Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02

where people have known each other
long time. We are newcomers. And we
are poorer than any one else here | sup
pose, really. this is the only house on
too. we ought not to pay SIS for it. But
i always think where there's children you
should get into the best locality YOU pos
sibly can. All that's grown-up talk, isn't
it, Jenny? But | want you to understand
WHY I'm not asked to Mrs. Jackson's
parties. And then don't let it trouble you
when Olive and the rest ask why Mrs.
Jackson doesn't know me well enough TO
bors. Just because ] happen to be on the
same street with her is no reason why she
should ask me. Besides. I don't care
about going. Id rather stay at home
with my little girl. Now. does that make
II all clear to YOU?
oh. yes. cried the child And 7
wont tell anybody. even though they DO
ask me why YOU amt 'vited" She flung
her arms about her mothers neck, kissed
her and danced away, her short light
hair Topping.
Mrs Turner began on her dsrning, 81
told her all the truth. she thought Eek
cept that ! do get lonesome. I've got
plenty of neighbors. but no friends"
NeAt door the preparations for the
party went sayiy on. AT O'Clock that
afternoon the street was full of ladies
in gay summer frocks. all drifting toward
Mrs. Jackson's welcoming portal
Jenny was right Mrs Turner
housht eNefNDodN on TINS street is
going except me-
She sat down at her sewing machine
and began to run up the seams of Jennv's
new blue ginsham swiftly. Work was her
antidote Tor the poison of loneliness hut
today work failed her. Her thoughts kept
wandering TO the house next door OF
course, she had no frock to wear. of
course. as she had told Jenny there was
no reason at all why Mrs. Jackson or any
one else OF her neighbors should ask her
TO their parties And yet She sighed
heaNIiy- An invitation. even if of neces-
sitH declined. would seem to put her more
on roofing with them AS il was, she
1elt herself an alien among them. And
when Jenny was At school and her hus-
band away at work she was cruelty
lonely.
In the little town where she had for
merIy lived she had been known and
respected all her life. Her friends were
many But when John Turner sudden
~ decided that he could earn a better
'nS AZ his trade elsewhere she had
forsaker al! and followed him cheer
1uiiN- The distance was too great
10 be cQLe-cd easily. and so only
letters came to her from her old home
She tried 10 make them do; she tried
TO lose herself in ma klng home Meas
ont for her husband and little daugh-
ter But John had his associates and
Jenny had her playmates. She forever
al home, had no opportunity to make
Al half-past 6 that afternoon The
bright company departed from the
jackson home. At a servant emerged
with her arms full of Ieftovers At
hai-past Jenny went TO bed and
Johr departed for mis- lodge. Mrs Tur-
ner was left to a long evening alone
IL was still light enough to see and
fhe vent out to sit upon the porch
with her crochet work
She had crocheted half an hour per-
maps IN perfect quiet and loneliness. II
was growing too dark to see the
stltchrs. and she was Just thinking
OF going III. turning on light and
hunting for something to read. when
she heard voice calling her name.
Mrs. Turner Oh. Mrs Turner" Mrs
Turner ran 10 the end of the porch
and looked up AT Mrs. Jackson's win
dows. NJ an upper one she saw face
which vanished she gaZed
The front door Of the Jackson house
was locked: she tried il in vain. The
back door was also locked She
Knocked. knowing well enough that
there would be no answer Then she
noticed that one of the cellar windows
was open aud unscreened without
En- inStants hesitation she crawled
through. She landed in the coal chute
lost her balance and slid TO the bottom
of the bin. II was dark in the cellar
bot she managed to 90: out of the
bin and find her way upstairs. Throus h
the dim house she ran calling: I'm
coming she heard no sound Even
when she opened the door Of Mrs
Jackson room no voice greeted her
for Mrs. jackson lay on the floor in
n dead faint.
She was ten minutes coming to. And
then she began to laugh Historically
You look like coal-heaver," she
cried
II daresay: Mrs. Turner's voice was
grim. She turned. saw herself in n
glass and waved grimmer II fell
down the coal chute. getting in the
cellar window. How do you feel now
Do you want doctor?
No. I'm better. ] only want you
She chung to Mrs. Turner's hand. you
see had only time to call before
lost myself | never thought how
you were going to get in. j got as
far as the window for air and saw