The evening times., 1898-07-01
TWO WOMEN
AND THEIR WOES
Their Grievous Experience in
Quest Of P -cturesque Ideals.
Harms Have Their Beauties. hut
When 1t Comes to Comfort. Ho-
tells VIII Do Hereafter.
You see. it was this way. We thought

You see. it was this way. We thought
we wanted a house.
My friend has a taste for art; | have a
throat and literary aspirations.
We planned to spend season together.
and in making our plans accidentally
found in a small town with much reputa-
tion health-giving and health-keep-
ing resort. little building to rent with
two apartments on the ground floor and
above them great and gorgeous studio
with gables and crannies and mysterious
| hooks. We said at once that it was the
| ideal spot for US.
We care d lot about the ideal.
Ny friend promptly rented the studio
and l one of the apartments, and our
Iandlady for reasons of her own. which
we were to learn later. forthwith. had
two ironclad leases drawn up which We
lightheartedly signed without noticing
many of the observation-disclosures we
did pretend to read before appending our
names.
few weeks later We came with many
of our worldly goods-the most artistic of
our possessions. of course. as best suited
to the picturesque surroundings-to take
possession of the glorified barn
For now that We had time 20 think and
make Inquiries. We learned that horses
and hay had been our predecessors but
barely two short seasons before. Since
bicycles have become fashionable stables
are drug on the market-therefore the
transforma ton.
IT'S going TO be delightful not TO he
mixed up with a lot of people, like one is
at a hotel YOU know" said my friend
with her best English accent. which she
only uses when she is particularly pleas
ed.
I'm sure we shan't mind going out for
meals" She stood at the foot of the
stairs as she spoke, chserfu!ly janGling
the cowbell draped over the hall window.
Visitors to the studio We're invited by a
card nailed to the outer Intel to enter
The hall and ring this cowbell which
was one Of the picturesque features Of
the place
The next morning I awoke late. Hastily
assuming dressing gown and slippers. l
perceived in a dazed sort of way fha.
my next need was bath.
| proceeded to find out what conven-
fences for that necessity my apartment
afforded. The plumbing proved TO con-
sist of one lead pipe with faucet coming
up over a dirty board in a shabby shed.
called in our lease kitchen. There WIS.
it is true. a sink. also dirty. with an
other faucet. but this. as well as the
outlet to the sink. our thoughtful land
lady had kindly blocked up and prohib-
ited-in the lease-Our using, doubtless
for fear the wastepipe should become
stopped or worn-out with use.
The alleged kitchen was very small and
unciean. and the water was very cold
This was one of the attractive fea-
lures when signing the lease-the cool
ness of the water. No necessity for ice.
you know.
tshi no.
| hurriedIy drew some water In bat
tsred papier mache pitcher and set about
finding some means of heating it. My dill
gent search disclosed a small oil stove
and a badly rusted kettle. The combna-
lion was far from attractive. bu; any
thing il better than nothing.
With reviving hopes ! attempted to
light the stove.
1t contained no oil.
Grimly l washed my face in the cold
fluid. ! am not so young as once was.
and cold water develops all the latent
wrinkles in my skin and all the defects
in my temper
The process of dressing accomplished.
was faint and cross and desperately in
need of coffee. Outside It was raining
as doggedly as If the clerk of the weather
had never heard that our adopted VIII
lage was a resort with a reputation for
sunshine and fair weather. hunted out
ONerSnOeS ana umDrelIa, ana. leaning on
the banisters for support. called mp the
stairway to the studio where my friend
had passed the night 1t a bedroom inn
provised from one of the hooks and
crannies by means of clotheshorses and
things.
She descended the stairway as silent
and pale as I. Thus we took our muddy
way through the pelting rain five blocks
TO the house where We had engaged table
board.
On our way We passed two hotels and
four boarding-houses. I looked at them
with unwonted sensations of envy In
them We're happy people who probably
knew not their blessedness. Very likely
they yere grumbling because the bell boy
was slow in bringing them ice water
when they had porcelain bathtubs, plenty
of hot water and had only to go down.
stairs to get coffee.
Anarchy reigned in my soul.
Why were the good things Of life so un-
equally divided?
What had done to become, as sud
denly believed myself to have become.
an outcast from civilization, its habits
and its comforts?
But coffee and toast were excellent and
reassuring.
AT least" said to myself. .refiectively.
as ate II am still a human being
Back again through the pelting rain to
our quarters.
The furnace fire was low: the rooms