young
man courteously, as though she
had been a qtieeu whom he de
lighted to honor. “I don’t see
why we shouldn’t be able to get
together on some kind of a prop
osition—that is, unless father has
other plans that I don’t know
about. A barn ought not .to be
worth such a big price. How
much would you feel like pay
1 ingf”
He was studying the girl be
fore him with interested eyes;
noting the well set head on the
pretty shoulders, even in spite of
the ill fitting shabby blue coat;
the delicate features; the glint of
gold in the so£t brown hair; the
tilt of the firm little chin, and
the wistfulness in the big blue
eyes. This was a new kind of
girl, and he was disposed to give
her what she wanted if he could.
And he could. He knew well that
anything he willed mightily
would not he denied him.
■The frightened color came into
the delicate cheeks again, and the
blue eyes fluttered down asham
edly.
“We are paving only $15 a
month now,” she said; “and 1
couldn't pay any more, for we
haven’t got it. 1 couldn't pay as
much, for it would cost GO eeuts
a week apiece for George and me
to cotne in to our work from
there. I couldn’t pay more than
$12! and 1 know that’s ridicu
lous for such a great, big beauti
ful place, but—1 had to ask.”
She lifted her eyes swiftly in
apology and dropped them again;
the young man felt a glow of
sympathy for her and a deep de
sire to help her have her wish.
“Why, certainly,” he said
heartily. “Of course you did.
And it’s not ridiculous at all for
• you to make a business proposi
tion of any kind. You say what
you can do. and we aecept it or
not as we like. That’s our look
out. Now of course 1 can't au
swer about this until I've con
sulted father; aud, not. knowing
the place well, 1 haven’t the least
idea what it s worth; it may not
be worth even $12.” (He made
a mental reservation that it
should not he if he could help
it.) “Suppose I consult with fa
ther and let you know. Could I
write or phone you, or will you
he around this way any time to
morrow!” v
Shirley’s breath was fairly
gone with the realization that he
was actually considering hex
proposition in earnest. He jiad
not laughed at her for wanting
to live in a barn, and he had not
turned down the price she of
fered as impossible'! He was look
ing at her in a kindly way as it
he liked her for being frank.
“Why, yes,” she said, looking
up shyly, “I can tome in tornor
row at my noon hour—if that
would not be too soon.' I always
have a little time to myself then,
and it isn't far from the office.”
“That will be perfectly all
right for me,” smiled young Gra
ham. “I shall be here until half
past one, and you can ask the boy
to show you to my office. I will
consult with father the first
thing in the morning and be
ready to give you an answer.
But I am wondering if you have
seen this barn. I suppose you
have or you would not want to
rent it; but I should suppose a
barn would be an awfully un
pleasant place to live, kiud of
almost impossible. Arc you sure
you realize what the proposition
would bet”
“Yes, I think so,” said Shir
ley, looking troubled and earn
est. “It is a beautiful big place,
and the outlook is wonderful. I
was there today, and found a
door open at the back, and went
in to look around. The upstairs
middle floor is so big we could
make several rooms out of it with
screens and. curtains. It would
be lovely. We could live in pic
1 nic “style. Yes, I’m sure mother
would like it. I haven't told her
about it yet, because if I couldn’t
afford it I didn’t want to disap
point her; so I thought I would
wait until I found out; but I’m
just about certain she would be
delighted. And anyhow we’ve
got to go somewhere.”
“I see,” said this courteous
young man, trying not to show
his amazement and delight in the
girl who so coolly discussed liv
ing in a barn with curtains and
screens for partitions. He thought
of his own luxurious home and
his comfortable life, where every
need had been supplied even be
foe he realized it, and, wonder
ing again, was refreshed in soul
by this glimpse into the brave
heart of the girl.
‘ then 1 will expect you, he
sad pleasantly, and, opening the
door, escorted her to the elevator,
touching his hat to her as he left
her.
Shirley would not have been a
normal girl if she had not felt
the least flutter in her heart at
the attention he showed her and
the pleasant tones of his voice. It
was for all the world as if she
sad been a lady dressed in broad
cloth and fur. She looked down
at her shabby little serge suit—
that had done duty all winter
with an old gray sweater under
it—half in shame and half in
pride in the man who had not let
it hinder him from giving her
honor. He was a man. He must
be. She had bared her poverty
stricken life to his gaze, and he
had not take advantage of it. He
had averted his eyes, and acted as
if it were just like other lives and
others’ necesities; and he had
made her feel that she was just
as good as any one with whom he
had to deal.
Well, it was probably only a
manner, a kind of refined, cour
teous habit he had; but it was
lovely, and she was going to en
joy the bit of it that had fallen at
her feet.
