Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-06-08
ACROSS THE STREET
BY ISABEL FROST.

zone Of the joys Of living In a city
Is not knowing or caring who your next
door neighbor IL. and equal Indifference
on bis or her side"
Jean poured tea with her customary
air OF absorbed nonchnlance.
Nov. where | came from everyone
knows all about yeu. It's simply ter
rIble You never feel grown up. I'm
nineteen and nobody called me Miss
Ashton, not a single person. They just
said Bah, or that Ashton girl. And be-
cause I wanted 20 break away by my
self and do. something In the world they
well they didn't approve
Hartley eyed her curlously from his
place on the high window seat. What
a queer self-sufIicient little wanderer
she was. II was quite as if very
young adventurous kitten had started
on 70 see the world by itself It was
mighty nice Of Jean to get her under
her wing, he thought. Jean was al
ways doing that sort of thing, opening
the doors of her Ninth street studio
wide 10 all heart wayfarers who need
ed cheering up. He could not measure
up all that her faith and comradeship
Ind meant TO him during his own up
hin fight in New York. Perhaps the
only thing about Jean he did not Ike
was that she herself never seemed to
need help from anyone. He would have
loved to know she needed him; that his
presence and companionship were
strength 10 her; that she even missed
him when he faiied to show up for
few Days. AS IL was, she merely gave
him the usual smile and happy greet
ing. and went on with her work.
1t was a week later when he got the
tickets to Sayeli's musicale. There was
a splendid 'celllst and good soloist,
young soprano who sank folk songs. /
He thought Jean might like to go. But |
instead she told him over the phone |
that she was too busy. and asked II he
would mind taking Bah. The klddie
was lonely and rather at sea. said
Jean.
That was the beginning, and he went
on sullenly at first, then Indignantly. !
believing II was all Jeans fault. Bah I
enjoyed going around with him to the
exhibitions and little studio teas Inn
She was pretty and exuber-
ant, tantalizing and whimsical.
One day she came up to jeans studio
rather white and discouraged.
"You know I'm not earning anything
at all, not cent" she said suddenly.
"It's funny how little one can live on
here. isn't It? I hate spaghetti and
cereals. Mother was the most wonder
full cook you ever saw. l don't see
how people starve In garrets and paint
or write masterpieces"
Jean did not take her seriously. 1t
was so usual to say you are not max
Ing money. and only meant you We're
not earning the hundreds you had
hoped to.
The morning Of the fourth day a
phone call came from Miss Mllligan,
the landlady across the street.
you're little Miss Ashton's friend,
aren't your Well, she's pretty sick,
md If something isn't done the doctor
says she's got to go to hospital right
away. It's pneumonia, he says. and she
hasn't been eating regular"
Jean stood In the middle Of the floor,
quickly. Then In five minutes
she had called up good nurse, her
)wn DOCTOR and had made arrange
nents for bringing Bah over to her
,wn coy suite of rooms. When Hart
ey came down at noon she met him at
he door with her finger to her lips.
lie listened In silent wonder as she
old him what she had done.
"But your work"
"Nevcr mind my work. We've got
o feed her up and put her on her feet
gain. Go and send telegram to her
mother for me. Answer that phone,
vill you while write thls?'
Hartley obeyed. and turned from 1t
o her with a curious smile.
There's somebody downstairs from
Iaines Falls" he said. "IIe wants to
now II you know where Miss Ashton
$. Isn't she from Haines FallsT
'rll see him." Jean went down the
winding staircase quickly. and met the
all. anxious-faced youngster waiting
here.
Il got a letter from Bab--from Miss
Ishton--last night" he said brokenly.
We were engaged. you know. and she
roke II. but she wrote me she was on
he last lap. and she didn't care what
appened she was so hungry and sick.
10 came at once to take her home.
rendered II you'd fix It so We could be
larried 6rst."
Half an hour later Jean left the two
ogsther In the darkened room. Bah.
er eyes bright with fever. but con-
cious and holding fast to the big boys 3
and. Hartley sat in the studio on
he window seat waiting for her. She
'eat to him; her eyes rather tired 4
ow that the nerve-strain was over.
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