Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1910-09-30
In Solitude


You have bungalow in shell
tered spot. but near a summer hotel
filed mainly with people who are
working hard to kill time. II ia on .
morning when you have millions OF
things more or less to do that should
have been done before and you are
filled with q strong desire to do
them.)
Girl In Blue latter three raps on
the porch screen)-"Oh. I thought you
weren't in! What--you are just up!
My goodness. Well. they close the
dining-room at the hotel at nine. SO
! have to get up. What's the matter
with your porch? It looks different.
somehow. Oh, you haven't had time
to fix 1t up vet, this morning?
Say, have you forgotten It's bridge
club morning and 1t meets with me
and I'm one short and l know you
told Marie you couldn't come, but you
Just must! can't find any one to fill
the table! Oh, let your old work go
do It this afternoon What's the diff
ference?
isn't something burning? Oh, that's
too bad! 1t never occurred to me that
your breakfast was cooking so late
as quarter after nine.
We'll, If you won't play bridge I've
| got to go and find some one else and
| it's so much trouble. It's kind Of
| selfish Of you. think. There comes
Mrs. Binks! Let me out the back
| way!" f
(Stout, elderly woman with work
| bag In her hand comes putting up the
walk
Good morning. my dear! Isn't this
lovely day? ! said to myself after
breakfast that I'd just run down and
keep you company for while. It
seems SO lonely for you here by your.
self Besides, the children at the ho-
tel are SO noisy that they make my
head ache. brought my crocheting
and ] wish you'd let me see that
spread In your room.
"Oh. your room isn't done up yet?
Tut, tut! My dear, I'm afraid nova.
days young women are slack house
keepers When I was young we did
things systematically. Why certainly,
don't object to your bringing your
coffee out here on the porch. though
/ must say It's queer time of day for
coffee. and you'll ruin your complex.
lon"
(Interval in which you attend to the
man with the ice and the grocery boy,
who comes for orders. and hunt up
some green sewing silk for the neigh.
Dor across the way who calls to ask
for It, Mrs. Bfnks keeping up run.
ming Are to which she expects an
swers. Then stuffy young woman
comes along with a small boy. She
sees you and strolls in.)
stuny Young Woman--My. It's com.
Portable here! What do you do with
yourself all day, though? Don't you
get awfully lonesome? Tommy. leave
those plants alone! What a cunning
typewriter! Do you ever use It?
When you get chance. you say. ]
suppose that's a joke, because every.
body says you're so witty. Tommy
won't hurt 1t, will he? He loves ma
chinery and It's so little. My good.
ness! You never paid 500 for that
did you? I'm sure 1t can't be worth
SO much money. Do you care II Dor.
row some of these magazines?
haven't any OF the late ones. Tommy
loves to cut out the pictures Oh, OF
course, II you haven't had time to
read them yet yourself won't let him
cut them, but don't see what differ
ence 1t makes, because most Of the
stories read Just as well II you skip
a little"
Man Cleaning over the fence)-"Hel.
10! Isn't this the deadest place?
can't find a thing to do. Will you
come for a walk? Oh, didn't see
that you had company! Say. your
flower bed needs watering, do you
know it? And there are caterpillars
on your honeysuckle vine by the gate.
You want to get after them. (Strolls
on.)
Girl in Blue (returning)-"Say. real.
ly, won't you come and fill up that
bridge table? Haven't you got your
old work done yet? Oh, how-do. Mrs.
Binks! Isn't 1t dreadful the way she
buries herself down here with nothing
to do! l should think she's get so
lonesome! Won't you play in her
place, Mrs. Binks?"
(They go away together and you
get to work in earnest Somebody
whistles at the back door and then
shakes It. You 60 to see what 10
wanted.)
Small Boy (breathless)-"Mam
missed the vegetable man an did you
get any parsley. cause our aunt Is
comm on today's boat an we're go
ing to have parsley on things! Got
any cookies"
Rural Postman (calls from the
front) -"Registered letter for you to
sign!"
Two Woman Cottagers (stopping at
the gate)-"Oh, we've been for the
loyeliest walk In the woods! Why on
earth don't you ever 60. instead OF
always sticking at homer Oh, you're |
always talking about work to do! Oh
OF course. we have maids. but with
just yourself there can't be much OF
anything to do here. Oh. you're writ
ing letters! Well. letters don't take
long If you make 'em short. Let's
on IN and sit awhile"