On the whole, Shirley walked
the 1 Obloeks to her narrow little
home feeling that she had had
a good day. She was-weary, but
it was a healthy weariness. The
problem which had been pressing
on her brain for days, and nights
too, did not seem so impossible
now, and hope was in her heart
t that somehow she would find a
way out. It had been good to get
away from the office and the
busy moutotony and go out into
; the wide, open out-of-doors. It
| was good also to meet a real uob
i leman, even if it were ouly in
! passing, and on business.
She decided not tell her
: mother and the children ol' her
I outing yet, not until she was sure
I there were to be results. Be
sides ,it might only worry her
mother the more and give her a
leepless night if she let out the
secret about the barn.
One more little touch of pleas
antness there came to make this
I day stand out from others as
i beautiful. It. was when she turned
i into Chapel street, and was
' swinging along rapidly in order
to get home at her usual time and
nat alarm her mother, that a ear
rolled quickly past to the mid
die of the block, and stopped just
under a street light. In a mo
ment more a lady came out of the
door of a house, entered the car.
and was driven away. As she
closed the car door Shirley fan
cied she saw something drop
l'rotn the lady’s hand. When
Shirley reached the place she
found it was two great, luscious
pink rosebuds that must have
slipped from the lady’s corsage
and fallen on the pavement.
Shirley picked them up almost
reverently, inhaling their exotic
breath ,and taking in their deli
cate curves and texture. Then
she looked after the limousine.
It was three blocks away and
just turning into another street;
It would be impossible for her to
overtake it, and there was little
likelihood pf the lady’s returning
for two roses. Prfbably she
would never miss them. Shirley
turned toward the house, think
ing she ought to take them in,
but discovered that it bore the
name of a fashionable modiste,
who would, of course, not have
any right to the roses, and Shir
ley's conscience decided they
were meant by Providence for
her. So, happily, she hurried on
to the little brick house, bearing
the wonderful flowers to her
mother.
She hurried so fast that she
reached home 10 minutes earlier
than usual, and they all gathered
around her eagerly as if it were
some great event, the mother
calling half fearfully from her
bedroom upstairs to know wheth
er anything had happened. She
was always expecting some new
calamity, like sickness or the loss
of their positions by one or the
other of her children.
“Nothing at all the matter,
mother, dear!” called Shirley
happily as she hung up her coat
and hat, and hugged Doris. “I
got off earlier than usual because
Mr. Barnard had to go away.
Just see what a beautiful thing
I have brought you—found it on
the street, dropped by a beauti
ful lady. You needn’t be afraid
of them, for she and her limou
sine looked perfectly hygienic;
and it wasn't stealing, because I
couldn’t possibly have caught
her. Aren’t they lovely?”
By this time she was up in her
mother’s room, with Doris and
Carol following close behind ex
elaimng in delight over the roses.
She kissed her mother, and put
the flowers into a glass beside
thf^bed.
“You’re looking better to
night, I believe, dear,” said the
mother. “I’ve been worried about
you all day. You were so white
and tired this morning.”
“Oh, I’m feeling fine, mother,
dear!” said Shirley gayly, “sad
I'm going down to make your
toast and poaeh you an egg while
Carol finishes getting supper.
George will he here in 10 min
ute* now, and Harley ought to
be in any minute. He always
comes when he gets hungry. My!
I’m hungry myself! Let’s hur
ry, Carol. Doris, darling, you fix
mother 's little table all ready for
her tray. Put on the white cloth,
take away the books, set the
glass with the roses in the middle
very carefully. You won’t spill
it, will you, darling?”
(To Be Continued Next Week)
- * ♦ •
tiismarcK’s humor.
Prom the Kansas City Star.
There was a well defined though un
suspected vein of humor in Bismarck,
the Iron Chancellor of the Germany that
used to be. Journeying through the
empire at one time he found himself
lodged in a hotel that had no call bell
to summon the servants. His own ser
vant was quartered in another part of
the building and there was no means
of communicating with him when he
wanted him. The proprietor of the ho
tel. when ask£d to supply the missing
call bell, replied that guests were re- ■
quired to furnish their own conven
iences. and there was no reason why he
should make an exception of Bismarck. ;
The proprietor thereupon left Bis
marck's room but he had hardly reached
tlte bottom of the stairs when a pistol
shot was hoard. Badly frightened, the
proprietor raced up the stairs and from
room to room until he came upon Bia*
marck seated at his writing table, a
smoking pistol lying at his elbow.
“What happened? What happenedT*
cried the V-roprietor.
“Nothing at all to be alarmed at,”
Bismarck answered. #'I merely sum
moned my servant. It Is a perfectly
harmless signal, and I trust you will
become accustomed to it.”
The next day Bismarck was supplied
with a call bell.
Tyrant Beauty.
My mind is set on earnest days
And nights of quiet sleeping.
But beauty over all my ways
A tyrant watch is keeping.
She haunts the in a lovely face.
By poo! and stream she stays me,
Her form in every cloud 1 trace.
Her starry sky betrays me.
