The Somerset reporter., 1902-06-12
NEIGHBORS
BY BALDWIN SEARS
Copyright. 1909, by the
S. S. Mcclure Company
BY BALDWIN SEARS
b.!-%-i-~.t~+-~-f%-t%%-f~-i

father are still in Europe, no one
knows where. It's all overwork, the
j doctor says, and he ought to be thank
full it's not total blindness. But I'd be
cross, too, If had to sit in a dark room
for six months without any one to
read to me. And he's so anxious to
get on with his law"
Mona Stewart gazed intently at the
yfsitc- whose jetted xe ,attled q
castanet accompaniment to her stream
of talk. Who ought to be thankful
The laxative lady did not say
When she had gone, Mona slipped
from her corner by the window and
stood behind the great chair where her
grandmother sat winter and summer
playing solitaire.
Grandmother" she said questioning
ly, who ought to be thankful. and
why must 1t last six monthsT
9Th? Why, of course he ought to be
thankful. Inflammation of the eyes is
no joke even IL he did bring 1t on try
ing to learn everything In one year,
Commend me to young men for par
eel of FOOLS" And the old lady snap.
ped a king of hearts on a queen and
shuff1ed the pack viciously.
"Grandmother" again the small
brown head peered around the corner
of the great cared chair-"who did you
say it WASP"
"Who? Why, young Phil Strong, of
course, the most reckless youngster
that ever lived. l ought to know too.
Wasn't his grandfather my own cous-
in? Wasn't he just the same. obstinate
es a rebel?"
Grandmother, did you say that he
was all alone?"
Mercy upon us, child, what nextf
Yes, he's all alone. Look out of the
window all day If you want to, and
you won't see a soul go out or in ex-
cept the doctor and the butchers boy.
At this time of year all the silly PEG.
pie have rushed off to roast at the sea-
side, and there's no one in town to go
and see any one"
Mona looked out of the window at
the house opposite. For days she had
wondered who it could be that the doc
tor went to zee.
81 should think he would be lonely,
said Mona 10 herself. 81 should think
he would want some one to come and
read to him. There was a long pause.
And he's kind of cousin, too, besides
being my neighbor. | should
think. And grandmother takes
her nap every afternoon at A."
"Here's your cousin come to read to
you, Mr.. Phil" The old housekeeper
pushed open the library door and stood
aside for the young girl who had fol
lowed her up stairs.
"WhatW came in a weary growl from
the darkness who's going to read to
me?"
But the housekeeper had departed,
and Mona was left standing In the mid
die of very large, very closely cur
tanned room, with a shadowy somebody
who had turned his bandaged eyes up
on her in way that made her wonder
why she had ever come and how she
could get away without speaking. And
as she stood there the voice repeated,
who's thatY'
Mona twisted her sfingers together,
Il heard my grandmother say that
you hadn't any one to read to you and
that it might last six MONTHS She
could get no further, but it was too
late to retreat then.
AT her first words the person sprawl
ing in the big chair had risen abruptly,
saying: Pardon me. | didn't quite
understand what that beast of cook
said" How polite he was compared
with a moment before! "Your grand
mother is quite right, l haven't any
one to speak a Christian word to-" Who
was this girl anyhow? He wished that
he dared pull up the bandage for sec
ond. If her face matched her voice
well, anyhow. if she were as homely
as sin she was an angel to come and
read to him. ITS awfully good of you,
Miss
Stewart, NoQa Stewart, just across
the street." sheShastened to tell him.
Its mighty good of you, Miss Stew
art. What shall | get you-I mean,
won't you find q book? | stayed in
town to study. and | haven't seen a
book since | came here. This cursed
luck-I beg your pardon-I mean my
eyes went back on me just as ! began
to read for my degree"
"Oh. that's what | came to read, If
you'll let me-" added Mona, glad that
bushes could not be heard by people
who couldn't see them.
Let you7" laughed the young man.
Indeed | will. though I'm afraid
you'll find contracts dull work"
Indeed, it won't be dull a bit" pro-
tested Mona. her sixteen year-old heart
swelling proudly as she settled herself
near the window. where the light was
cautiously let In. Wasn't she doing
unto her neighbor as she would be
done by?
81 shall like 1t, am sure" she de-
clared.
"And love her for doing It," said
the yorAg man to himself at the end
of mHlth as he sat and waited for 4
O'clock and Mona.
But 4 o'clock came then o'clock,
and brought no one.
Mona did not come the next day or
the next Philip Strong grew crosser
and crosser, and the doctor shook his
head and declared that all the progress
he had made I'm the last month would
be lost If he did not stop fretting.
Doctor" said the young man one