Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12
AN UNCONVENTIONAL VISIT
BY JULIA Hampstead BULL

Rugged her; I couldn't help it, Il feel. y
said l. that ] am going to enjoy this
more than anything that ever happened.
/ think l never saw it rain harder than
1t did the next day, and as 1t was Still
pouring down wickedly when we reached
Prattsburg We decided that it would be
matter Of simple economy to take a
cab. We picked out cabman who looked
good -natured and as we climbed in Early
told him to take us to 314 Mellison. He
acted rather stupid, l thought. for he
leaned down and kept repeating, "Melli.
sen street? 314 Mellison street,"
Cant you understands 1 said. cot
course. it's a street, 314 Mellison?"
Then he nodded, and started his horse.
TT seemed as though we rode for miles.
up and down over a bridge and around
corners. until grew quite dizzy. At las,
he stopped in front of very swell-look-
ing establishment, and we got out and
paid him.
1t wasn't storming quite SO hard. for
tunately, but there was enough rain to
hurry us up the walk and on to the
porch without very close eXaminati ton of
our surroundings There was the door
mat, all right.
Il haven't the faintest idea which is
northeast, | said But If we look in all
corners we'll surely find the key
We looked. but we did not find it.
Probably it has got pushed under the
middle. said Early.
'Of course. that's it, said I.
We picked up the rug and turned it
over. but there was no key. Then we
stood up and looked at each other, and
if my expression was anything like hers
must have been a sight.
The trouble is l said, that Clara
left in such fluster that she forgot to
put the key where she said she was go
ing to It's around here somewhere
We'll see if We can't find it,
4 feel like porch climber already"
said my sister. And I'm sure l saw
some one looking at us with suspicion
from that upstairs window next door,
But l was looking for the key, and my
hair was beginning to feel creepy at the
roots. when my eye fell upon little
jut on e door casing about nix feet
up. climbed on the porch chair, and
was the key!
l cannot describe what an immense re-
lief l felt.
What charming house, cried Early,
delghteuiy. And indeed it was. The
furnishings were exquisite, SO quaint and
tasteful and expensive, too: any one could
that / was surprised, because l
knew that Eugene Hedding worked on
a moderate salary
Come out to the Kitchen" said l. Il
want to see what We are going to have
for supper.
Everything looked clean and trim and
put away. The pantry shelves were full
of kitchen dishes and tinware, but we
did not see anything to eat.
Early gave me queer look, but she
didn't say anything. There wasn't a
Thing in the pantry in the line of eatables
except half loaf of dry bread and a
bottle of olives.
Where's the refrigerator?' said l.
Let's look there
Well. there was dish of butter in it,
and nothing else.
l couldn't keep still any longer.
Whatever possessed Clara Hedding
to tell us that she had the house full
of things to eat.' l said. Indignantly
"A half loaf of dry bread doesn't con-
stitute my idea of lavish plenty in the
culinary line. by any means"
We'll. said Early, now that we have
found that We are to have no supper,
let us go upstairs and see where we
are to sleep
The upstairs bore out the promise of
the lower floor; it was charmingly dainty