News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-08-19

bop, Ill tIeu, anu IL SUCH JOD 10
put up bed"
I'll fix that, honey Never felt bet.
ter in my life. Why, if l had lantern
I'd go out and start my garden after
I get you tucked away"
They sat over the coffee talking and
planning,
There was knock at the door.
Good Lord, who's that?" said Bob.
TITS nearly nine o'clock"
Il don't know, but if it's Dick or
any of your friends l just know I'll
insult them, Bob. I'm nearly dead"
"Sh-h," he answered. I'll CO."
Good EVENING"" said a CHEEKY,
though rather high-pitched voice as he
opened the door. 81 saw you moving
in and | thought I'd drop around to
see if there was anything l could do
I'm Mrs. Collins from up at the next
cottage. Bungalow, James called it
when we came here, but that was
two years ago."
Its awfully kind of you to CALL"
said Reynolds. Things are in a ter
rible mess here, but you won't mind,
I'm sure"
He offered her chair Mrs. Collins
opined she wouldn't mind. Her ap-
pearance buttressed her assertion that
she usually took things as they were.
She looked an easy-going, buxom sort;
of good figure, but slightly passe 9th
erwise as to personal charms and con-
comitant adornment. Her skirt of
black serge was tight fitting and
rather modish in cut, but soiled in
places. Her white shirt-waist was
open at the collar and tucked under,
revealing a throat full and round, but
red. Her hands matched this color
and were coarse in texture. Her
abundant hair was her chief attrac-
ton. 1t was done up in pompadour
fashion and floated wildly here and
there like some intrepid amazon's. But
1t, too, despite the magnifcence of it's
growth, could not escape the general
tone of dowdiness that embraced the
whole; for, in the greater part it was
a light gold, but in intervening strands
and at the roots it showed a darker
hue. Her eyes were clear blue with
dark brows and lashes. Here nature
had been neither cheated nor cajoled.
Mrs. Collins eyes, if all other clues
were abandoned, pointed the way to
past beauty; beauty not extant, but
clouded; crossed by the lines of life;
hard life toilsome life. Mrs. Collins
was forty-five and she looked her age
Granted luxury of servants, social
pleasures, mental Responsibilities
and milk baths, she would have passed |
for thirty.
do you like it here?" asked Jane, |
who had now come forward and met !
her caller.
well, James likes it. Little old |
New York and a four-room fiat was |
good enough for me, but he wanted |
a bit of the country, and / put up with |
it for his sake. But, don't let me dis
you, dearie," she added quick
ly as she detected a slight waning of |
the younger woman's smile, "it has its |
attractions here, too. 1t is mighty |
fine for children, only-we haven't got
any,"
81 must meet your husband" Bob |
declared. Il guess we are kindred |
spirits. I wanted bit of the country,
too, and a place l could call my own.
Does Mr.. Collins have a garden?"
"nh nrdu -hot |
calls it, anyway. His speciality is pc.
-atoes that mostly don't amount to
much. But he gets plenty of fresh air
md exercise hoeing them and l guess
hats better for him than polishing
'omebody's brass rail with his boot"
How about flowers ?" asked Jane.
Don't you enjoy having them?"
Goodness, child, don't find much
ime for flowers, though l am mighty
ond of geraniums. l had a bed of
hem the first year, but l found that
he water here was more useful for
dishes. Potatoes, you know,
lont need any watering, so l leave
he gardening to James"
Mrs. Collins arose. well, I'll be
,oing, dear. know how tired you
re after a day like this. Don't for.
,et, now, if there's anything you need
n the morning. just run right over.
The store won't be open Sunday and
ou are sure to have forgotten some
hing"
Jane came forward again with ex-
ended hand. That's awfully good of
GU, Mrs. Collins" she said cordially.
will certainly take advantage of
our offer"
tits only human" her new neighbor
People have got to sack
ogether in places like this. When we
anne the only neighbors we had we're
and bullfrogs. The mos
uitoes were friendly enough. They
allied around right away. and we could
ear the bullfrogs at night. They kind
made me homesick, for I'm awfully
md Of frog legs. But the butcher
ould laugh at you if you asked for
hem here. Once when l did get
ames to bring some home l didn't
njoy them, for / felt like / was a
annibal. eating my next-door folks.
God night.
Reynolds opened the door for her