The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-19
Cold Storage

why haven't you been out to Sc,
u.s." inquired Anne of Evelyn, whom
she had met downtown by accident.
III you knew how busy I am 70,
would not ask" replied Evelyn. witt
all my office work, hardly have time
to keep neat. l came out today t.
buy a new gown which | should have
bought a month ago. Come with me
and we'll take look at the shor
windows"
Really, ! dare not. Windows are
fatal to me. II I look am lost.
don't need a thing and one hates tt
waste money. so seldom go any
where that my gowns last forever
Evelyn, you cannot realize how curl
ously dull 1t is to have no occupa
ton"
III you understood the discomfort
of working for a living you would ap
prcciate your blessings better. Lone
some. are you? Why not make friends
in the apartment house where you
live?"
"Of course, that bit Of advice is we'll
meant. Evelyn. but in the circum.
| stances it happens to be absurd"
Il fail to see why. II you were not
so difident-"
"My dear girl. I'm not in the least
diffident: am merely afraid Of being
frozen to death II l should try to
make friends with my neighbors."
Il don't understand what you mean, "
said Evelyn.
III that building were cold storage
warehouse" declared Anne. "the SO.
cial atmosphere could not be more
frigid. Mother and l have lived there
year and half and not a soul out
Of all these apartments has made our
acquaintance"
Have you called on your neigh.
bors?"
"Of course not. I would not be so
forward as to make advances"
Then 1t seems to me you are as
bad as the Others"
Indeed. am not--at least. I do
not annoy others Why, the man in
the apartment above ours plays his
piano at all hours of the night. He
does not even make music, bur THUMBS
out some monOtOnous tune which is
as drcary as the moaning Of d lost
soul. Then there is woman across
the hall with baby that bowls morn
Ing, noon and night. Mother went
IN one day and told her that all the
child needed was little peppermint.
The woman replied that the baby was
not Ill, but was just lonesome when.
ever she was out Of its sight"
Didn't she come to call after that ?"
asked Evelyn.
rs that joke?" inquired Anne.
You cannot laugh me into liking
them. There Is horrid old creature
In tho apartment below ours who
knocks on the ceiling with a broom
handle every time run our sewing
machine. We are disguised with the
building and mean to move as soon as
our lease expires"
You do not need to wait, because
Ill take the lease OF your hands as
soon as you like. am going to 20
to housekeeping with another girl be.
fore long and your apartment would
suit us exactly. When you get ready
to move let me know"
A few weeks later Evelyn received
note from Anne saying that she and
her mother were about to take another
apartment. so Evelyn called to Sc.
about transferring the lease. During
the interval she learned Annes moth.
err had suffered fall and was con.
fined to her couch with n dislocatod
hip. During Evclyn's call so many
persons dropped in that she had 10
remain an hour before she could have
Anne to herself.
Il thought you said you knew no one
In this building" exclaimed Evelyn ar
last. Il never saw more warm
hearted people Yet you called this
place cold storage warehouse"
THAT was before mother was hurt"
explained Anne. THE moment tho
people heard Of our trouble they
rushed In to sympathize and tell us
their troubles in turn. That woman
with the baby has lost the poor little
darling and every day she comes In
and talks to us about II and tells of
the flowers she lays on its grave"
What Of the lost soul above Won
who thumped the piano." inquired
Evelyn.
Please forget the cruel remarks |
made about him." cried Anne. He
had dear mother who died. and he
played the piano because it reminded
him OF her He is not a musician, yet
he could not bear to have the ins,ru- \
ment stand silent and neglected. /
When he heard that mother was hurt
he came to inquire if the noise Of the
piano ANNOYED her and he has been /
so kind. don't know how We could
have managed without him
Considering the beautiful way (
these people have behaved. Jrn't
see Why You want to move. " sa's Eve
lyn.
oh, We have no intention &. leay-
ing the building: We shall t. 10 j, lar..
or apartment. which viii leave this
for YOU"