The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-05
EVENING STORY
Hermine's NeighbOrs.
by EDITH WELLS.

1Ortn Slowly before the CrdChuiS Ddhh
of embers on Hermine Whipple's
hearth, and from time to time slipped
the cup of steaming chocolate that
Hermine had set beside her on the
little teakwood stand.
TT does really seem shame, her
mine,'- she said, rocking back, that
you should have no one TO snare II
with" rocking forward and looking
thru spectacleS into Hermines race
Then a sip of the chocolate. MY hus-
band said only this morning, what
shame that there are no nice bacn-
elors about here-you mustn't mino,
Hermine, that is just his way what
a shame there isn't some one 10 saa ais
that nice warm house these colo
DAYS. and really, I must say, Hermine'
this is the warmest place I've been IN
for DAYS. With coal so short ana the
wind so nipping, I'm sure L don't see
how YOU do it. Why, this fire mere
makes the room perfect, ana II . NJ.
bit close, either.
Hermine leaned over in her rocker
and refilled the neighbor's chocoia.e
cup from the chocolate pot that she
kept warm by the side or the neareI
saThe cups are very SMALL she urged
and then: "Oh, it's just the way THESE
CRATES are built. Then, you know, my
Grandfather made quite a hobby OF
LAYING fires, and old Rachel ana !,
learned from HIM But M solaS !.
Do come often if you find 1t COM
Portable. and I'll try to get some OF
the factory girls to come up ior sup
per. There are some who are realiy
quite in distress this winter. ihey
must be cold.
.Ob il isn't the poor only who suf-
fer why, no one can get coal. ana
most folks haven't the knack you nave
with wood fires, Why, Mrs. DaryHi-
pie has not had any coal for Week.
and really she has to stay IN oeu III
keep warm She tells people she III;
but she told me in confidence that IL
was simply that she hated to get up
in the cold. And there is Mr. Dens-
low GRAY next doOr"-here the nelsh-
bor looked up from her chocolate cup
land rocked forward at the same time,
to study Hermine's face MI Gray,
you know, hasn't any coal at all. ana
they say that he has all sorts OF mon
ey, in spite of the way he lives-aione
in that big house, with just ms man
Moses. I'm really afraid he'll take
pneumonia Poor Mr.. Gray! 1t
seems so strange he never married
Still. he isn't old-only 40, and 1 sup
pose there are a good many women
would be glad to have him Stiil ne
must be very cold there" And then.
rising to go, the neighbor murmured
on: "I am so glad that you are warm
enough, Hermine- Yes, III come again
real soon, you are SO comfortable =
then draining ner cup SUCH uSii-
cious chocolate!"
Hermine saw her good neighbor to
the door, and then calling thru door
that led to the kitchen she summoned
her woman of all work and sole COM
panion, Rachel. The plump old col
ored woman hobbled in and taking
the chair the good neighbor had va
Gated answered Hermine's questions.
Yes, old Moses had been begging a
little wood from their plentiful. pile
every morning. He said the Gnaster
had no coal, and Moses rheumatic
was so bad he could cut no wood till
it got warmer The cold weather al
ways stiffened Moses's arms just that
way.
'FPlease tell Moses tomorrow" said
Hermine, with confidential tone to
her good woman, that he can't have
any more wood. Tell him-but not
as if 1 suggested it-that you think if
they want more wood Mr.. Gray had
better ask me for it And, Rachel.
you might order two nice chickens
tomorrow-one for that soup you
make with the gumbo and another to
roast; and see that you have a good
fire in the range; and you might make
crullerS tomorrow-and If Moses begs
any crullers for Mr.. Gray you tell him
he can't have them
The colored woman looked her sur
prise, but only rocked back and forth.
Yes. Miss Hermine," she said; Il al
ways did think you were too good
it's along time I've had to hand crull-
ers and things over the fence on ac-
count of Mr. Gray. 1 certainly think
Hermine. 1 reckon Mr.. Gray will be
pretty cold without the wood, but it
sure does serve him right"
The next day Moses begged for wood
in vain. AMI at 10 o'clock the morning
after Mr.. Gray himself called and
asked to see Miss Hermine. 1t was a
most unusual occurrence. There was
not, as some of the neighbors sup
posed, any feud between the houses
of Whipple and Gray. but for ten years
the bachelor had never called on his
spinster neighbor. Then Hermine re-
Gently left alone in her rambling old
house, was 25 and Denslow Gray was
80. He had called often then, till
gossiping tongues had cut his calls
short. He had heard thru Moses that
neighbors were expecting an engage
ment between himself and his neigh
Dor. and so annoyed was he at the in
reference that the calls had ceased
He left the neighborhood and lived in
the city for several years, and it was
only within the last few years. when
apparently all gossip had ceased, that
he returned
ON this momentous morning he
called very formally and requested his
neighbor, with great Formally. 20 sell
MIN a little wood He regretted hav-
ing to annoy her. but he. had heard
from Moses that she had plenty. and.
owing to the coal shortage he was ac-
tually suffering from the cold. AS he
spoke Hermine led him to the corner
of the living room nearest TO the
cracking embers on the hearth The
only chair available fir him was the
comfortable one the good neighbor
had found SO inviting The fire was
unusually inviting and the rows of
Temple lilies that bIoomed on a stand
near sunny window at one side of
the room gave suggestion of warmth
and cheer that captivated the neigh
Dor He rose to go and then resumed
his seat when HerInine went to the
kitchen door and called to Rachel to
ask her whether she could spare
little wooa AT the door she wills