The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1911-06-17
The Little Brown House
By JEROME SPRAGUE
teOpylighe f9II D Associated Literary PTes)


JacqueIin used to look out of her
window at the house next 4oor and
envy the four girls who seemed to
have such good times
And they have the incest brother. "
she would SAP to the motherly WON
an who was half maid and halt
housekeeper
'T think he Is pretty. selfish" Mary
would answer grimly; they're al
ways efussing over him"
oh, but he is always bringing
them things. He comes home with
little parcels. and they run out to
meet him, and when the shade is up
in the living room l can see them
open them"
1T seems to me you must be watch
ing them pretty closely" Mary said.
We'll. what else have / to do,
JacqueIin demanded, ''in this big
house, with my throat bad all the
time, and nobody to come to see me?'
Then she broke down and cried,
and Mary comforted her. What you
need is company" was the old WON
ans comment. You just sit here
and NOPE and NOPE, and it is bad for
you to do So"
DO you know what I'd like to do?"
JacQueIin said. I'D like to give a
party and invite those girls next door
and the boy. too
Mary looked at her severely That
might do if you were eight years old
instead of eighteen. but young ladies
don't give parties and invite people
they've never met"
Il don't care" Jacquelin said.
Those girls next door are as poor
as they can be. and except for their
brother. they never have any fun.
They work all day"
We'll, you might ask one of them
over to sit with you Mary capitu-
lated. 81 don't suppose it would
hurt, though 1 don't know what your
uncle would say about it,
81 don't care what he would say,
Jacquelin declared. I'm young, and
1 can't be shut up like prisoner in
a castle"
'Of course not" was Mary's sooth-
ing reply. You just write a little
note. and I'll take it over to one of
those girls"
But Jacquelin was not easily sway
ed from her plans. I'm going to
have all of them over" she said, Ito
lunch tomorrow"
1t was hopeless for Mary to argue,
so the note went forth and created a
great sensation in the little brown
house next door.
will you listen to this?" said
II Tr-Hn hod
opened it. She read aloud the fol-
lowing:
Il have so often watched you from
my window. I am very lonely and
not very well, and l wish you could
come to lunch with me tomorrow.
Can't you? Please say yes and make
the girl next door very happy"
There. 1 told you she wasn't
proud"
DO you think we ought to go?''
Ruth asked anxiously.
"Of course" said Betty promptly.
But Grace and Eveline were not
sure. ct would be lovely" they said.
But what would brother think"
Brother" Betty groaned. "Oh, Bob
IS such stickler for proprieties."
Bob is a dear" Betty agreed; but
he'd like to keep us in cotton wool
He is so afraid we might make, un-
pleasant intimacies that he keeps us
shut up like lot of children, and l
want a good time"
why Betty" they exclaimed. He
IS man and he doesn't understand
that we want to get out and see some
thing of the world, and I'm going over
to the big house for lunch tomorrow
whether the rest of you go or not
Let US wait" they pleaded, until
Bob comes home. We can send our
answer at five o'clock"
We'll, of all things" said Bob
when he had read the note The
colossal conde5cension of it. She has
lived next door to you for six months
and hasn't noticed you, and now she
wants you to come when she beck
ons. l guess not"
Betty's face famed Z don't see
why" she said 1T is our one chance
for a good time, Bob Carson"
But Bob was obdurate q should
think you'd have some pride in the
matter, Betty" he said.
Betty went away 70 weep Dy nSr-
self, but the three other girls accepted
the verdict meekly.
The next morning Bob started
forth for the Office in a glow of self
satisfaction. Betty had returned to
her attitude of alteration, and he felt
a little glow of triumph in his fnfu-
ence over his feminine brood As he
passed the gate of the big house, he
looked up at the window and saw be-
tween the curtains a little white face
banded with dark hair. 1t was a pa
thetic little face, and It haunted him
all the way to the Office. Suddenly it