Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-03-13
Hernnine's
Neighbors
@N
BY EDITH WELLS
Copyright 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate.)

Copyright 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)
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 the
little teakwood stand.
at really does seem a shame. Her.
mine" 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 "A 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-'whnt 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. I'm sure l 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.
"rhe 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 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 10 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.. DenSl0w Gray. next
d0Or"-here the neighbCr 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 mt 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: 81 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 chocolateT
Hermine saw her good neighbor to
the door. and then calling through a
door that led to the kitchen she sum
moned her woman of all work and sole
colored woman hobbled in and, taking
the chair the good neighbor had va
Gated, answered Hermine's questions.
Yes old Moses had been begging n lit
tie wood from their plentiful pile every
morning. He said the master had no
coal. and Moses rheumatic was 80
bad he could cut no wood tili it got
warmer. The cold weather always
stiffened Moses arms just that way.
please tell Moses tomorrow" said
Hermne, with confidential tone to
her good woman, that he can't have
any more wood Tell hlm-but not as
If l 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 good fire In the range !;
and you might make crullers tOmor-
rowland 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 Hermne," she said, 81 al
ways did think you were too good-it's
q long time I've had to hand crullers
and things over the fence on account
of Mr. Gray. certainly think you
are showing good sense. Miss Hermine.
| 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. and at ten o'clock the morning
after Mr.. Gray himself called and
asked 10 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 twenty-five and Denslow