Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1893-06-27
MY NEW NEIGHB0R.
She Was a Quiet Little Body for
Ton Years.
People Would Gossip Until the Husband
Returned aud Cleared Away the Mys-
terry That Had Surrounded His
Little Family.

Dig mouse on leFNost SlTetl oppOolOS
my own humble dwelling | was ex-
tiemely anxious TO know all about her
affairs. My sister Cora, who was visit
ing me. sat in the window half the
forenoon watching the drayman un-
load. II was she who discovered the
name "Croswald" on the piano box.
Piece after piece OF brand-new furni-
turc disappear ed through the wide hall
door, eliciting little envious comments
from Cora, who had begun housekeep-
ing on the secondhand scale few
weeks before. Pervost street was so
quiet that II family moved in OF out
IL was an event There was nothing
absolutely nothing in which we could
interest ourselves that would afford so
much variety and pleasure as did the
affairs of our neighbors The bump of
curiosity--one 81 the predominant fea-
lures OF woman-was fully developed
in my sister and myself, though l
hated TO have anybody know the lat
ter fact. twas noon before we got our
morning work done. SO far we had seen
no tenants-only the drayman and fun.
niturc.
About four O'Clock Cora called me
from the kitchen. | leaned over her
shoulder and saw lady alight from a
carriage; two boys and little girl had
preceded her to the house. We stretched
our necks this way and that 10 catch a
glimpse of a man, but no Mr.. Croswald
did we see. We looked just as long as
there was any light; we swept off our
clean porch a dozen times; we became
deeply concerned about the gate, that
had been the plaything of the winter
wind for many months. Cora took a
hammer and gave the broken hinge a
couple OF infantile taps, then thought
Tom" could fix IL better than she.
Daylight didn't last any longer than
the time prescribed In the almanac, and.
after one long, lingering look at the
house across the street, we drew our
curtains and sat down to talk about
Mrs. Croswald's nice furniture. We
wondered where she came from; II she
was q widow or grass widow. We
imagined as much evil as one woman
could imagine about another.
The next morning we had callers who
tdinG W uottiA1ln VIM VIC iAhh AphAlN
out. Mrs. OSearly rolled her eyes and
shrugged her shoulders as she came up
the walk knew the signal; II meant:
"Open your ears, my friend, I've heard
something you ought to know" She
took a chair just inside the door.
"Them's nice children" she said, as the
three children scampered about the
lawn in the opposite yard. I've found
out their names, Mrs. Mitchell Hev
you bin over yit?' Without waiting for
my reply she went on: II hain't seen
nothin' of him. yit, hev yewl Them's
nice things she's got. watched out of
my side winder an saw every bit OF
the furnitur that was took inl They
hain't no man about the house ez l kin
see, so she must be a wilder" and Mrs.
O'Searly stopped 10 wipe her heated
face with her apron | wouldn't for the
world let Mrs. o'Searly know that had
made my neck lame trying 70 see
through the cobwebby curtains across
the street was beginning TO despise
myself heartily, and mentally declared
that whatever should find out In fu-
ture should keep to myself | felt
like a martyr, though, when made the
resolve, but knew II was better late
than never 10 begin 10 mind ones own
business. Mrs. 0'Searly took her leave,
and few minutes later Mrs. Bromheld
called to borrow basque pattern. She
lived four or five blocks up the street
and was quite out OF breath with her
long walk. Her next-door neighbor
was a dressmaler. told her my pat
tern was loaned and watched In vain
for the look OF disappointment TO olothe
her features. Well, Mrs. Bromfeld took
her departure after repeared inJunc-
tions 10 mo about becoming too init
mate with strange people "our sus-
PIGEONS may be all wrong, but do be
careful now do, dear" and my friend
who made me distrust everybody for
ten blocks around left me in no pleas
ant frame of mind.
| wanted 30 tell Cora what Mrs. Bron.
Geld had told rec, but, after second
thought, concluded 10 wait develop
ments In the case. Presently our gate
clicked and Mrs. Croswald's younger
son came 10 the door. mamma would
iihf W bNlAhh "a ohNf - ObA HAN7t''f Nv
said doiiing his cap, Cora got the afti-
Gle aud Archer Croswald trotted back TO
his mother. lie told as his name was
"Archie."
"She knows how 20 bring up her chill
dren," said Cora, giving me knowing
look. My four boys were the plague OF
their auntie's life, with their mischief
GUS pranSs and uncouth manners.
Time passed on, and Mrs. Croswald
had lived opposite US ten years Yes,
lived in spite Of the sidewise glauces Of
Mrs. Bromhcld aud the open sneers OF
Mrs O'Searly. She was the best neigh
Dor ever had, though the worthy Mira
Rromheld couldn't see what | liked
about her, and Mrs. OSearly knew
there was some ''shulduggcry' going on
that folks knew nothing about. There
WA a reserve about Mrs, CroGwald that
puzzled us not little.
She seldom visited her neighbors won