South Bend News-Times, Volume 36, Number 250, South Bend, St. Joseph County, 7 September 1919 — Page 41

Finding, .Her Real Friends

By Elsie Endicott

T- UCINDA SIMPSON descend' d jj the steep, uncarpeted etaira that lrcl fraxn the upper half of tho house which she occupied to tho lower half. Tho doer opened upen tho instant and thre stood Matilda, flushed, and aproned frcm chla to infctr p. "Oh, it's you." ehe eald ungraciously. "1 was looking for some one else." "Yes, it's mo." Luclnda replied la her small, gentle voice. "I've come to ask you to tea with ine. Matilda. I've mad" a freah raisin cake and I want ycu to have om. 'Course you mustn't expect anything elaborate, but euch as I've, got you're welcome to." She looked up at Matilda wistfully. Lucinda was a little old woman who wore glasses which were never straight on her nose. Matilda was tailor by half a head and stout. She wore no glasses, for her eyes were excellent. Those eyes no't measured Luclnda rather haughtily. 'Why, I'd love to corn." she said, "but you se I've Invited In company to tea. Mrs. Chapman and Miss Betts are com in p. I'm Just ns much obliged Luclnda. for your Invitation as though I'd accepted It." "I'm rtal sorry you can't," Luclnda

I I "I A'Much Needed Vacation By Pha Moore-

AUOL1NE CADV sAt at hr disfa ordered breakfast tablo, her elbows upon tho cloth and her face In her hands. She was not crying. She was too angry to cry. Her heart flew; her temples roared; she war, a hot wave of Indignation from head to foot. It was at least the twentieth occurrence of the rcene loud voices, sarcasm; Jasper flinging off to his office with the echoes of a slammed door lingering behind, and she in tears, or tLat worse state, desperate vexation. After fifteen fairly peaceable years they had begun to quarrel. Carolino and Jasper made up quickly after their first quarrel. Latterly they had not made up at all. They simply drifted from a Btate of amnesty to one of open rupture. And now all these conditions had culminated in the present one. It wa3 all because of Jasper's pending vacation. Sho wanted to tour the Now Er. gland States in the automo , v - - - . HE settled herself snugly in the orchestra ecat of the theater where the Russian Ballet was to dance. With her father's help, she slipped of? her sapphire blue evening coat, then arranged and rearranged the folds of white tulle that billowed around her firm white shoulders. She preened herself like a young peacock before sho looked over her program. "Why, Dad. NiJinsky isn't going to dance! I think that's a shame. I wanted to see him more than anybody else," She dropped her program and began looking eagerly over the house. Friendly faces nodded to her from boxes and neighboring seats. "They're mighty late starting." she complained. ! guess my nose is shiny by this timo' She opened the gold vanity case, set with a single sapphire, that dangled from her little finger and took out a tiny powder puff. Then she became aware for the first time of the person AND sakes. Henry," exclaimed his wife, at Jhe b real' fast table. "Whatever ailed you last night? I declare, you made such a noise a body can't eleep in the same houie with you." "Noise? What do you mean?' "Snoring. Yes you did. You ought tc cure yourself of it. Henry." "Me? Snoring? Bosh, Mria, It was the echo of your own snore that woke you up. I never snore." Nevertheless. Maria's remark recurrtd to Henry's mind several times during the day, and ween he stepped of! the train at the station that night hü citli Jumdle under his arm

sighed. She turned" away to hldo her disappointment. "There' locig one coming In now. X g-dit that must fco who you r looking or." "Yes, It Utho bor with tho oysterr,," said Matilda, loftily. Luclnda went slowly back upstairs. As she cloned the door behind her her face besan to quiver with tears. 6ho dropped down upon the edge of a chair and for a moment wept quietly. "She never asked raol" Tho thought came to her with a cruel hurt "And she's going to havo oysters!" Luclnda wiped her eyes and looked forlornly about tho room. It was not very warm, though the tiny coal stove was glowing Its brightest. Its only comforts were a worn rag carpet and a rocking chair; Its only ornament a red geranium wheh Mrs. Pell had given her. Luclnda had so little to live upon that.lt wa3 a wonder she could live at all, and yet her rent was always paid In advance and she always had coal In the box and something In the way of food in the larder. Her chief trouble was that she was bo lonely. Thero waa no reason for Luclnda's being so lonely. There was companionship for her right In the house If It

