The illustration given below shows one of the queerest houses in the
United States. It is four storeys high, yet does not exceed an ordinary
cottage in height. The house itself is said to have been built by a
man of small stature and eccentric ideas, and a romantic little story
is connected with the place. When the house was completed--so runs
the legend--its owner was lonely, and, thinking the most expeditious
way to get what he wanted was to advertise in the American papers,
he inserted a paragraph under the heading "Wife Wanted." Scores of
letters and photographs arrived from the hopeful divinities. From the
collection of pictures he selected a beautiful face--one that fulfilled
his ideal of woman and wife. They corresponded and an engagement
resulted. The prospective bride left her Eastern home and came to the
eager bridegroom in California. She was a magnificent specimen of
womanhood--a modern Juno--but, to the horror and complete despair of
the now undone bridegroom, she was six feet high: for him and his house
a giantess. Under no possibility could he get her into his "Diamond
Castle." This was an insurmountable obstacle to their marriage, and
with great sadness they held a consultation and decided to part for
ever.--"+THE STRAND MAGAZINE+."
[Illustration]
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