WAS IT A RUSE ?

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 66

WAS IT A RUSE ?

A LITTLE STORY OF TO-DAY. By 0. M. Alicia's pretty face was flushed with annoyance as she turned to her husband. She had hoped he would be delighted with her proposal, and was not a little aggravated at his nonchalant manner. '" You know very well, Harry, I've never been satisfied with the house." Unconsciously, her voice was raised, and about her mouth there was the faintest suggestion of a pout. " You bought it without my ever seeing it, so you can't blame me. There are ever so many things I want that I haven't got —a sewing room for one. And the stairs 1 Oh, Harry! You've no idea what a difference it would make in the work if I had a house all on one flat."

But Harry broke in abruptly. He had heard all this before, eo often before. It was not necessary for Alicia to go all over it again. " It's no use complaining any more, Alicia," he answered curtly, and then a sudden thought bringing a gleam into his eyes, he added: "For goodness sake put the house into the market and sell it. "There never was a better time than now, with this boom on. It's very clear that the house I choose will never suit you; so go ahead and find one for yourself." He picked up the evening paper from the floor and settled back in his arm-chair, hoping the subject was closed.

." Oh, Harry, you are a dear!" Alicia clasped delighted arms round his neck, ignoring his irritation. She had carried her point at last, .and that was enough. What Harry felt or thought of the idea mattered little. "It's really lovely of you, Harry!" she caressed. "But I knew you'd come to see it my way in time. Look!" Bending over the paper she ran her finger down a column. "It was this advertisement that put it into my head again. See! 'For sale, a delightful modern villa residence, bungalow style; every possible convenience; no stairs; seven large rooms. Latest friezes and wallpapers; Empire style; tiled grates ; garden.' Think of it, Harry! No stairs! I'll ring up the agent to-morrow and arrange to go and see it. You don't mirid, do you?" " Oh, I don't mind. Do as you like. You always get your own way, don't you?" Had Alicia not been so preoccupied with her own thoughts she would have brought her husband to task for his gruffness, but she was not in the mood for noticing shades of feeling. She was too intent on this new adventure. What a change it would be to move into another house after ten years in this one! Ten years was too long to stay in any house. One needed a change or one simply rusted. She would, of course, have to have -a great many new things for the new home—new curtains, at any rate. And, yes! It would be a good chance to change the drawing room furniture. She had always longed for a rosewood suite. But Harry had chosen walnut in those young days, and she had been too shy to demur. Of course, the suite had never pleased her. Her imagination began to soir already about this new delightful villa chosen entirely by herself and furnished as she liked. She would have the latest casement curtails and dainty cretonne hangings and cushions. She did not hear her husband when he spoke to her. She was too busy refurnishing her bedroom. She was so tired of all that white enamel. It had seemed the right thing when she was a bride. But now! She wondered what Harry would say if she sold it and bought everything in oak. Such beautiful furniture was being made in oak now: she'd just love it. But then, of course, it mighn't match the blue carpet ouite so well. Alicia's intense thoughts drew her upstairs to her room, and it was not long before she had the place completely furnished to her liking. She then began planning the rosewood suite for the drawing room, although she had not yet seen the bungalow she was to put it in. Alicia had not been so happy for years.

" Weflr! And how about the house?" inquired her husband as they sat at tea next evening. " I suppose you went to see it to-dav?"

Alicia's face was downcast. Harry could not help smiling at the transformation from the sparkling, eager girl of last niffht to the tired and disappointed woman before him.

" Yes, I went!" .Harry waited for further information, but Alicia, was unusually reticent.,"Well?" he -prompted. " Wasn't the place any good?"

" Oh, Harry, it was an awful place! The outside was quite enough for me. The house was right on the street; and just think of ail the dust we would get. I simply wouldn't think of it." Harry said nothing, but after they were comfortably settled before the fire Alicia brightened up, when she again saw something in the paper she was sure would be the very thing she wanted. Harry laughed at her. " I'ou've got such an imagination, Alicia," he objected. *' You go building a palace out of a few bricks. Don't get it into your head that all these houses are like what the advertisements say. I guess the commodious rooms they gush about aren't half as big as ours."

But Alicia, was not to be daunted. She cut out very advertisement that seemed at all likely", and said she would inquire about them all in the morning. Alicia was having more excitement than she had had for a long time. There were twelve houses that night that she thought might suit. The agent would have to run her round in his car next day or she would never be able to see them all.

.As she was cutting out the last slip of paper her next-door neighbour ran in to see her. " Whatever are yon thinking of selling for?" cried that surprised lady. " Why, you'll never find another place just now. There's scarcely a house on the market to be had. What are you selling for, anyway ? Oh, yes —the stairs. Well now, it's queer how different we are 1 I'd simply hate to sleep in a room downstairs. It's ever so much fresher upstairs, and a house is far more compact. Think of all the passages you'd have with these rooms all on one flat. No thanks! Give me rooms upstairs every time." " There's the scullery for another thing," said Alicia, just a little crestfallen at this attack:

"Oh, - yes! I remember you once said you'd like a scullery you could bake and ■do everything in. But what would be the good of the kitchen then? I've no scullery at all. And I wouldn't have one either. I do everything in the kitchen, and you've no idea what a lot of running about it saves."

