Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-07-04
NEIGHBORS
By BALDWIN SEARS
Copyright, 1909. by the
s. S. Mcclure Company
BY BALDWIN SEARS

e'-H.F|-f~-F~'Fv-F~V-
Hes there all alone with nobody
but an old servant. His mother and
father are still in Europe, no one
knows where. It's all overwOrk, the
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
visitor, whose jetted fringe ratified a
castanet accompaniment to her stream
of talk. Who ought to be thankful?
The talkative 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
". "who ought to be thankful, ana
why must 1t last six months"
"Eh? Why, of course he ought to be
thankful. Inflammation Of the eyes Is
no Joke even If 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 q king Of hearts Oh a queen ana
shuffled the pack vlciously.
GRANDMOTHER" - again the small
brown head peered around the corner
of the great cared chair-"who did you
say ID was?'
"Who? Why, young Phil Strong. or
course. the most reckless youngster
that ever lived. | ought to know too
Wasn't his grandfather my own cous
inf Wasn't he just the same, obstinate
as rebelT
Grandmother, did you say that he
was all alone"
mercy upon us, child. what next?
Yes. he's all alone. Look out or the
window all day If you want to, ana
you won't see q soul go out or In ex-
cept the doctor and the butchers boy
At this time Of year all the silly peo-
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 nj
the house opposite. For days she had
wondered who it could be that the doc
tor went to see.
81 should think he would be lonely"
said Mona to herself. 81 should thlnR
he would want some one to come ana
read to him." There was a long pause.
"And he's kind of cousin, too besides
being my neighbor y should
think. And grandmother takes
her nap every afternoon at A.
Here's your cousin come to read 10
Won. Mr.. Phil" The old housekeeper
pushed open the library door and STOOD
aside for the young girl who had fol
lowed her up stairs.
"WhatY came in weary grow 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 ii way that made her wonder
why she had ever come and how she
could get away without speaking. And
ne she stood there the voice repeated
"Who's that?
Mona twisted her fingers together
IL heard my grandmother say that
YOU hadn't any one to read to you ano
that it might last six months She
could get no further, but 1t was toe
late to retreat then.
AT her first words the person sprawl
ing In the big chair had risen abruptly
saving: pardon me. didn't quite
understand what that beast OF coon
said" How polite he was compared
with moment before! Your grand
mother is quite right. haven't an!
one to speak a Christian word to-" W nc
was this girl anyhow? He wished thai
he dared pull! up the bandage for II sec
ond. II her face matched her voice
well. anyhow. IL she were as homeis
as sin she was an angel TO come ah'
read to him. Its awfully good OF you
Miss
stewart, Mona Stewart. just across
the street." she FASTENED to tell him.
"Its mighty good of you. Miss Stew
art. What shall get you--l mean
won't you find a book! ! stayed II
town to study. and | haven't seen
book since came here. This cursed
luck-I beg your PARDON mean IN!
eyes went back on ne Just as Degal
TO read for my degree
"Oh. that's what came to read, L
You'll let me-" added Mona, glad tina
bushes could not be heard by people
who couldn't see them.
"Let your laughed the young mnlI
Indeed | will, though I'm afrai'
You'll find contracts dull work"
Indeed, it won't be dull bit" pro
tested Mona, her sixteen-year-old hear
swelling proudly as she settled hersei