The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-03-15
ETcrnine's
Neighbors
GN%p
BY EDITH WELLS

per syndicate)
The good nelghbor 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
Hermlne had set beside her on the
little teakwood stand.
"It really does seem shame, Her.
mlne," she said, rocking back, "that
you should have no one to share It
WITH" rocking forward and looking
through spectacles into Hermine's face.
Then sip Of the chocolate. my hus-
band said only this morning, What a
shame that there are no nice bachelors
about here'-you mustn't mind, Her.
mine, that is just his way-'what a
shame there isn't some one to share
that nice warm house these cold days,
and really, / must say, Hermine, this
Is the warmest place I've been in for
days. With coal so short and the
wind so nlpping, I'm sure l don't see
how you do ii. Why, this fire here
makes the room perfect, and it's not n
bit close, either"
Hermine leaned over in her rocker
and retilled the neighbor's chocolate
cup from the chocolate pot that she
kept warm by the side of the hearth.
1.-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 q 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 it 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, it 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 a week, and real
ly she has to stay in bed to keep warm.
She tells people she's ill but she told
me in confidence that it was simply
that she hated to get up in the cold.
And there is Mr.. Denslow Gray, next
door"-here the neighbOr looked I'D
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 big
house, with just his 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 forty, and suppose there are a
good many women would be glad to |
have him. Still, he must be very cold |
there" And then, rising to go, the |
neighbor murmured on: II am so glad
that you are warm enough Hermine.
Yes, I'll come again real soon, you are
so comfortable"-then draining her
cup-"such delicious chocolaten %
Hermine saw her good neighbor to
The door, and then calling through a
1oor that led to the kitchen she sum-
noned her woman of all work and sole
Rachel. The plump old
,olOred woman hobbled in and, taking
he chair the good neighbor had va
'ated, answered Hermine's questions.
Yes, old Moses had been begging a lit
lie wood from their plentiful pile every
He said the master had no
oal, and Moses rheumatic was so
'ad he could cut no wood till it got
The cold weather always
Moses arms just that way.
"Please tell Moses tomorrow" said
1ermine, with confidential tone to
er good woman, that he can't have
ny more wood. Tell him-but not as I
I suggested it-that you think if they (
7ant more wood Mr.. Gray had better ,
SIX me for it. And Rachel, you might T
rder two nice chickens tomorrow :
ne for that soup you make with the ,
umbo and another to roast; and see 9
nat you have good fire in the range /
nd you might make crullers tomor- f
if Moses begs any crullers v
u Mr.. Gray you tell him he can't I
ave them" =
The colored woman looked her sur
rise, but only rocked back and forth. .
Yes, Miss Hermine," she said. II al t
avs did think you were too good-it's a
long time I've had to hand cruIlers h
Id things over the fence on account n
Mr.. Gray. certainly think you Il
e showing good sense, Miss Hermine. h
reckon Mr.. Gray will be pretty cold r.
lthout the wood, but it sure does f
rye him right" n
The next day Moses begged for wood
vain, and at ten o'clock the morning a
ter Mr.. Gray himself called and G
ked to see Miss Hermine. 1t was q m
Dst unusual occurrence. There was HI
It, as some of the neighbors sup b,
sed, any feud between the houses y,
Whipple and Gray, but for ten years W
e bachelor had never called on his n,
inster neighbor. Then Hermine, re- al
ntly left alone in her rambling old hi
use, was twenty-five and Denslow u or