Evening star., 1915-06-13
SUNDAY MAGAZINE for June Is, 1915


would hold out her hand and say
He had reached the bottom of the attic
steps by this time, and Letitia was stand
ing at the top, her eyes swapping behind
their horn-rimmed spectacles, her hair
drawn back in prim knot. In her hand
she held a copy of the evening paper. She
pointed it at him much as though it were
pistol When she spoke her voice was
crisp and to the point.
did you write this drivel?" she de-
manded.
THAT morning, after dismissing the
young man from her mind, Letitia had
dressed with her usual neatness, and then,
her article finished, begun the delightful
task of arranging her Lares and Penates.
At half past three she breathed a sigh Of
relief and looked about her with joy.
Four japanese prints made a good show
ing against the gray building-paper walls,
and the rose of her prayer rug blended
with the shade of her droplight. She felt
once more at home. 1t was time to take
her walk, and she screwed her heavy hair
into neat but becoming knob, laced her
good-sense shoes, put on her raincoat, and
went forth to face the weather.
Mrs. Jackson was in the hall, and an
swered her greeting with a distinctly
scornful sniff. Letitia went out into the
rain, feeling that she must get better ac-
quainted with Mrs. jackson. She was
really type, and would be an addition to
her book.
On her way back to the house Letitia
mechanically bought an evening paper
at stand. 1t was too wet to glance
at it now; so she folded it neatly for fu-
ture reading. Assuredly she would study
Mrs. Jackson. There must be thousands
of her kind in the city. She mounted the
front steps of the boarding house and
opened the door.
Mrs. Jackson was in the parlor. She
was clutching an evening paper to her ex-
pansive bosom and her eyes were red with
weeping. When she saw Letitia her tears
broke out afresh. She ran toward her,
both arms out.
"You poor dear thing!" she said breath
lessy. II never guessed, l didn't-an'
you that proud you wouldn't tell me, poor
lamb! But after this I'm going to be your
friend, an if it's bite to eat, or anything
of that kind you want, Clara Jackson's
the one to come to-.
Letitia stood and stared at her. Il
don't think understand, she said, be-
wildered.
Mrs. Jackson went on without break.
"An' little did | think when MIR. Graves
come to mo and asked about you this
morning "a nice young man, MIR. Graves,
an always pays his rent regular, she
added from sheer force of habit --"little
did think he was planning to write you
up like this. OF course as soon as seen
the paper recognized as how it was you,
an after this, rain or shine, Clara Jack
sons not the one to say you no-if you
do leave your skylight OPEN
Letitia interrupted her in sheer amaze
ment. "What-what paper are you talk
ing about?" she asked, grasping at
straw in the flood of speech.
Mrs. Jackson regarded her with aston
ishment. "Why, you got it in your hand"
she said. Haven't you read it?"
Letitia shook her head dumbly and the
landlady thrust a paper into her hand.
She glanced across the Heart Interest page
to where Mrs. Jackson's fat forefnger in
dicated tho caption, "Stars Her Only
Friends. She started to read it, puzzled;
1>,,t ,{ ho A. olno ol-,