bile. Ho wanted to spend the whole three weeks with his brother In the country. Caroline has made one visit at Henry's, and she felt it would do her for a lifetime. She had Insisted that Fhe would not go there and Jasper retorted that unless she went there she would go nowhere with him. "I'll stay at home first," she thought. "If it comes to that, my wishes are as important as his." She arose from the table and began to gather up the dishes. tAt that moment the postman's step sound' 1 upon the veranda, and she went to bring in the mall.- There was one letter for herself, and, recognizing the writing, she tore it open eagerly. "You spoke about making a motor tour of New England," Mrs. Cartwright wrote. "That gave us the Idea of doing the same. Frank needs mora outdoor air than he gets, the doctor says. The children will stay at mother's, so we shall be itfrmn In lmxt i?is JL who sat on her left. He was staring at her, frankly rude. She could tell by Just glancing out of the corner of her left eye. She discerned with a perceptible start that the person wore high boots. They were good looking. The gorgeous costumes and the bizarre, unusual combination of colors in the scenery, all done masterfully by Bakst. brought a glow of approval from Betty. "It's going to be great, Dad. after all. We'll get ten dollars' worth without Nijinsky. Wait, you'll see!" she comforted. "It's a lot of foolishness." the person in boots heard the disgruntled old man declare. "I beg your pardon." said a rich southern voice right above Betty's lert ear, "but do you know Patty Williams?" The startled girl turned slowly and looked at her next-door neighbor for the first time. A little welcoming smile lighted her deep blue eyes. In and chuckled. Maria started suddenly, wide awake, and sat up In bed, listening Intently. Some strange and unusual sound had awakened her. What was it? Every nerve in her body tingled as she liaUned. The velvet-black darkness of the room seemed to beat back at her. There. It came again, clear and distinct, yet vaguely mysterious. It sounded like like someone boring his way in! She felt a sudden chill of terror. She wanted to scream, to call out to Henry in the next room. But the bursar might even now be creeping up ou Henry, and if she ahould

had not been withheld from her. Ma Ulda Dodd, widowed and Childless, like Luclnda, rented the better rooms downstairs, fibs had mora mp&ns than Luclnda, for a relatlro sent her the wherewithal for many llttla luxuries dear to an old person's heart. Hut Instead of being ma do kinflly and charitable by her superor fortune. Matilda was only haughty and iclf opinionated. When there was no better company to bo had oho made much of Luclnda, but when either Mrs, Chapman of Miss Bates was by she Ignored Luclnda completely. For tomo days the weather had been bad and Luclnda had seen no one. Matilda had not been upstairs or admitted her when she went down. Matilda had for some time been very distant to Luclnda, as the result of having had too much of better society. But now Lucinda could endure it no .longer; she must see Matilda. So ehe made the little round raisin cake after her choicest recipe and some thimble biscuits and opened one of her three precious Jars of blackberriy jam and went down to ask Matilda to tea. And all the time she bad been planning for Matilda, Matilda had been making ready for Mra. Chapman and MIs3

car! We shall dtart about the samo time you do, and so probably we shall meet somewhere. I wish wo were going to be together all the way." Caroline read the letter twice. Afterward ehe sat down and pondered over it careully. Then she went upstairs and considered tho now clothes she had had made and later sent a telegram to May Cartwright Jasper did not come home to lunch, but he arrived for dinner at the usual hour. His wife had put on a blue dress to aid her air of quiet determination. She heard him hanging up his coat in the hall and waited for him to enter the dining room. Once she would have run to kiss him ah, how long ago it seemed! "Hello!" he said, merely. "Company here?" "Oh, no!" she replied, coldly. They sat down opposite each other and ato in silence a silence as charged with trouble as the air with "Why," she beamed, "Patty Williams, of Atlanta? She's my best friend." "I'm Bate, her brother, you know," grinned the hugo person In English tweeds and high boots. "The Ideal" gasped Betty, extending her hand. "This is my father. Colonel Branner, Mr. Williams. It's Bate, you know, Dad, Bate, who has rim away from home every time I went to visit Patty. Isn't it the tiniest bit of a world after all?" she platudlnized. "Surest thing you know," pleasantly agreed the young fellow. "I recognized that vanity cas. Mother bought two of them, one for you and one for Patty the last time she was in Paris, tho year the war began. You and Patty are Just alike, always powdering your little noses." "Stop teasing!" commanded Betty. 'Tatty says you're awful." "She would have a right to say that if she saw me here tonight in this riding suit, along besides your frills and the Still call out, he might shoot. Yes, he was there. The sound seemed to come from Henry's room. What should she do? After an eternity of tense listening, straining her eyes into the darkness, her nenrea grew quieter. Very cautiously, noiselessly, she lifted the coverlet and crept out of bed. She moved across the floor, her outstretched hand exploring the darkness. Her fingers touched the door frame. She was out in the hall, creeping across to Henry's door. A board snapped under her weight, and the sound of it, like a pistol shot, sent her cowering against the wall, where she waited, every muscl aQuiver. Then the sound stODDed ab

