The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1894-09-14
A NEiGHBOR.

This is such pretty tlatr' said Mrs.
Bryant enthusiastically, as she went up
and down the five little rooms which were
to be the first home of her married life.
II like top flat she continued; lit is
so much lighter, and the air seems better
up here
You will miss the elm shaded streets
before your own home in Greenwich" i" said
her husband.
"Oh, never mind that she replied.
''Our parlor windows here look out on
great many tree-tops and l can place
my rocking chair so as not to see the house
roofs, but only the trees above them"
"How about the back windows?" he
asked, with doubtful smile as he glanced
down upon the small barren inclosure
called yard, and then across at the rear
windows of other flats which fronted on
the next street.
"Oh! see the children at some windows,
and birds in others and there is a dear old
lady just opposite. Those are our neighbors
But, Fred, look here. Here is a little bal
cony reaching from our side dining room
window across the narrow space to the
window of the next building Why is
that
That is fire escape, so that in case of
a fire we can make dash for liberty over
through the other peoples window, or so
that they can flee over to us
Then we are set here to hel p each other.
We ought to be friends" she said look
ing wistfully at the opposite window,
whose curtain was closely drawn.
mot much friendship between hatsr'
commented her husband. City folks
distrust chance acquaintances, and we
must be careful ourselves There might
forger living below us, and Il gambler
across from us. We can't take chances
But when Lucy Bryants pretty rooms
were settled and made home like, and her
happy daily routine begun, as she sat in
the sunny dining room with her sewing
she used often to wonder about the neigh
Dor across the fire escape, and think how
NCIN easily tICN Cottlli
if they were acquainted
Sometimes the neighbor opened her
window for moment to set out a bottle
of milk or a covered pail; but she never
by any chance looked across, and she re-
tired as quickly as possible. Sometimes
| the curtain was raised as if to admit light
| and Lucy was tempted to look at the pret-
| tily set dining table, the marble clock and
| the little sewing stand. Once as she stood
| moment making out the subject of an
| engraving over the matte, the neighbor
a tall, bright-eyed woman, stepped swiftly
from some corner and pulled the curtain
| down with IA vigor that sent Lucy blush
ing to the furthcst part of her little flat
| She thought me inquisitive," she sale
hotly to herself; she dosen't know how
| miss having neighbors. | never knew
before how lonely one can be in crowd,
| \ sort of mute apology Lucy nov
| often left near her dining room window
a stand with fruit or flowers upon it, III
open book or a bit of work, and put he
| curtain LlSu, So tudl IL inc uHhllOWn IL
looked, she might see there was no hostilit
mo avoidance of a neighborly glance.
| Wnen spring came the venderS brough
towering plants i'll wagons to the cit
streets for sale, and Lucy taking wall
one day, seized upon Il thrifty youn
geranium with pink buds and bore it u
to her high nest, putting it in her parlo
wildow as Il surprise for Fred.
The next morning entering the dinin
ro om Lucy saw on the fire escape in froI
of her cirhbor'' w.ndow IA fine begoni
il a pot, well waterel and enjoying Il
sun.
"She loves flowers" thought Lucy
exultantly. 'Tll reply to her begoni
with my geranium."
SO out went the geranium, and perhal