Hers is the mantling down of enow.
Hers is the solemn warning
Of dirges that the north winds blow,
And hers the burst of morning.
She forges all the human ties
That bind me to my neigh bor:
She wreathes the laurel crown that tjes
Upon the brow of labor.
A golden bird in a budding tree
Pours out his heart In singing -
which tells the more of beauty, he
Or the bud where the sap is springing f
No time or place is left to roe
By night or day for resting:
Her finger ppints, and I must be
Adventuring and questing.
I jet this austere dominion cease.
O beauty, to distress me.
Or grant to me a vast increase
Of power to express thee.
—Iweslie Pinckney Hill. In the E>h!!a#'+>
pliia Public Usdger.
I
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i
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10 for 10 cts A yT ANY smokers prefer
xVA it. They'll find that
this compact package of tea
Lucky Strike Ogarettes
will just suit them.
Try them—dealers now
carry both sizes: 10 for
10 cts; 20 for 20 cts.
It’s Toasted
Prophet Without Honor.
The office girl is not a Hoosler, and
of course is not expected to know
everything. And yet—
On tlie occasion of the municipal
concert, she was asked if she intended
going to hear “Elijah.”
“Elijah who?” she inquired.—In
dianapolis News.
Cuticura 8oothes Baby Rashes
That itch and burn with hot baths
of Cuticura Soap followed .by gentle
anointings of. Cuticura Ointment.
Nothing better, purer, sweeter, espe
cially if a little of the fragrant Cuti
cura Talcum is dusted on at the fin
ish. 25c each everywhere.—Adv.
THREW FLOWERS AND GEMS
London Crowd Benefited by Woman’s
Enthusiasm Over the Ending
of the Great War.
During the peace rejoicings one
night in London several guests stand
ing at the upper windows of a West
End restaurant began to throw roses
down to the crowds packed in the
street below. A woman in evening
dress, after throwing out numbers of
roses, took a bracelet from her arm
and tossed it to the people, following
this with a ring from her finger.
Then, after throwing more roses, she
took the ornaments from her hair
and threw these also into the strug
gling mass of people below.
An elderly man at an adjoining win
dow threw out several spoons and
forks, and then, finding nothing else at
hand, threw an apple which was deft
ly caught and promptly returned,
striking the window close by, but, for
tunately, without breaking the glass.
The women then began to throw
out treasury notes, wadding them Into
small hails and flinging them one by
one to the excited crowd. After get
ting l'd of seven ct eight note?, she
expressively spread out her hands to
Indicate that site bad nothing more,
and was loudly cheered.
Exasperating,
Two things that try a woman’s tem
per are to get ready for company that
doesn't come and to have company
eomo when she isn’t ready.
Wisconsin lends the United Stales
in dairy products.
""CSSS-'. —
Gentle Hint.
“I say, Nell, I was reading that there
are CO different ways of cooking pota
toes.”
"I’ve heard so, but boiled—”
"Well, don’t you think it would be
exciting to try one of the other 59 ways
once, just as an experiment?”
shake Into your shoes
And sprinkle in the foot-bath ALLEN’S
FOOT=;EASE, the antiseptic, healing pow
der for Painful, Swollen, Smarting Feet.
It prevents blisters and sore spots and takers
the sting out of corns and bunions. Always
use Allen’s Foot-Base to break in new shoes
and enjoy the bliss of feet without mm
ache.—Adv.
TIGERS USEFUL IN SUMATRA
Lords of the Jungle Protected for
Their Services as Destroyers
of Wild Boars.
Tiger limiting is now prohibited la
Sumatra. Lest our national pride
should be touched, let it be said that
this measure has nothing to do with
M. Clemenceau—there is no fear of
seeing the fauna of the big island de
stroyed by European ex-premiefs on
their travels. i
No, the truth is more prosaic. Truth*
is always prosaic.
In Sumatra the tigers are protected
because they devour the wild boars,
which are great despoilers of the plan
tations. The tigers are In a way mon
strous cats preying on enormous rats.
ilere is a domestic and ultilitarlan
role of which -Kipling, poet of the jun
gle, never dreamed.—From the Paris
Figaro. __
Sympathy.
“See that man going into the office
building?” the chauffeur inquired as
he casually prepared to move his car
from the curb. “I feel sorry for him
sometimes—he has to work so darned
hard.”
“You mean in order to make his
living?” the doormnu, In response,
asked idly.
“No,” the chauffeur replied as he
gently let iu the clutch, “to make
mine.”
Wreck!
Dora—What shall I sing for you.
Jack?
Jack—Have you a song with a re
frain ? w'
Dora—Yes.
Jack—Well, then, please refrain.
Almost as Easy as Wishing
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Tb a teaspoonful of
Instant Postum in the cup,
add hot water, stir, and you
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“There’s a Reason”
Tour grocer sells Postum in two forms,
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