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Betta, with no thou cht of her! "She never asked me." Luclnda mourned again "She doesn't think me fltUa company for her friends. And ence long years ago when we were both girls at home her father usod to cobble my father's shoes. But land, I don't hold that up against her! Matilda's Just as God made her, I suppose. Only I shan't care for that raisin cake. I know it'd choke me if 1 tried to swallow a morsel. Luclnda composed herself to boar her disappointment as bravely as she could. When she heard someone come at the front door she said to herself that Matilda's company was arriving. But when foot steps sounded on the stairs she got up and went to her own door. Thero stood Mrs. Pell with a basket in her hand. Mrs. Pell was young and lively and pretty, and, for some reason unaccountable to Lucinda, she liked Lucinda. She had on a white coat and a white knit cap, and Lucinda, surprised and delighted, cried out: "My land, you look just like a snow bird!" "Well. I guess I am," Mrs. Pell said. She entered gayly. "I've como to take tea with you, Lucinda, that is, If youH let me, Fred is away and I am so lonesome I couldn't stay home alone

electricity on a sultry afternoon. After dinner he went into the living room to read and she washed the dishea. Then she, too, entered the living room and sat down with a bit of embroidery. Nobody came in, the telephonexbell did not ring, there was no reliof from that unbearable silence Caroline began to make false stitches. She had an idea that Jasper, behind his paper, was not reading. Suddenly ho spoke over it to her. "Well," he said. "I begin my vacation Monday. I'm going to spend it with Henry. So you may as well give up all idea of that New England tour." Caroline laid down her work. "Why should I give it up?" "Because I'm not going." "That doesn't hinder me. does it?" lie studied her. She studied him. "Because," she went on firmly, "I'm going with the Cartwrights on Monday. I telegraphed May today,1 and she telegraphed back that they would come

trangely

fluff. I'm chief mining engineer at Mascot, twenty miles from here. I got so tired of sticking round up there that I rode down to the city to be entertained. I'm glad that I came to this Russian Ballet, but honest, if you were not here, I'd be bored to death. This thing takes brains, and I don't want to think when I go to theaters. I have to work my little ivory enough at those blooming mines." Betty giggled. "You're slangy, all right. And a Harvard man, too! The idea!" Then they laughed, merely because they were both young, good looking and happy. She put her left hand on the third finger of which blazed a huge solitaire in a very conspicuous place as she fingered her blue feather fan. "Not sold out already, child?" he questioned, sitting up with a Jerk. "What do you mean? Docs Patty know?" Then the music began and the cur of Nightruptly, and there came a soft rustling. Where was he now? What was he doing? Spots of fire began to streak the blackness beforo-her. She knew ahe was going to faint, hut she set all her will against it and crept across the threshold. A cloud passing from before the moon threw a sudden strip of white moonlight across the carpet. Then she saw him. He was crouching close to the window and she could distinctly see that he was holding in one hand a long, black revolver. She could even make out tho queer, ugly-iooking mask he wore, that seemed to cover hii whole head, like a diver's helmet.

