Evening star., 1913-11-27
THE EVENING STORY.
In Shinb0ne Alley.
Copyright. 1915, by ". wcrrer.l

Annie ornc stood in the doorway OF
and looked out toward the sea, where
jshermen were hauling up their nets
heavy with Holsters. \ beautiful day was
coming. but Annie felt no joy In 1t. She
knew that it would he as dreary as ali
The other days Of her life.
She had had too many days Of that kind
10 longer believe that any could be diff
ferent. Long ago she had felt hope. The
whole keynote of her life row was resig-
nation. She looked as calm as the sea
itself. Her eyes. indeed were its true col
or. her hair WAS gray and heavy, her
oval face lightly tanned by sea wind and
sun. She had a figure which had never
got over its girIishness. She wore blue
cotton frock with white ruffies at her
throat and wrists and little white
ufTied apron. Her small brown hands
we're clasped before her. They had d
look OF never having been much used.
The house behind Annie was beaten
gray by the storms and suns of more
han two centuries. 1t had three stories
and quaint gables. The hollyhocks and
phlox that grew the bit of land be-
fore It We're offsprings of the same flowers
which had been planted by the hands OF
Ter Observation-Disclosures From this
house her father had gone forth 10 sea
md had not returned following In the
way OF his father and fathers father.
Here she had been born and had lived
III her days. here she expected to die.
She expected nothing outside of il.
Those old fishermen, those old captains
f fleets. had left her an inheritance which
vas more than ample for all her needs.
rhey had left her. too. a strain of blood
lat lifted her above her neighbors. Annie
,rne was the ziristocrat of Shnbone alley.
Id houses respected her as such They
id not expect her to mngle with them.
she did not desire closer fellowship with
hen than she had. Sometimes that lone
ness pressed too heavily.
4 shall water my flowers. she thought
his morning. 'and buy my few vege-
ables, perhaps q fish from some fisher
nen. ] shall cook my food and eat Ii. |
nall read little and sew u little and sit
good deal doing nothing. And after a
cry long time il will be time to put out
ne light and go TO bed. So shall sleep
md dream till another day"
She sighed deeply and turned away to
ae room within. 1t held few chairs.
thin. shining table, rag rugs and Oh
ne wall was q great oil painting of an
wal-faced man whose chin was held up
~ tightly wound stock The eyes OF
he painting seemed to observe Annie
iosely she crossed the room. She
vas conscious but unafraid of that re-
ard
She had just taken up u bit of work
rom the shining table when she heard
IN unusual sound in the narrow, sandy
.treet outside. She knew. OF course. what
was, for automobiles We're not uncom-
non iii the newer portion of the town. II
topped abruptly. there was a silence,
hen "A knock beside the door.
Surprised. but not startled Annie went
.ack 10 the door Her glance went first
the dusty automobile halted beyond
Ter hollylocks. then TO the nearest object
distinctly boyish looking young fellow
vho had TO smile far down on her from
iis joyous gray eyes
Good morning.. he cried. Are you
lie lady Of this house,:
Annie smiled back iustinctively- Il am"
Very old house, isn't it," He glanced
ID at the ancient caves. "All the houses
n this town look old. ! like old houses.
am looking for one in particular. May
~ you could tell me the way to it, I'm
rot exactly lost. but when / saw your
ioor was open | thought | might as we'll
inquire. I've turned ninety seven corners
- far and haven't found Shinbone alley
On any street sign yet
And you won't" Annie said, still smil-
ng. This is Shinbone alley. 1t is prop
rly called Orne street