The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-07-19
Better Things
IN Sight
Frances hurried to the telephone.

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 silent telephone. II
1t did ring 1t 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,
bit consoling.
The first few weeks she had not
cried. BE busy and you will be hap
by" she would say. The tiny fiat glis-
tened with cleanliness.
After a while this did not satisfy
her. She had reduced her homework
and marketing to system and 1t took
very little time to keep the fiat in or
der. George had seen her dresses
again and again and good dinners
were matter of course At first
Frances tried extra homework as an
antidote for loneliness, but after her
m hod 70
on 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
some letters.
II am Mrs. Allen from across the
hail. she said, timidly. 81 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-
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. ! used to hear
my cousin Eula Thomas talk of q
Frances Stevens. Of Plainfield"
ooh cried Frances That's l. Is
Eula your cousin? She is my best
friend"
II heard so much about you," de-
clared Mrs. Allen. II didn't know you
lived in Chicago"
Il 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 l." said Mrs. Allen.
do you enjoy the 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
Eyes" 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 will
decision.
Neither do l." said Frances, will
sudden decision.
you see," said Mrs. Allen, CROWN,
confidential, 81 came from a small
town where l knew everybody. In
not used to the city and l don't know
} my way about There is so little to d.
when my husband is away. Why
sometimes / have asked Central t.
ring my telephone to know If It's fl
korder."
That's how 1t II with me-" salt
Frances. Don't you want to see m.
apartment"
, After the tour of inspection, II
which Mrs. Allen had been properl,
] enthusiastic, Frances said timidly: p"
] would be so glad If you would stay t
tea"
; "Id love to-" she answered. '1f yo'
I 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 AM
] promised to introduce their husbands