another minute, go I said to myiclf, 'X bet Lucinda is lonely, too. Ill Just go and aee tf w won't loth b happier for keeping each other company! Let in g?t rid of this COftt, and I'll show you what I've got In the basket. When you go visiting unexpectedly, you know, you must take along scmething lest you And your hostess unprepared. At lea&t that's the way we always did out where I lived before I married Fred," Talking thus she fiung aside her coat and cap and proceeded to unpack the basket. Luclnda looked on In amazement, tinctured with surprise, as she set out upon the table a cold roast chicken, salad, oranges, and a little pot of baked beans. "There 1" she said, "I guess that's all. How are you, Lucinda I may stay, mayn't 1?" "Oh, you blessed creature?" said Luclnda. "If I could only make you feel how welcome you are." Then fihe went on to tell Helen Pell about the little spread she had made for Matilda and how Matilda could not come because she had already invited company and how disappointed and lonely she had felt at tho prospect of sitting down to eat alone. After supper they washed the dishes together and then they sat down to

hero and get me," The paj-er shook in his hands. "If you go with tho Cartwrights you can stay with the Cartwrights. You needn't come back here," said Jasper. "I must say tho same thing ehout you going to Henry's," she returned. And another quarrel began. It lastday morning. Caroline left Monday afternoon with the Cartwrights. For a week Caroline enjoyed herself greatly. The Cartwrights were good company, and their car behaved superbly. Her grievance against Jasper stimulated her spirits. At the end of ten days she began to think that perhaps Jasper was not all to blame. Wherein lay their trouble? What ailed them that after fifteen years of reasonable ht-ppiness they should wreck it all by such outrageous behavior? Certainly Jasper was not fretted by business for finance; They had all the money they needed. Life had always moved smoothly for tain rose on the scene of a fantastic Persian garden. "We mustn't talk!" whispered Betty. 'You think more about it and you'll like it better." "I'll think more about you and get to liking you too well," she heard him say softly, "considering that head light you turn on my dazzled eyes. How about going to supper with me after the show?" Betty would not answer, but from time to time she forgot to follow the graceful leaps and bounds of the leading male dancer, while she looked onco more cut of the corner of her blue eyes at the distracting person in boots on her left. "If I had known you were as nice as you are," he began, somewhat unintelligently, "I wouldn't have ducked when you came visiting, but some of Patty's friends have been the limit. They wanted every fellow's scalp in Atlanta to carry home on their 22inch belts. Believe me, there have"Move and I will shoot" The voice cut the darkness like a knife. Even in her extreme fright, Maria noted that the voice sounded hollow and unnatural. Oh, why didn't Henry wake? She wanted to scream. Her lips formed Henry's name, but no sound came, was she dreaming come terrible dream? No, he was backing slowly toward the window, step by step. Perhaps he was trying to escape. She saw his free hand moving slowly up the edge of the window frame. There camo a sudden sharp snap, and the room was flooded with dazzling light. For a moi.icnt. the sudden glare blinded her. The eht reco'nized the

play a gamd of checkers cn the Quaint board which Luclnda's husband had made during the last weary year of his invalidism. Helen had Just Ut Luclnda beat her tho second time by walking clear Into tho king row and Kooning Up everything as she went, when thero came a little knock at the door, Lucinda had become so hilarious over her luck that she did not hear the knock. So that it was Helen who called out, "Come in!" Matilda entered. She 6aw Helen and 6 tatted back. "Oh, you've -got company," she exclaimed. "Yes, but come right in. Matilda." Lucinda said hospitably. "You've met Mrs. Tell? Sho came over to take tea with me. We've Just cleared away and fiet down to our checkers. Your company ain't gone yet, have they? It's real early." "They never came," Matilda replied Eourly, "and they didn't send word or anything. I don't know what to make of It." "Maybe It was the weather," suggtsted Helen cheerfully. "Mrs. Chapman's so apt to be rheumatic when it's damp." "I waited supper for them," con

