The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-25

Literary Press.1,
Nellie Nesbit looked across the
( lawn and sighed. The magniticence
of the adjoining house weighed on
her spirits BY comparison her own
little cottage seemed mean and poor.
/ Well at least / have my roses, -
she eomforted herself.
+ Her garden was thing of beauty
/ "a riot OF color. sea of fragrance.
There were DO roses around the big
/ house across the way. Formal ter
races. clump or two of rhododen-
drons, some clipped trees IN green
boxes, these constituted the floral dis
play.
And she lets her gardener care for
them" Mrs. Nesbit had told her hua-
/ band at breakfast. Half the fun
I in having flowers is In taking care
/ of them yourself
/ She doesn't seem to have much
/ fun" Jehn Nesbit had replied. She
lives such an artificial existence
/ oh. but she has all lovely time. -
Nellie insisted she has loads OF
company and they come in auto
mobiles. and they play bridge on tho
porch, and have delicious things 10
eat why John Nesbit, | don't dare
step into my garden when those wo-
men are playing cards"
+ Why notG'
Il haven't anything III to wear
John raised his eyebrows in amaze
ment. Never before had his Nellie
shown signs of discontentment.
You're too pretty TO say things like
that he told her.
"Prettiness doesn't count in these
DAYS" Nellie assured him.
lie came around to her side OF the
tFIf lsEw
right" he said, heartily. Good bye
sweetheart. I'll have 10 hurry hit
or IN be late for my train
III Mr. Wentworth was the least
bit noighborly," Nellie COMPLIANCE
she would ask YOU 10 ride in towr
with him. He sits in that big cal
alone. except for the chauffeur, ans
there's room for four"
He probably doesn't want to b,
bothered" WAS Johns conclusion. "bu
I'd enjoy "a ride these hot days &
they'd take you, too"
Nellie would not take such an op
timistic view of the case. They hat
been so happy before the big hou~
went up beside them bat now. tn
! whole peaceful routine Of the day wa
: disturbed by the social function
which presented a panorama of ga,
gowns and of whirling motor cars
lO~Hd9 tnS motor cars were out II
full force. A morning bridge part
was IN progress and there We're tiv
tables.
Nellie, with her sewing sat in {
corner Of her porch, where. screened
by the vines she could watch thu
guests. She cosld see Mrs Wentworth
in exquisite white. and corals, noV
ing from table 10 table suddenly sh'
detached herself from the crowd, an,
came down over the terraces. an'
through the great gates,
why, she's coming here, said tn
little woman
II want to ask favor" said tn,
gracious lady, standing in the arcl
by the vines. The florists haven
. brought any flowers for my table.
; telephoned. and tind they have misse'
,, the train, and-I wondered" sh
hesitated
, "oh, You want some of my roses,
! asked Nellie, quickly. why, o
, course. I've so many of them.
s'How sweet of YOU" said Mrs
Wentworth Then she. TOO, hesitated
Il should he glad to pay you 70
/, them" she said
/, Nellie's face famed, Why" sh
: stammered. why. Mrs, Wentworth
why the idea-I couldn't think O
Il should feel more comfortable,
i was the response.
We'll" Nellies eyes were ominous
ly bright. Il should think the fac
}, that we are neighhors should max
us willing to do something for eac
!. other, shouldn't it o.
y "Neighbors?" vaguely. ooh, yes
!. Then as her eyes took In the plain Hit
tie place, with its signs of rigi
seconom% she said again. You ough
to let me pay-your roses are wortl
it,"
Nellie saw the look, and interprete,
ii. 1--WE are not so poor as that" sh
said slowly.
oh my dear Mrs. Nesbit. | didn'
mean-how could YOU think" |
was Mrs Wentworth,s turn Ia stam
mer.
The two women faced each othe
for moment. then Nellie said, 81
you'll let me give them to you. II
. go and cut them" Something in he
quiet dignity made Mrs. Wentworth
acquiesCe without further remon
STRANGE.
She went back to her guests Will
Nellie shipped off big white beautie
and big pink ones, outwardly cain
but inwardly raging. 1t was all sh
could do to keep back the tears. Wa
that what her neighbor thought o
her?
She carried the flowers over, pres
emily, going to the side door that sh
might not be seen by the guests. 4
little maid let her in.
t'Oh, they're lovely" she said, "bu
| don't know what to do with them
Mrs. Wentworth asked me to arrang
them But / never did such a thin
in my life ] haven't bit of tast
| that way"
Beyond the door Nellie could sc
the dining room and the round an
shining mahogany table, set wit
doilies of exquisite fneness But tn
finishing touch was lacking. "Wha
did she want you to do?" she demand
ed Of the maid,
'She had ordered separate bunche
for each Of the ladies. and piec