The log cabin Democrat., 1912-08-19
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Better Things
 Tn Sight
Frances hurried to the telephone.

"Hello!" she said, brightly. But ir a minute her voice broke No, you have the wrong number" She put her pretty head on the tele phone table and began to cry "OA 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 iele- phone she did not know that the num- Der would be of no consequence to 9 solitary soul in Chicago Occasion ally George. her young husband, would call her up from his office, bat usually all day long Frances stayed in the | apartment with 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 a 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 flat glis- tened with cleanliness
 After a while this did not satisfy her. She had reduced her housework and marketing to system and it took Very little time to keep the flat 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 rousseau 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 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 | erlet the door bell rang.
 "A peddler." Frances said. doleful- ly. She wiped her eyes and opened the door. It was not d peddler. but a sweet young woman. She carried some letters.
 q am Mrs. Allen from across the hall" she said. timidly, q brought up your mail"
 Frances took the letters mechanlcal- 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
 "I wish you would come in," she said.
 The two tear-stained young women sat down in the living room. Ut was kind of you to bring the letters" Frances began.
 "Oh, it's nothing" said Mrs. Allen. A pause. 'T 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 Plainfeld."
 "Oh cried Frances That's I. Is Eula your cousin? She is my best friend"
 T heard so much about you" de- clared Mrs. Allen, T didn't know you lived in Chicago"
 T haven't very Ions" said Frances.
 Neither have l." said Mrs. Allen. 'T don't know many people here"
 "I don't know any" Frances replied
 "Neither do l." said Mrs, Allen.
 Do you enjoy the city?" Frances asked
 Well" replied Mrs. Allen, cit has so many advantages. There are so many things to do and see. The the Gters and concerts are fine. One does not waste time over social triyialities. "
 Yes said Frances. And the mod ern conveniences simplify housekeep- ing so that there is time for the ad- yantageS IT like It."
 T don't" declared Mrs Allen with decision
 "Neither do l." said Frances, with -uddon decision.
 | lou Stt, Sdlu AIS. Alien, growing confidential. "I came from a small own where I knew everybody. I'm not used to the city and don't know my way about There is so little to do when my husband is away Why ~Cnetimes I have asked Central to ring my telephone to know If it's in order"
 That's how 1t 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 timldly: q wovll be so glcd If you would stay to