The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-09-03
The Evening Story
LITTLE NE1GHBoR.
n X

and she had worked straight through
since morning without food.
My goodness!" thought Mary Al.
by. What ails me? This is the frst
time in my life I eve forgot my
She scurriei home and got some
ana how she ate! Mary Abby had the
young girl who gets plenty Of exer-
else. Full and content and well
pleased with herself and her day, abe
leaned back In her chair and sur
veyed the inroais she had made upon
the loaf cake. the lemon pie and the
homemade bread.
II wonder II he likes loaf cake and
lemon pie?" she asked herself. IL he
believe I'll risk It" For the memory
Of the bread and, milk episode last
night crowded her Observation-Disclosures.
Mary Abby swept up the pie and
cake and the loaf Of bread and ran
with. them to the next house. She laid
the fre and set the table. She even
put some flowers In a VASE upon the
clean cloth. 1t was all very CHEEKY
and inviting supper and q room
any poor. tired. hungry body might
we'll be glad to come home to. Mary
Abby laughed softly as she closed the
door upon her work.
But as 8 o'clock drew near panic
seized her. What would he think Of
her invasion? And would he. dream
1t was she? She palpitated with sus-
pense. She dare not 60 near a win
dow or out Of doors all that. evening.
and she lay awake as many as ten
minutes that. night trying to imagine
whether he had been glad or angry.
Next morning she was brave again
ana went back. All was in order. He
had washed the dishes after he had
eaten from them. The pie, the cake.
and the bread we're gone. Mary Abby
clapped her hands for Joy. And then
her brilliant eyes espied a note folded
laboriously into . little cooked hat
and lying close to the vase of flowers.
She seized upon the note and read 1t
eagerly. breathlessly.
i the Kind Fairy Of the Broom
and Mop don't know whether you
came out Of the petunia bell here in
the vase or whether you fioated in on
a sunbeam. But L do know you've
cheered- and helped me at.;a time
when I awfully need cheering and.
helping: l can 60 on now. I hope
You will find this and learn something
of my gratitude. Every letter in this
not spells thanks. I can't express all
I feel. but being q fairy you may
Know. H. NJ"
Mary Abby's eyes were full Of tears.
You dear" she murmured.
Then with renewed ardor she few
to her task. Another room emerged
from chaos and Mary Abby went
home triumphant. She took good
care, however. that her neighbor
should not get as much as a glimpse
OF her. She was certain that he had
never. seen her.
There was another cooked hat note
next morning. IT read:
Dear, Beautiful. Unknown Fairy
Don't, please don't. It is much too
heavy n hard. work for you and I
can't have 1t. I really can't. It is the
most wonderful kindness that aver
came my way. but-you mustn't. Not
that I mind being under eternal obi
cations to you, whoever you are, only
I can't bear to think Of you working
so hard. n. M"
Mary Abby laughed and tucked the
note into the mass. Of her braids for
safe keeping. She longed to answer
the note. but she dare not. But she
thought every word Of II over and
over while she wasfwtrking. She DID
not go without herAuhch today. But
she ate quickly and hurried back. The
house was fast taking the definite ap-
pearance of a home. Mary Abby felt
proud Of her work.
At 4:45 she finished the last stroke
OF what she intended to do that day,
took a last survey and started to
leave. She was crossing the kitchen
when the door opened and the master
Of the house entered. Half entered,