Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-12-06
POOR NEXT DOOR.
CHAPTER 7.
beatrice, they've come"
"Who have Gomez

wv no ndNC COHleE
1.-The next-door people, of course
81 didn't know there were any peo-
pie next door" Beatrice said quietly,
and she relapsed into her former indo-
lent attitude in the old hammock.
Alice sighed. 1t was very hard,
after having made herself hot and out
of breath with running, TO have her
news received so calmly.
Sinking down on little folding
chair, she united the ribbons of her
big sun-hat, and threw it on the grass
at her feet.
you are fearfully eXasperating,
Beatrice! i told you the other day
that the next house was let, and you
were the first TO wish we might have
nice neighbors. Now they are here
you don't care bit,'
"Have you seen them?"
"Yes-at least. one OF them'-here
Avice hesitated little; Ian Old lady
"A LADY," Beatrice asked quickly,
lifting herself to a sitting position.
''Well, not exactly a lady, but a
very respec able-look NC person
An expression of deep disgust cross
ed Beatrices pretty face, and she
closed her eyes YEARLY.
"Then the house might just rs well
have remained empty. We wanted
neighbors we could visit, not respect
able persons.
You are never satisfied. Bee. The
next time l have any news / shall
keep it To myself"
"Do, dear, if it is as interesting"
Avice pouted, then, with slight
laugh, caught up her hat, and drew
her graceful form to its full height.
Teas ready" she said abruptly, as
she turned away.
"All right; I'm coming"
Wide awake now, Beatrice slowly
rolled out of her comfortable perch.
bgiving herself little shake when once
on her feet There was a half-rueful.
half-wondering CLEAN in her eyes as
she glanced down at the crumpled
folds of her blue linen dress.
Clean on this afternoon, and all the
rest in the wash. What will mother
sayp" she said dismally.
Avice smiled, and looked rather
complacently at her own crisp robes.
She thought Beatrice little reckless !;
but, then, when would pretty dainty
Bee learn to be as careful as her young
er, wiser sister?
They went slowly toward the house,
an old-fashioned, UNCOVERED dwelling,
hardly bigger than small-sized cot
tage.
In the dining-room sat Mrs. Stanley
and her youngest daughter. Nance;
both looked up in relief as the sisters
entered.
The girls were much alike; all had the
same golden hair, sweet blue eyes,
and delicate skins. Their expressions
varied, and Beatrice was perhaps more
perfectly lovely than the other two
her round graceful figure and slightly
taller.
"Have you seen the new people
next door," Beatrice asked presently.
as she helped herself to piece OF
homemade cake.
"Yes; was watching at the window
when the cab drove up"
Il wonder If there are others TO
come" Avice unused, Zone woman
wouldn't want that house all to her
SELF"
"My dears, you are very curious, y
Mrs. Stanley broke in gently, and re-
proving smile crossed her faded though
still youthful-looking face. IL wish
you would let poor next door alone. =
"All right, mother; only it does
seem strange she should take a nice
furnished house like that for her own
use"
perhaps she intends letting it,
Nance suggested.
An expression Of deep CONSERVATION
crossed Beatrice's face, and her eyes
filled with disgust.
81 hope not" she said fervently.
Fancy having our quietude invaded
by family of noisy children, or sew
eral young men from the city, who
would smoke and lounge about the
garden all the evening? should hate
IT,"
After that emphatic outburst. Bea-
trice elapsed into silence. leaving
Avice and Nance to continue the
conversation. When tea was over she
rose, without word, and wandered
out into the garden.
The hammocks looked very tempt
Ing and an open book lay on the
ground. just where she had let it fall
earlier In the day.
As she stood there her eyes uncon-
sciously rested, half resentfully, upon
the low UNCOVERED fence, that alone
separate their garden from the next.
"I suppose we shall be obliged tc
move our hammock to another part Of
the garden" she thought disconsolate
". What a nuisance! and these are
the incest, shadiest trees in the whole
placer
She glanced towards the house.
which, Ike their own, was old-fashion