The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-12-19
Herrnirle's
Neighbors
00
By EDITH WELLS
tcopyrisht, lis. 81 ths NcClur'
Der Syndicate.l

- ~
eoooeeeaeseeees9ssoeoooooooooooo
(Copyright, lSls, " tho Mcclure NswspaA
per syndicate.l
The good neighbor rocked back and
forth slowly before the cracking bank
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 tho
little teakwood stand.
1T really, does seem q shame, Her
mine" she said, rocking back. shat
you should have no one to share II
WITH" rocking forward and looking
through spectacles into Hermine's face.
Then q sip Of the chocolate. my hus-
band said only this morning, What .
shame that there are no nice bachelors
about here'-you mustn't mind, Her
mine, that Is Just his way-'what q
shame there isn't some one to share
that nice warm house these cold days.
and really, I must say, Hermine, this
Is the warmest place I've been in for
days. With coal SO short and the
wind so nipping, I'm sure I don't see
how you do it. Why, this fire here
makes the room perfect, and it's not a
bit close, either"
Hermine leaned over in her rocker
and reflled the neighbours chocolate
cup from the chocolate pot that she
kept warm by the side Of the hearth.
"The 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 hobby Of
laying fires, and old Rachel and !
learned from him. But I'm sorry" she
smiled, "that no one can share it. Do
come often, If you find 1t comfortable,
and I'll try to get some Of the factory
girls to come up for supper. There
are some who are really quite in dis
tress this winter. They must be cold. "
"Oh, 1t isn't the poor only who suffer,
Why, no one can get coal, and most
folk haven't the knack you have with
wood fires. Why, Mrs. Dalrymple has
not had any coal for week, and real
~ she has to stay in bed to keep warm
She tells people she's i'll; but she told
me in confidence that 1t was simply
that she hated to get up in the cold
And there is Mr.. Denslow Gray, next
door'-here the neighb0r looked uI
from her chocolate cup and rocked
forward at the same time, to study
Hermine's face. "Mr. Gray, you know
hasn't any coal at all, and they say
that he has all sorts of money, in spite
Of the way he lives-alone in that bill
house, with just his man Moses. Tn
really afraid he'll AXE pneumonia
Poor Mr.. Gray! It seems SO strang'
he never married. Still, he isn't old
only forty, and I suppose there are {
good many women would be glad t.
have him. Still, he must be very coli
there" And then, rising to 60, tn
neighbor murmured on: IT am so gla'
that you are warm enough, Hermine
Yes, I'll come again real soon, you ar
SO comfortable"-then draining he
cup-"such delicious. chocolatel'
Hermine saw her good neighbor t
the door, and then calling through
door that led to the kitchen she sun
moned her woman Of all work and sol
companion, Rachel. The plump oil
colored woman hobbled In and, takin
the chair the good neighbor had VI
Gated, answered Hermine's questions
Yes, old Moses had been begging q II
tie wood from their plentiful pile ever
morning. He said the master had n
coal, and Moses rheumatic was s
bad he could cut no wood till 1t g
warmer. The cold weather Away
stiffened Moses arms just that way.
"Please tell Moses tomorrow" sal
Hermine, with a confidential tone
her good woman, "that he can't ha,
any more wood. Tell him-but not
IL I suggested it-that you think If tn,
want more wood Mr.. Gray had bett
ask me for 1t. And. Rachel, you mig
!. order two nice chickens tomorrow.
one for that soup you make with Il
; gumbo and another to roast; and s
1 that sou have good fire in the rang
. and you might make cfullers tome
/ row-and II Moses begs any crulle
I for Mr.. Gray you tell him he car
have them"
7 The colored woman looked her ST
8 prise, but only rocked back and fort
+ Eyes, Miss Hermine," she said, II
Z ways did think you were too good
i a long time I've had to hand crulle
: and things over the fence on accou
1 Of Mr.. Gray. I certainly think y
! are showing good sense, Miss Hermit
I reckon Mr.. Gray will be pretty CO
: without the wood, but 1t sure do
Z serve him right"
I The next day Moses begged for wo
= In vain, and at ten o'clock the morni
after Mr.. Gray himself called a
asked to see Miss Hermine. 1t was
| most unusual occurrence. There W
not, as some of the neighbors 81
posed, any feud between the hous
of Whipple and Gray, but for ten yes
| the bachelor had never called on
spinster neighbor. Then Hermine,
Gently left alone in her rambling I
house, was twenty-five and Densl
Gray was thirty. He had called of
then, till gossiping tongues had I
his calls short. He had heard throu
Moses that neighbors were expect