The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1895-09-05
TIE CI0THESLINE WAR.
EX iECE l.. WILLS.

line, running over 4 pulley fastened
outside her window, and across Tho
alley TO another pulley in On oppo
site TipGow.
Eaoh rccm had two windows. and
Ers. Murray was tcld that the north
clothcsiinc was hers, while Mrs.
ONeil Yves Put in possession Of the
line connecting the windows 10 the
south Oac morning IIrs. Murray
leaned frcm her window, as sic was
hanging out part of hcr last wash
ing, and called to her ncighbor
over the way, who was doing the
same:
'',Iornin' to ye, Ne own names
Mis- Murray"
"An' mornin' 10 yc, I'm sure; an
I'm Mis- O'Ncil."
Glad TO make your acquaintance,
Mis- O'Ncil. Dive know. Mis-
O'Ncil, ivcr since | moved in I've
been a-wantia to use the hall O
your clothcsline that you can't use.
why, an me the Same, Mis-
Murray, for I've often Lig wash
that l cant begin 10 dhry cn the one
line, an the clothes get sour a.
hangin' indoor"
"Wcll, then, Mis- O'Neil, 'fyou're
agreed, rou let ne know when
you're ready 10 start out clothes on
your line, an I'll start at the same
tins On the o:hcr half Of it, and you
may co the same with mine, SO we'll
male each line carry double" "
Twice Gay since then, and often
three times day, would sound
ncross the alley "Rc-c-cady, Mis-
Murray" or Il "Ec-c-cady, Mis-
O'Ncil," and then, in the midst of
putting clouds of steam, our laundry
women would fill one clothcslinc,
Mrs. Murray sending her clothes TO
flrs. O'Ncil, whilst Mrs. O'Nril, on
The return half Of the same line. was
sending hers to Mrs Murray. Next
the other clothcsline would be filed,
and the Tapping garments would
gather in what sunshine and pure
air they could from Skin alley, until
the next wash was ready
This arrangement soon ripened
into a friendship, and many were
the hearty Iits of cheer, the secret
condolences and the merry wEiffs Of
Irish banter sent to and fro along
the clothcslines. But, alas! Wore
there ever two ncighboring families,
bound together by q clotheslinc or
some less material tie, that never
found the Inc somewhat strained,
the bond tense and ready to break?
Incorporation viii be free from peril
in the millennium.
Onc morning Mrs. Murray OBJ
served that her ncighbor was rather
reserved, and said very little, being
intent on getting her clothes on the
line with the greatest possible OK
,pcdition. When she locked more
carefully at those clothes Llrs. Muir
ray gave q great start and her brow
clouGcd darEly.
There was no doubt about it, her
ncighbor's washing was that of
Mrs. Bentley, Mrs. Murray's best
customer. All, here came the hand
lkcrchicfs, big Bs in the corners.
And no one could ever mistake that
pillowsham. As the clothes jcrkcd
nearer Mrs. Murray she took up a
handkerchief, examined it and
glanced sharply at her nciGhbor.
But Mrs. O'Ncil turned away.
Thcrcat Mrs. Murray shut her win
dow with q bang.
Now it happened that day that
Mrs. Murray wanted the clothes
lines unusually carly in the after
noon. Probably her wrath had as
sisted her muscles. And when she
was ready to take in the dry clothes
from the lines Mrs. O'Ncil was not.
Indeed Mrs. Murray, pccring with
blazing eyes into the dirty windows
opposite. could see nothing of her
ncighbor. Gone a-gaddin. I'm
not a-goia 10 wait on the likes O
her"
With nerves trembling with OK
citcment and passion Mrs. Murray
began to pull in her clothes, vicious
iy jerking the line through the pull
lrys, and. of course, knocking off, as
the line went through, all of Mrs.
O'Ncil's washing Down Guttercd
the Bcntleys' clothes into the un-
imaginable filth of Skin alley. Dainty
linen lay in rocking pools, deckcd
garbage barrels, waved from dirty
window shutters where it caught
half way down, OF tapped along the
greasy firc-cscapcs.
Just as Mrs. Murray had secured
her last Carmen Mrs. O'Ncil re-
turned and saw at 4 glance what
had happened. | shall not attempt
to record the conversation that fol-
lowed. Zach woman was a mistress
of the art vitupcrative, and every
window within hearing distance
soon held one or more eager auditors
''liStcning at Mis- Murray an Mis-
O'Neil having il out" 1t was, liz
deed, fortunate that fifteen feet Of
four-story alley intervcncd between
The cou!neLlutS.
nNA~