Evening star., 1914-04-08

Gus: Sophie doubtless had done 1t on
purpose. Sophie denied; Mrs. Dimick
illuminated. In the end Mrs. Dimick
Sophie again, willie Sophie pelted her
clear across the street with all the YER
bal ammunition at her command. The
slamming of two front doors brought the
battle to a close, but very bitter had 1t
lett the two old hearts.
1t has been a long and lonely winter
for Sophie. She missed Mrs. Dfm1ck's
genial companionship. Mrs. Dimick. how
ever. seemed not to have been without di-
version. Sophie had heard rumors that
She contemplated building new house
for herself on the vacant lot next to the
Old dwelling and Just opposite SOPHIE s
But she had not credited these rumors.
Why should Tilly Dimick want a new
house when her old one was plenty good
enough? OF course she had money with
which to build if she chose. but the use
Of money in that way seemed to sophie,
who had no more than just enough to live
upon. to be a sinful extravaganza. Now.
however. as she looked out the window
and saw Mrs. Dimick standing before
the vacant lot with Ed Woodruff the
popular builder she knew that the rumors
had not been unfounded. Mrs. Dmick
was indeed going to build and Ed Wood
ruff was to have the job.
1t was therefore no surprise to her
when her next-door neighbor, Mrs. White,
came running in to tell her that the con-
tract had been drawn UP and the house
was to be started the very next day.
Mrs. Dimick says she's going to be in
have a bungalow" Mrs. White added,
laughing. Think of her getting used to
a bungalow! She'll be as much out of
place In it as hen in a canary birds
cage But it will be interesting for you
to watch. Mrs. Peel. It's just exactly
opposite, isn't it?''
"Just exactly answered Sophie, grim
ly.
However, she was determined not to
watch the process of house building. AS
it went on she showed her contempt for
1t by keeping her front curtains down.
She never looked over there when she
went out or in her house. She said to
everybody that Tilly Dmick must be out
of her head. In her heart she was aware
that she envied Tilly Dimick. which was
doubtless just what Tilly Dimick meant
she should do.
The house grew apace. and It was, be-
sides being Mrs. Dimick's JOY. a sight for
all the neighbors to see. Only Sophie
would not see. Sophie considered that
Mrs Dimick had used her very unfairly.
She had not been to blame for the lily's
death. and If She had rather let herself
go after being accused of so much vii
lainy 1t was only what might be ex-
pected. She had said to herself that If
the time ever came she would retaliate.
but the time seemed long in coming.
Mrs. Dimick went her way merrily. and
she, Sophie. was left to go hers, whether
merrily or no.
In July the house was finished and
Mrs. Dimick moved in. She was as hap
py with her new possession as is a child
with new toy. Mrs. White told Sophie
that she had never in her life seen any
body better suited with anything than
Mrs. Dimick was with her new bunga-
low. There wasn't anything to mar 1t.
She said Mrs. White related, that
the old house had never had windows
enough to please her, and then when
she did glance out she had to look right
into DR.. Smiths garage. You know. she
his house. Now she said she could look
at your house. There was nothing un-
pleasant about your house on the outside
If there was on the inside. Mrs White
laughed.
Sophie Peels tight little gray mouth
became tighter than ever. She said not
word. She had nothing just then to
say.
That night she woke up suddenly. She
had lifted her curtain. and the moon
light came into the room Out Of doors
1t was almost as light as day. Sophie
raised up on her pillow to look out. She
could see Mrs. Dimick's bungalow across
the street, with the glass in the front
door and the big windows on either side.
She remembered what Mrs. White had
said. and queer thought came to
her Maybe there isn't anything un-
pleasant to see about my house." she
to be I'll see that Tilly Dimck doesn't
take no great satisfaction looking out
of her front windows after this
Sophie scarcely slept again all night.
She was too full of her plan for quietude.
The next morning as soon as she had
breakfast she went to see Charley Dix,
the painter. When she returned home
she had made a bargain with him and
was grinnng.
The second sensation to that neighbor-