them both. They had very similar tastes and the best of health. "I can't understand it," Caroline sighed. From Danvers she sent a postcard to Jasper. "Well. Having a fine time." Three days later she got a photo postcard of him in the hayfleld. "So am I," he inscribed merely. A few days more followed, during which Caroline struggled with growing misery, compunction and desire to reform. She never had been away from Jasper so long since before they became engaged. She missed him cruelly. At night she sobbed remorsefully. By day her nerves shook. Suppose something should happen that they never saw each other again? The Cartwrights were astounded by her sudden decision to return homo. She had never confided a word of her troubles to them, and she did not now. She simply said she was too tired to continue the Journey, so she took the train back home. By Äbner been some cannibals down there. Go on now, tell me about that ring! I've simply got to know." "Oh, pshaw," sighed Betty, vastly pleased, "you should worry about me." "I am afraid that I am going to have to," said the young man in determined fashion. "I always knew that I would run some day too fast and too far. It isn't as if I were Just meeting you! Patty and I have talked about you such a lot and I've read some of your clever letters until it seems that we are old friends. Now, tell me about the man!" Betty looked once more out of the corner of her left eye. He had such a nice profile. She leaned confidently near. The tulle scarf about her young, white shoulders blew against him. "I wore this ring tonight because I thought the boys were all stingy not to ask mo to come just because the seats were five dollars. I hope that Albert Rae would see it and worry. By Joella familiar pink and white stripes of Henry's pajamas, "Henry!" "Maria!" The pink clad figure straightened, and the revolver clattered to the floor. "Oh, Henry," gasped Maria, hysterically, "And I thought you were a burglar." "Humph! And I came pretty. near filling you full of lead." "But what In the world Is that queer looking thing you've got on your head?" Henry snatched off the hugo black mask and throw it to the ioor.

tinued Matilda. "They might have pent me word. It seenia to me," "People are so careless sometimes, murmured Helen, "I call it a mean trick." Matilda sniped. "After I'd bought oysUrs especially for thi-m and made & whole cabbage up Into saial If you hadnt had your supper I was going to aak you down to est with me." "Oh, mercy!" cried Lucinda EOjj, "I couldn't eat another mouthful to save my life. Helen brought the nicest little roast chicken and we-ate it ail up. But there'd bav bca enough for you. Matilda, for I'd.aked you up if I had known you were alone." "It's too bad," consoled Helen. "There's nothing puts one out po as expected company that doesnt materialize." Matilda cast a glance at Lucinda. but Lucinda only looked grave and gentle and sympathetic. "I suppose," Matilda said after a moiirnt, and Ehe said it very slowly, too "I suppose it served me right for seeking such folks' company when I had better In the house." And she turned and went downstairs to eat her collingoyster soup alone.

In the twilight of a dazzling; day she entered her own house. The dear house, but so empty, so still! Her thought had been "I'll telephone to Jasper. I'll tell him I'm ut homo waiting for him." At the living room she1 stopped. A man stood at the window trying to get the last light on a picture he held. As she looked he kissed the picture her picture! "Jasper!" she sobbed. The picture fell and he held out his arras. "I knew you'd come. Fr been waiting two days!" he cried. A week later Caroline said: "I've thought it all out, Jasper. We needed a vacation from each other. If we ever get back into the old ways we'll know what to do. I feel as if I'd stumbled upon a great discovery one that would settle the marriage question for evermore, I shall keep our traveling bags ready, packed in case of an emergency." And she does. But up to the present time they have not been needed. Anthony He has pretended to caro such a lot It's mother's ring!" "I wonder if I ouId have a chance to break la on these other fellowsl Patty has always wanted a tlster and to have you " He brokn off abruptly ae he slipped the sapphire coat cn Betty's slender body, brave in flounces and tulle and silver lace. He touched the wide fox collar gently. What a pretty girl she was! How adorabltl Betty saw all that he was thinking in his brown eyes, suddenly serious. "Have I any sort of a chance?" ht repeated. A little ghost of laughter crinkled up the corners of Betty's eyes that were as blue as corn flowers in the sun. "I fchouldn't wonder." As they went out of the theater, .Dad ambled on in front while ' Betty laid her hand lightly, posacasively, oa the arm of the young fellow in high boot much as a queen might have sought to honor a great minister of state. Johnson "That," he eald, disgustedly, "la torn newfangled contraption called a Vnore-no-more.' The feller that sold It to me swore It would cure me of snoring in one night But the darn thing is a fake." Maria collapsed Into a chair and began to laugh and cry at the same time. "You poor dear foolish old Henry," Ehe said, wiping her eyes. "After this you may snore all you like. But for mercy fake don't ever put that thing on again. It's enough to eeare a body to death. And besides, it makes you sound like like ?awir.r wood, and I'd have to get usrd to it a'.l ovr again.

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