Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-13

The old fashioned custom OF paying
calls on New Years day still existed
in Lanelea. The housekeepers of that
prim and lovely village were always
plentifully supplied with loaves Of
frosted plum cake, pitchers of sweet
cider and pots of fragrant, steaming
coffee and. after an early and conse-
quently hastily prepared dinner. were
dressed and ready to receive callers of
both sexes. for such was the Lanelea
custom. The ladies of the village took
much thought in planning their recep- |
ton hours SO that all might have time /
to pay calls as well as to receive them. /
These calling hours were usually an
nounced in the columns Of the Lanelea
Weekly Times.
"I wonder If Estelle Freeman will
receive calls tomorrow" remarked
Mrs Eddy Skinner to a neighbor on
! the last day of the old year.
II don't know why she shouldn't"
protested Mrs. Smith. "She always has
done it and has had real cream in her
| coffee instead of condensed milk-like
some folks
They We're passing the old Freeman
place, and there had been brief
glimpse of Estelle's pink shawl In the
leafless garden.
Once the handsomest house in Lane
| lea, the Freeman place still bore iudi-
cations of its past grandeur.
1t was a huge old house, much too
large for Estele's slender form. In
summer, when the GOODNESS Of its large
rooms was welcome, it was the most
comfortable house in the village. In
winter its rooms were of arctic tenn
perature, except on New Years day,
when somehow Estelle managed to
have great fires in the fireplaces in the
double parlors and dining room. The
rest Of the winter Estelle spent in
four rooms of the west wing, and the
library became her sitting room.
do you see any signs of New Years
calls?" pursued Mrs. Eddy Skinner as
} they paused beyond earshot of the
Freeman place.
: Mrs. Smith east a backward troubled
} glance at the old house. mo, DON'T
i she admitted. "Of course Estelle al
ways airs the parlor curtains the day
before
"And opens all the windows and
draws up the shades" added Mrs
Skinner. did you see all the shades
were pulled tight, same as every dayT'
yes, but maybe she hasn't got at il
yet Folks can't do everything like
clockworkw Mrs. Smiths good hui
mored face wore a resentful look now
"Freemans always do things by
D clockwork; you know that"
That's so, but folks change some
times"
"Freemans never change their minds
d or their ways, but 1 guess Estelle viii
have to do both now" Mrs. Eddy
Skinner pursed her mouth mysterious
ly.
S Don't be so secretive, Hannah" sale
Mrs. Smith angrily. "If you've go
anything to say about Estelle Free
man, for the lands sake say it and ge
it over with
"Well, Estelles going to lose tn
place tomorrow" said Mrs. Skinne
triumphantly. She was not a har
hearted woman, but merely one VIII
placed a high value upon her abilit
to be the first one to impart matter
"Now calculated Mrs. Smith sharpl!
er Eyes. 1t seems she was possesse
a to keep the house after her fathe
died. and. contrary to Lawyer Allen
advice, she has paid the interest on tn
mortgage out of her little principal
the bank until it's all gone. She ha
not paid any interest for two year
and they're going to foreclose. I'm SUI
I don't know what Estelle will do"
"She will stay with me till she know
what to do" said Mrs. Smith quietl
And for awhile the other woman W.
silenced. Presently she spoke again:
l. knowing about the foreclosure,
course was sure Estelle wouldn't fe
as though she could afford to recei'
tomorrow"
ot And so you took it upon yourse
III to leave her name out of the pap
and to tell Tom. Dick and Harry tn
they needn't call on Estelle Freems
ad tomorrow because she can't afford
i'd entertain. Humph, I guess Ere
mans can hold their own with an
body in Lanelea.' averred Mrs. Smi
ng Loyalty.
as well. declarew cried Mrs. Skim
Ice angrily and without further parl
ar she whisked around corner and we
toward her own neat. white painte
glaringly furnished, unmortgag
fl home.
lat Mrs. Smith stared after her for
te- instant and then appeared to fore
the existence of Mrs. Eddy Skinn'
Her kindly eyes were turned bac
-ou ward over the way they had con
he where the line of neatly painted pic
:. ct fences was broken by a length
overgrown. unkempt privet hedge th
i've surrounded the Freeman place.
IL Suddenly she wheeled about and
traced her steps until she came to t
ragged hedge, where she pushed /
lon bulky form through the narrow ga
for way. Instead Of going around to {
side door that Estelle always used
winter. ELLEN Smith marched up I
tn broad front steps and rang a p'
has through the empty rooms.
of Estelle opened the door. her IA