The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-04
Better Things
in Sight
Frances hurried to the telephone.


phone table and began to cry. ooh
dear. oh dear. It's always the wrong
number No one ever wants me- Oh
dear, I'm so miserab!e."
When she had first looked cheerful
ly at the new white card By the tele
phone she did not know that the mum
Der would be of no consequence to a
solitary soul in Chicago. Occasions
ally George. her young husband. would
call her up from his office, but usually
all day long Frances stayed in the
apartment with silent telephone. II
1t did ring it was somebody who had
the wrong number.
So Frances cried She had cried be
cause she was lonesome. for she knew
no one In the big city. She cried be-
cause she was tired. homesick and
miserable and because her sobs were
company for her in a sad SOFT Of way,
a bit cOnsoling
The first few weeks she had not
cried. "l'e busy and you will be hap.
ry," she would say. The tiny fiat glis-
tened with cleanliness.
After while this did not satisfy
her. She had reduced her houseworl,
and marketing to system and 1t took
very little time to Keep the dat in or.
der, George had seen her dresses
again and again and good dinners
were matter of course. At first
Frances tried extra houscwOrk as an
antidotc for loneliness. but after her
violent scrubbing had taken the shine
off the kitchen ware. after she had
broken some vases by needless dust
ing and spilled furniture polish on tho
rug she stopped Her rousseau was
still new and did not require the at
tcntion of sewing or shopping. On the
few occasions she had left her neigh.
borhOOd she had become lost. She had
always lived in Il small town and tho
noise Of the city streets and the
crowds in the stores confused her.
All her experiments had failed. So
Frances cried. In the midst of her
grief the door bell rang.
"A rcddler," Frances said. doleful.
~. She wiped her eyes and opened
the door. It was not a peddler, but a
sweet young woman. She carried
some letters.
Il am Mrs. Allen from across the
hall" she said. timldly. Il brought
up your mail"
Frances took the letters mechanical.
ly. Then she noticed that the powder
was suspiciously thick around the eyes
and nose OF her visitor Clearly Mrs.
Allen had been crying. too. Impul.
sivcly Frances put ont her hand
II wish you would come In" she
said
The two tcar-staincd young women
sat down In the living room TT was
kind OF you to bring the letters"
Frances began.
"Oh. it's nothing" said Mrs. Allen.
A pause. II couldn't help seeing that
one letter was addressed to Mrs.
Frances Stevens West. used to hear
my cousin Eula Thomas talk Of a
Frances Stevens. of Plaintield."
"Oh cried Frances. That's I. Is
Eula Your cousin' She is my best
friend"
II heard so much about you," de.
clared Mrs. Allen. Il didn't know you
lived in Chicago"
Il haven't very long" said Frances
Neither have l." said Mrs. Allen.
II dent know many people here"
Il don't know any" Frances replied
Neither do l." said Mrs. Allen.
DO you enjoy tho city," Frances
asked.
Well" replied Mrs. Allen. at has
SO many advantages. There are SC
many things to do and see. The the
aters and concerts are fine One does
not waste time over social trivialities. .
"Yes." said Frances. And the mod
ern conveniences simplify housekeep
ing SO that there is time for the ad
vantages. IL like It,"
II DON'T" declared Mrs. Allen Will
decision.
Neither do l." said Frances, will
sudden decision.
you see." said Mrs Allen. CROWNS
confidential. Il came from . small
town where knew everybody. I'm
not used to the city and don't know
my way about There Is so little to DE-
when my husband is away. Why
sometimes I have asked Central e
ring my telephone to know II it's n
order"
That's how 1t is with me-" said
Frances. Don't you want to see my
apartment"
After the tour Of inspection, n
which Mrs. Allen had been properly
enthusiastic. Frances said timidly: "l
would be so glad II you would stay e
tea"
I'D love to-" she answered. III 20,
will let me bring over my fresh cake.
The tea party progressed famously
The brides forgot their tears and lait
plans for shopping and matinees ant
promised TO introduce their husbands
Mrs. Allen gave Frances The cake tina
was left and was presented In tur,
with painful of new rolls. The tw,
parted affectionately
Il am so glad you came over" sal,
Ersr,nS ..ThiS l. III, g.. H..