Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-01-13

Joanna handed her husband his
little cup of black coffee across the
pretty table. But Ward Corson, see
ing appeal in the sweet face he knew
by heart, answered the glance by a
question. They were alone, as usual.
and the babies had been long asleep.
Anything wrong, dear? Babies
cross. Kate rampant"
The young wife laughed at this.
for Cook Katie was as meek as a
rabbit.
No, Katie 1. perfect, and the
babies are angek, and though l must
say / dreaded leaving my own house.
| this fiat is the easiest place to keep
| up. and such a nice neighborhood!
| quite like the looks of nearly
every soul that lives within blocks!"
She slipped her coffee and sighed.
Ward chuckled Does the sigh
mean sorrow that the neighbors are
nice?"
| 1T means that they don't seem to
find out soon enough that l am nice,
1t doesn't seem that they intend to
make friends. 1t isn't as if we came
here from another part of the city
were strangers even in the state. 1t
isn't even as if we were horrid
climbers! don't care for a mere
calling and pink tea list, or for daily
'bridge-fights, as you call them, but
| / do Mt 10 f,ia Of
the neighbors have called, and have
returned the calls. But that's ALL"
"Oh. well, the minute can be
sure the business will warrant our
staying here for good we'll buy or
build our own home, and things will
be different Flat jewellers are
counted transients in most places.
How about the bolts next door, Ran
cey has been very decent to me-"
We'll, she called, and I returned,
and she occasionally borrows some
coffee or something, and l 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"
Well" ne comforted, I've noticed
that things often come ip punches.
| 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 at the husbands opinion. And
you're better housekeeper than any
body-things always look just ready
for a function"
They are" she asserted with
pride. Mrs. Rancey has been clean
ing and stewing for days because of
little luncheon she gives tomorrow
to the women of the neighborhood-
all but me. Why do you suppose she
didn't ask me? And she is the sort
of housekeeper who lets everything
get dirty and then has wild spells OF
cleaning! l can see her from the
sitting room window fussing about
1t makes me wild to show them what
l can do without the least fuss! I'm
sure l could teach her something
about salad"
The two went into the den where
the man got his beloved evening
paper, and the little wife pricked at
bit of sewing. She essayed more
talk. but he hardly heard her, so she
desisted.
The next morning she sat and
watched her three-year baby amuse
the two-year baby on the floor, and
turned from time to time to her win
dow, where she saw her neighbors
/ busy with silver and china and cut
glass. A florists boy left flowers
and a delicatessen wagon made deliv-
cries. A smart negro cateress ar
rived on the scene, and from the open
window much talk arose. 1t was
a clear, splendid day, for the heavy
spring rains had suddenly ceased, and
April was a marvel of birdsong and
greenery. Cook Katie, in the shining
kitchen, was grooming an Irish song.
jeanne, looking and listening, felt
her hurt grow a little. She might
have been asked, she thought, II she
| udu UCCh III thC hCi6hOOihOOQ tuCI =
but two months. And she felt herself
quite the kind of woman she saw at
the Ranceys.
An hour or two passed and before
noon she had worked herself into
quite an unhappy and resentful mood
She resolved to bide her time and re
taliate. Once in her own house. the
| ch4 h~l g.
years been planning when they
should finally have established them
selves permanently in business city
and she wouldn't even know these
people! She glanced again from the
window, Then she heard a crash In
the Rancey house, scream, and
then some scolding and expostulation
In a moment the smart negress, hel
hat on, swung wrathfully out Of the
| x~11