Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-01-02
HIS CHINESE WALL.
BY MARY DAWSON.

dreamed of the existence of such an
reimbursement.
The court from the outside is little
to look at-only long extent of dreary
prisonlike gray wall, at one end sur
mounted by headless bust of julius
Caesar, with plaster cast of Bonaparte
in somewhat better condition at the
other.
In April of '93 Ned Wilkes and his
wife, young married people, moved into
the court. They rented numeral
vingt-neuf. 1t is from them that had
this story.
During the first three days after NOV
ing in Mrs. Wilkes made little ruffled
curtains for the easement windows.
She persuaded Ned to plant their own
little parterre in myosotis and pansies.
And she took an inventory of the
neighborhood.
81 know the names of everyone in
the court, Ned, dear" said Mrs. Wilkes.
"I've spoken with all the women"
How about the girl in twenty-six ?"
Ned asked, lazily. 81 thought you
couldn't make her out"
"Oh, I've spoken with her since then.
She's very nice. A little queer, but
nice. She's from the west at home
Miss Chandler"
"And the fellow in twenty-seven.
That odd crow" continued Wilkes.
DO you know who he is?"
81 had forgotten him." she answered; /;
Il l., L.
nice, too. Queer, but nice"
"You said that about the girl in
twenty-six," said Ned. Its bit of a
coincidence that the girl in twenty-six
and the fellow in twenty-seven should
be both queer but nice. They ought
to fall in love with each other"
The following morning Mrs. Wilkes
"bonne" went out to the little village
Of Clamart to attend the funeral of
deceased relative. Wilkes was obliged
personally to extract the household
water from the court hydrant, c Job of
which he was not fond. 1t was in no
gentle mood that, having rolled up his
sleeves, he took pail in each hand and
tucked a heavy cruche under one arm
The pump stood in the shadow of the
schoolhouse wall.
When Wilkes reached the pump he
found some one before him-the man
from twenty-seven, the odd crow.
His hair, long and black, was blown
in all directions about face at once
odd and ugly, beautiful and interest
ing. He wore loose black trousers and
the white blouse of an art-worker. And
he stood some six feet in a pair of
French house slippers with redwood
Innings. He looked up as Wilkes de-
posted his burden and smiled in a
friendly manner.
you've taken number twenty-nine,
haven't you?" the stranger said "We're
pretty close neighbors. My name is
Penroyd-Waltham B. Penroyd, New
York state"
Wilkes exchanged his own name and
birthplace, after which Penroyd ex-
tended long white paw, and they
shook hands.
you've got too much to carry" OBJ
served the new neighbor, glancing at
the various vessels. "Give me that
jug; I'll see it home for you"
Wilkes demonstrated, but the neigh
bor was firm. "Comeahead!" !"h he cried,
Like as not your wife is waiting for
the water. haven't any wife, Wilkes.
| wish l had"
He carried the heavy cruche and set
it down on the doorstep of number
twenty-nine.
Come in and see us some time" said
Ned.
THANK you," he answered, earnestly.
Il have often been tempted to since
you moved in"
well, if temptation comes again,
don't resist it," said Ned, laughing.
He came the following afternoon.
Ned and his wife were sitting as usual
upon the stoop. Ned himself was more
than half asleep. The kitten, drowsy,
too, sprawled across her masters knees
in an ecstasy of purring. Suddenly the
latch of the gate snapped. Ned drew
himself up and passed hand across
his eyes in bewilderment. That styl-
ish-looking fellow could not be Pen
royd?
But Penroyd it was. He had dis
cardcd the loose pantaloons and the
blouse Of his working hours. He now
blossomed forth in tasteful, perfectly
fitting suit of dark material. His long
hair had been brushed back within
bounds and the red-lined slippers ex-
changed for patent-leather boots, with
all the addenda necessary to make q
well-dressed man.
He brought a handful of roses for
Mrs. Wilkes-a rare and beautiful Span
ish variety. His most cherished rose
tree, idolized and pampered through
out the winter, had been ruthlessly de-
spoiled to yield them.
Lucy, dear" said Wilkes to his wife,
this is Mr.. Penroyd. Sit down, PEN
royd. Glad to see you"
"You see, didn't wait for a second
invitation, Wilkes and Mrs. Wilkes" he
said, smiling.
1--WE wanted to know you," said Mrs.