The Glenwood post., 1912-10-05
Better Things
in Sight
Frances hurried to the telephone.

dear, oh dear! It's always the wrong
dear, I'm so miserable!"
When she had first looked cheerful.
ly at the new white card by the tele-
phone she did not know that the mum.
ber would be of no consequence to a
solitary soul in Chicago. Occasion.
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 sort of way
bit consoling.
The first few weeks she had not
cried. BE busy and you will be hap,
py," she would say. The tiny fiat glis.
tened with cleanliness.
After a while this did not satisfy
her. She had reduced her housework
and marketing TO a system and it took
very little time to keep the fiat in or
der. George had seen her dresses
again and again and good dinners
were a matter of course. At first
Frances tried extra housework as an
antidote 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 the
rug she stopped Her trousseau was
still new and did not require the at.
tention of sewing or shopping. On the
few occasions she had left her neigh.
oorhood she had become lost. She had
always lived in a small town and the
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 peddler," Frances said, doleful.
ly. She wiped her eyes and opened
the door. 1t was not a peddler, but
sweet young woman. She carried
some letters.
an AliSh llolh dSlOSS tIlt
hall" she said, timidly. 81 brought
up your mail"
Frances took the letters mechanical.
y. 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.
| sively Frances put out her hand.
81 wish you would come in," she
said
The two tear-stained young women
sat down in the living room. at was
kind of you to bring the letters"
Frances began.
"Oh, it's nothing said Mrs. Allen.
A pause. 81 couldn't help seeing that
one letter was addressed to Mrs.
Frances Stevens West. l used to hear
my cousin Eula Thomas talk of q
Frances Stevens. of Plainfield"
"Oh cried Frances. That's I. II
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"
II haven't very long" said Frances.
! Neither have l." said Mrs. Allen.
Il don't know many people here"
II don't know any" Frances replied.
Neither do T. said Mrs. Allen.
do you enjoy the city?" Frances
asked
"Well," replied Mrs. Allen, at has
so many advantages. There are so
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."
81 don't" declared Mrs. Allen with
decision.
Neither do l." said Frances, with
sudden decision.
you see," said Mrs. Allen, growing
confidential, II came from small
town where l knew everybody. I'm
not used to the city and l don't know
my way about There is so little to do
when my husband is away. Why,
sometimes | have asked Central to
ring my telephone to know if it's in
order"
That's how it is with me-" said
Frances. Don't you want to see my
apartment"
After the tour of inspection, in
which Mrs. Allen had been properly
enthusiastic, Frances said timidly: 81
would be so glad If you would stay to
tea"
I'D love to-" she answered, eff you
will let me bring over my fresh cake"
The tea party progressed famously.
The brides forgot their tears and laid
plans for shopping and matinees and
promised to introduce their husbands.
Mrs. Allen gave Frances the cake that
was left and was presented in turn
with painful Of new rolls. The two
parted affectionately.
81 am SO glad you came over" said
Frances. "This is the first time I
have had company"
t. l.. G,,-A