The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-08-25
Their
Friend

Friend
She was always sitting there when
Serene went by, leaning hack in the
wicker hour-glass chair. Sometimes
4 hook or magazine lay open in her
lap. but more often It had slipped I'M
needed to the floor. 8ereneR ilrst i'm
preston Of her was that she VA the
loveliest woman she had ever seen:
her next that she was the weariest
looking.
Serene was very young. It WA hot
In the central telephone once where
she worked and the hourui were long
and the pay meager. Serene had
worked there since she LEFT school. She
lived with old aunt who did dress
making and had always acted the part
OF . mother to her.
One Sunday afternoon when Serene
went by she had Dave with her. Dave
had been devoted to Sereneal through
her school days and since. He was .
big. gentle fellow. all ambition and
vim and sound purpose. who meant
when he had learned his trade 10
make . little home for Serene. Sc
enc suspected this intention. though
he had not mentioned Il 10 her yet
Before another Sunday. arrived .
new girl came into the once. She was
. snowy. handsome girl. who always
had an answer or . pert little laugh
ready.
Serene shrank from association
with her and tho girl perceived It.
Consequently when Dave came that
Saturday afternoon to wait for Serene
and to accompany her homo the
new girl tried to discomf1t Serene BY
flirting with him. She asked him to
read the numbers while she plugged"
at her switchboard. and Dave. uncon-
scious Of any wrongdoing. complied.
Serene was angry and went home
alone Ms fast AZ her feet would carry
her. q very much disturbed little girl.
Next day when Dave called her up
she gave him over the phone q spir-
tied reply and hung up the receiver.
When he came to call she would not
see him. -
She was 20 miserable that on . GER
tain afternoon when rain menaced she
walked to work without her umbrella.
There was mono 1t the once she could
borrow, 90 she had to walk back
through the drfxxle. which. suddenly
became . downpour, just a. she
reached the veranda lady's house. She
had started to run In dismay at get
ting ~drenched, when . voice called
coolly. commandingly: Come here. I
want to see you."
The veranda lady had como to life
and had spoken. Serene ran with all
her might to the preferred shelter and
sank into q chair.
They sat q moment watching the
rain.
Il have seen you 60 By every day
since I have been here" said the
veranda lady In her slow. sweet. tired
way. TN glad this rain came so
that We could get acquainted. You
work. don't your"
Z Serene told her how and where she
worked. And she told . great deal
more than her words conveyed, for
the lady was reading the meaning Of
her wan little face and miserable
eyes.
I'm not happy" blurted out Serene.
I'm" And then she told the veran-
da lady the whole story.
oh. my dear!" said the older wom-
an. And she put up her white hand
and brushed back her hair. There
was gray in her hair. Serene saw. And
on her finger vas . great red stone
like . BIT Of fre. An engagement ring.
"Oh. my dear! You were Jealous
jsalousi OF that dear boy! You see.
I can tell he IL ! dear boy. And you
are . dear little girl. But you win
wreck your life II you aren't careful.
It's very lucky for you that you can
stiil make up. And when you have
made up stay %"
6~plashine through the rain, laden
with raincoat and umbrella, came .
tall young figure. II was Dave and he
was coming straight for her house.
Serene knew. looking for her. She
caught her breath.
why. Tiers he 10 now!' said the
vsranda lady cheerfully. Coming TO
bring you an umbrella. The dear boyi
Call to him-Call to him. quick!"
Serene called. And Dave heard. His
face was very bright - he came to
the veranda. and though the lady In
the hour-glass chair was wonderful to
see. he had eyes only for Serene.
whom no helped very proudly into the
raincoat. A very contrite. humble
little Serene she was. too.
"You must come and sec me togeth-