South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-11

'I forgot TO write you that Laura
Wilson Is in New York. Her mother
told me she had a position in some big
law Office and gave me the address of
the place she Is boarding. No ~ ~.
Twenty-Second 81. II you have time
YOU might call on her. I'm sure she
would be glad 20 see YOU II must
be very hard for her 70 start out alone
for herself tn a strange city. he left
nothing but their home and the Tot add
Joining 80. and They've already had 90
sell the lot.
well enough OF this Anna is
washing today and ] hare TO get sup
per. With much love MOTHER.
Helen read this last page of beg
mothers letter several times. So
laura Wilson was here in New York
trying 90 make her own way. Yes. BE-
must be hard and particularly hard
for Laura. who had always been SEN
sitive. delicate girl
Helen resolved to GO and see her at
once And this was Saturday. the one
afternoon she might be at home. for
she would probably have only half
day at the office. At amy rate. she had
some errand= down town. and it would
not be much out of the way TO stop
there
II was just four when Helen rang
the bell OF 40. Ivy. Twenty
St il was a dngy. old-fashioned
house. \ muddy grass mat was inside
the vestibule and some sOlled netting
covered the glass panel OF the door.
a slovenly German girl answered the
bell and ushered Helen into the dark,
shabby parlor. The whole place had
an air of dreary detection. Helen
gazed around while the maid climbed
reluctantly up the stairs 10 see IT Miss
Wilson is in" II was not often that
Helen had occasion 10 call at a board
ing house. and she was curiOHsiy inter
ested in It all
There were some cheap japanese
vases on the mantel, "A black marble
clock (nOt running, some shells and
dusty piece OF coal The one old
rose" upholstered piece Of furniture
was worn thread bare. the worst places
on the arms and back of the chairs be
ing covered with tides. Some faded
chenille "pOTtieres" hung over the
folding doors that led into the back
parlor'' now undoubtedly used as a
bedroom
There was a sound OF eager steps on
the stairs and Laura Wilson appeared
~ the door Her surprise and pleas
ure in seeing Helen We're most evident
Laura i Homesick.
How long have YOU been here"
asked Helen, when the first greetings
were over.
Almost three months now
And you like it?"
Like IL? Oh, I'm so homesick,'
with n catch in her voice. i can
hardly stay The day at the office isn't
80 bad-but oh. the evenings. and sun
days, ] almost die Of homesickness
then Sunday in "a boarding house is
the most depressing thing IN the
world"
Helen smiled Eyes. I suppose it is.
But YOU must come and see Us after
this. We're almost always home on
SUNDAYS You should have looked me
up or let me know you We're here"
A little later Laura asked Helen If
she would like 20 see her room. 1t
not much ef a room" with "A laugh.
but 7 don't think it's quite as fu-
neral as this parlor.'
They went up three flights Of stairs
10 the little room-the fourth floor
back.
"Wait. I'll light the gas. Thatu
make things look less cherries.
The furniture was even shabbier
tnan that in the parlor. but Laura had
nut out a few things of her own. 1t ~
sometimes amazing what a few photo
graphs. a half dozen books, Work
basket and the personal belongings OF
= dainty woman Will do for even the
most cherries room.
''Not n very charming outlook, is
ito" nodding toward the landscape OF
roofs. and clothes lines outside the
window. at first these grey roofs and
back yards gave me the horrors-but
I'm getting more used TO them now
But you're not in your room very
much 90 ventured Helen
No only on Sundays, with Shud-
der. "and ! think I'm becoming OBJ
scssed with the horror of that day.
Don't let me talk about 1t. Are you
cold in here" suddenly going over
and opening the register. Il keep IT
closed most Of the time 20 keep out
the SCOT ana the odOT of cooking. oh.
the dust and dirt are dreadful. / have
fo dust this room every evening as
soon as ] come from the office or 1
couldn't lay anything down. Ihey
have only one chambermaid for the