Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1913-04-17
Better Things
IN Sight

o minute her voice broke. mo, you
have the wrong number"
She put her pretty head on the tele-
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 miserableL"
When she had first looked cheerful
ly at the new white card by the tele-
phone she did not know that the mum.
Der would be Of no consequence to q
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 q silent telephone. II
II 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 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 fat glis-
tened with cleanliness,
After o 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 O matter Of course. At first
Frances tried extra homework as an
antidote for loneliness. but after her
violent serubbing had taken the shine
OF 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, 30
Frances cried. In the midst OF her
grief the door bell rang,
"a peddleF." Frances said, doleful'
". She wiped her eyes and opened
the door. 1t was not a peddler, but a
sweet young woman. She carried
some letters,
~ am Mrs, Allen from across the
hail." she said, timidly. II brought
up your mail"
Frances took the letters mechanical
", Then she noticed that the powder
was suspiciousiy thick around the eyes
and nose Of her visitor. Clearly Mrs
Allen had been crying, too. Impul'
sively Frances put out her hand.
IT 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.
Efances tesae::
sob, It's nothing" said Mrs. Allen
A pause. ~ 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."
"oh cried Frances. That's + y
Eula your cousipS ane Is my best
fFlsnd.N
i..I heard so much about you" de
claTed Mrs. Allen, II didn't know yev
lYed in Chicago"
~ haven't very long," said Frances
INeitheP have l." said Mrs. Allen
~ don't know many people here"
~ don't know any" Frances replied
Neither do l." said Mrs. Allen.
j "Do you enjoy the city?" Frances
asked.
WELL" replied Mrs. Allen, ut has
30 many advantages There are 81
MANY thiuss 70 do and see. The the
atsfs and concerts are fine. One does
not waste time over social trivialities.
i"Yes," said Frances. and the nod
ern 'conYeniences simplify hOusekeep
inG 90 that there is time for the az
YAAtages, I'll like It."
~ don't" declared Mrs. Allen Will
decision. -.
Neither do l." said Frances, Will
sudden decision.
you see," said Mrs. Allen, growinI
confidential, 81 came from a small
town where knew everybody: IN
not used to the city aud I don't lpey
hk Way about There ID 20 little TO d
when my husband is away. why
sometimes have asked Central u
J ring my telephone to know II it's Il
6 order"
THAT'S how 1t is with mo,S FSil
r Frances. Don't you want to See M
apartmentiS
"l4ftef the tour Of inspection, y
1 which Mrs. Allen had been PFePeFsE
1 enthusiastic, Frances said timidly; +"
j would b % glad 4 you would stay =
TEA"
si'd love to- she answered, III yol
will let me bring over my fresh cake.
The tea party progressed famously
The brides forgot their tears and lai
plans for shopping and matinees On
{ promised to introduce thslF h0ahAnda
: MIA. Allan gaEe FRANCES the cake tina