Philip weekly review and Bad River news. [volume] (Philip, Stanley County, S.D.) 1912-1918, 1918-03-07
Hernine's
Neighbors

By EDITH WELLS


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 the
little teakwood stand.
"It really does seem a shame, Her
mine," she said, rocking back, shat
you should have no one to share 1t
WITH" rocking forward and looking
through spectacles into Hermine's face.
Then a 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 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 nipping, Pm 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 refilled 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, shat 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 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 1t was simply
that she hated to get up in the cold.
And there is Mr.. Denslow Gray, next
door"-here the neighbor looked up
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
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 CONFERENCE.-The draining her
cup-"such delicious chocolate!"
Hermine saw her good neighbor to
the door, and then calling through
door that led to the kitchen she sum-
moned her woman of all work and sole
companion, Rachel. The plump old
colored woman hobbled in and, taking
the chair the good neighbor had va
Gated, answered Hermine's questions.
Yes, old Moses had been begging a lit
tie wood from their plentiful pile every
morning. He said the master had no
coal, and Moses rheumatic was SO
bad he could cut no wood till 1t got
warmer. The cold weather always
stiffened Moses arms just that way.
"Please tell Moses tomorrow" said
IT toe ~rvSkh - ~ 20
her good woman, "that he can't have
any more wood. Tell him-but not as
If suggested it--that you think If they
want more wood Mr.. Gray had better
ask me for 1t. 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 good fire in the range;
and you might make crullers tomor-
row-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.
ayes, Miss Hermine," she said, ~ al
ways did think you were too good-it's
long time I've had to hand crullers
and things over the fence on account
Of Mr.. Gray. Il certainly think you
are showing good sense. Miss Hermine.
/ reckon Mr.. Gray will be pretty cold
without the wood, but 1t sure does
serve him right"
The next day Moses begged for wood
In vain, and at ten o'clock the morning
after Mr.. Gray himself called and
asked to see Miss Hermine. It was
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 twenty-five and Denslow
Gray was thirty. He had called often
then. till gossiping tongues had cut
his calls short. He had heard through
Moses that neighbors were expecting
an engagement between himself and