"That's* just what I always say," chimed in Harry, pleased to find his own opinion so ably backed. " Alicia's always grumbling about the small scullery; but I guess it would be a lot handier just to have the sink built near the range. I should have been a builder, I can see." he laughed good-naturedly. " Well, I do hope you'll find a nice place." Mrs George had got up to go. "We'll be terribly sorry when you leave here. Think of your lovely garden going to.ruin! Nobody will look after it as you have, and you mightn't get such .a nice one again." " Or, we'll soon make a garden wherever we go. It really doesn't take long." Alicia put her hand on h"er husband's arm. "It wouldn't take us long, would it, Harry?" she coaxed, looking up with one of her charming smiles. And how could Harry do anything but acquiesce?

For a fortnight Alicia was out all morning and every morning, all afternoon and every afternoon. House after house, house after house in every suburb of the city. But not one of them had everything she wanted. Truth to tell, the agent -was getting just a little tired of whirling her round from one house to another. He began to wonder if she really wanted to buy. And yet she was so eager and smiling as she set out each morning. But what a different person coming home! And then at last she saw the advertisement. She was sure it was the very thing this time. Certainly it had stairs. But lately she. had not been quite so emphatic about a house without stairs. Something somebody or other had said. At any rate, she did not feel so sure. "Oh, Harry, do look at this!" She put the paper in front of her husband's book and pointed. "It's the best ad. I've seen yet. I wonder what the price will be. See, this one: ' For immediate sale, a palatial gentleman's residence of eight commodious rooms, with large sleeping porch; glorious sunshine all day; latest wallpapers and friezes; large reception hall; spacious scullery and bathroom; handsome mantelpieces and tiled grates; electric light in every room ; all latest improvements; beautiful lawns and well-laid-out gardens; everything in tip-top order. Buyer can have this handsome home unfurnished or furnished throughout in the very latest style and best of taste. Owner ■anxious to sell. Apply at once. Sure to get off immediately." "There! Mustn't that be a lovely place?" Harry couldn't help smiling at Alicia's excited face. " Oh, Harry! Surely I'll be successful this time. Do wish me luck, there's a dear."

'■ I wish you everv success, my dear. I hope this home will prove all it seems to be." He leaned against the mantelpiece, and after a moment's indecision added quietly: "You knew, Alicia, this racket is making me abominably restless. I feel as if I hadn't a home—a real home. And I admit I'll be mighty thankful when I can come home to lunch again. I'm sick of restaurants. They take such a time to serve you."

" You poor boy!" Alicia laughed softly. " I'm afraid I've been neglecting you shamefully. But never mind. It will soon be over. " This house is sure to be the very thing." " But you've said that before, haven't you—every time?" Harry did not mean to be brusque, but it was out before he knew. "Oh, Harry! You are horrid!" Alicia was inclined to be hurt. How could she help it if the houses weren't what she wanted? " But, you know, Alicia, a fellow does hate " "You've said all that before!" Alicia managed to retaliate quickly. Laughing, she left the room. Hers was usually the last word. As soon as Harry had departed next

morning Alicia rang up .the agent. Very,-' very dejected was she when she found""that the house was a thousand pounds higher than Harry said they would go. Alter all her expectations it was annoying to be baulked just because of the price. It made her want the place more than ever. "Two thousand five hundred!" she repeated through the phone. " Oh, I am sorry! I was so sure this place would suit. I thought of going to see it this morning. But the price is too high for us."- ;

"' I think we m'ight be able to meet you there, Mrs Crofton. The owner is anxious to sell."

" Oh, do you think you could manage it—do you really? I'd be so glad. Where is the house? Could you take me to see it this morning?" " I don't think I need do that, Mrs Crofton. It's the house you are living in—the very best house we have in the market at present. Already we have had numerous inquiries, and are arranging to show people over it this afternoon. It will go off very soon, I assure you. If people like a house they don't seem to cavil at the price nowadays." But Alicia was not listening. "The house I am living in!" There was a short pause .of astonishment between each word. " But—but —how didn't I recognise it by the advertisement? Surely it can't be?"

" Yes, it is quite true. I don't think you appreciate its good qualities. It is really the best place on the market just now."

The voice that fluttered over the 'phone to Harry a little later was decidedly subdued. " I can't, bear to think of it, Harry. People coming to look over our house this afternoon —lots of them! Oh, Harry, don't let us sell it!" Harry imagined there was a gulp in Alicia's throat, and felt she was near to tears. "My dear girl! Of course, people, must look over the house. We want to sell it, don't we?" His voice was very decided. "I expect they'll come along by the dozen. Oh, don't you worry, Alicia. There will be plenty of people to. look over it. It will sell all right."

" But—but " Alicia hated to admit that she had been in the wrong. A little frown puckered her forehead. What would be the use now of looking for another house when she already had the best there was! Surely she hadn't realised. " I don't think we had better sell it, Harry." Carefully seh was feeling her way. " You see, the agent says we couldn't get a better place anywhere just now. It's the very best house there is." There was a satisfied grin on Harry's face. "I knew she'd find that out!" said he. as he hung up the receiver. But, of course, he did not say that to Alicia.