Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-06-01
Better Things
in Sight


phone table and began to cry. "Oh,
dear, oh dear! It's always the wrong
number. No one ever wants me. Oh,
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 num-
Der 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 a silent telephone. If
it 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 sad sort of way,
a bit consoling.
The first few weeks she had not
cried BE busy and you will be hap
py," she would say The tiny fat glis-
tened with cleanliness.
After a while this did not satisfy
her She had reduced her homework
and marketing to 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 homework as an
op+idofa for 1oDoIirocc hut q flor u ~,
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
borhood 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 a
sweet young woman. She carried
some letters.
81 am Mrs. Allen from across the
hall" she said, timidly. 81 brought
up your mall
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-
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.
ooh, 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 a
Frances Stevens, of Plainfeld."
ooh cried Frances. That's I. Is
Eula your cousin? She is my best
friend"
81 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.
81 don't know many people here"
81 don't know any" Frances replied
Neither do l." said Mrs. Allen.
"Do you enjoy the city," Frances
asked.
We'll" 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. II 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 a small
town where 1 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 l 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, ''if 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 a painful of new rolls. The two
parted affectionately.
81 am so glad you came over" said
Frances. This is the first time l
have had company"
"It is the first time I have been to
a party" said Mrs Allen.
Neither have We" said the brides.
And from that time on life in the great
city grew pleasant The loneliness
had been dispelled