The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-13
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Q THE DAILY STORY Q
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Getting Acquainted

tle cup Of black coffee across the
pretty table. But Ward Gorson, sees
ing appeal In the sweet face he knew
by heart. answered the glances By al
question. They We're alone, as
usual, and the babies had been long
asleep.
Anything wrong. dear? Babies
cross? Katie ampant9
The young wife laughed at this,
for Cook Katie was as meek as a
rabbit
No. Katie Is perfect, and the ba
bies are angels, and though | must
say ! dreaded leaving my own house,
this flat is the easiest place to keep
up, and such nice nelghborhood!
j quite like the looks OF nearly ey
cry soul that lives within blocks."
Ward chuckled. Does the sign
mean sorrow that the neighbors are
nicer"
1T means that they don't seem
to find out soon enough that | am
nice, and viii say that I'm lone.I
some here. 1t doesn't seem thas
they intend to make friends, 1t
isn't as if we came heie from an
ether part OF the cty--we're strang-
ers even in the state. 1t isn't even
as II we We're horrid climbers HI
don't care for mere calling
Inst, or for Orally bridge tights. as
you call them, but do want to-
make friends. Most Of the neighbors
have called. and | have returned the
calls But that's ALL Il ss
n rOh. well, the minute I'll can .she.
sure the business will warrant our
staying here for good, we'll buy or.
build our own home, and Things will
be different. Flat dwellerss are count
ed tfansients in most places. How
about the folks next door? Rancey
has been very decent to @me.'
We'll, she called and ] returned
and she occasionally borrows some
coffee or something, aud | do the
same. And we smile over the fence
and mention the weather and that's
all! 1t makes me lonesome to see
the other women, mostly about my
age, too, running in and out of each
others houses"
We'll" he comforted. "Ive notic-t
ed that things often come in lunches.
They'll come round in time.
haven't seen any better-dressed or
hammered young person than you
hereabouts, and you're miles prettier
than any Of EN- She blushed girl
ishly. al. the husbands opinion. "And
you're a better housekeeper than any
body-things always look just ready
fo function"
They are" she asserted with
pride. Mrs. Rancey has been clean
ling and stewing for days because
( OF little luncheon she gives tomor-.
row to the women of the neighbor-
hood-all but me. Why do you sup
pose she didn't ask me? And she ls
the sort Of housekeeper who lets ey-
Eerything get dirty and then has wild
SPELLS Of cleaning! | can see her from
THE sitting room window fussing
about. II 3makes me wild to show
them what | can do without the least
| fuss! I'm sure | could teach her,
something about salad"
The two went into the den, where
the man got his beloved evening pa.
per and the little wife pricked al
q bit OF sewing. She essayed more
talk. but he hardly heard her so she
( desisted. tl
p The next morning she sat and
watched her 3-yearold baby amusa.
the 2-yearold baby ON the floor and
I turned from time to time to her win
dow, whence she saw her neighbor
/ busy with silver and china and cut
glass. A florists boy left flowers
andla delicstessen wagon made de-
liverles?~A smart negro cateress ar
rived on the scene, and from the
open window much talk arose. IT.
vas clear, splendid day for the
heavy spring rains had suddenly
ceased, and April was. a marvel OF,
bridsong and greenery. Cook Katie
in the shining kitchen, was coming
an Irish song.
Joanna, looking and listening, felt
her hurt grow little. She might
have been asked, she thought, if she
Rad" been in the neighborhood there
but two months. And she felt her
self quite the kind of a woman she
saw Al the Ranteys r
An hour or two passed and he
fore noon she had worked herself into
quite an unhappy and resentful
mood, She resolved TO hide her time
aud retaliate. Once. in her own house
the. lovely one she and Ward had
TOR J, eats been. planning when they
should finally have established them
selves permanently IN a business
city, and she would not even know
tlese people! She glanced again
from the window. Then she heard a,
crash In the Rancey house, scream.
and then some scolding and expostu-i
lttion. In moment the smart ne
gress, her hat on. swung out of the
kitchen, still talking.
NO, ! amt gwine stay. an be-
scolded, Wouldn't a.dropped dat salad
nohow eff hadn't been nervous long
a-bein' bossed, n I'm glad | done bruk
de old dishl I'm gwine home," And,
despite expostulations. she departed.
Mrs. Rancey stood moment, ir-
iesolutely, in the door. and then the
tears rolled down her cheeks She
looked up and saw Joanna
"Oh. what shall | do?" she walled.
Here ! have len women due fol
luncheon in an hous, and everything
at a critical point, and that creature
droppaJ tho .a1a a aud kpaLa Tho hnot