Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-04-30
HIS NEIGHBOR
BY JACK LAYTON.


window. The worst had undoubtedly
happened. Tenants were moving into
the unoccupied house next door and
the undisturbed quiet of the place he
had rented for the summer would be
ruthlessly broken. For even as he
watched, three small boys raced down
the path to the old house door. Bet
ter to have pursued the writing of his
coming book in his city apartment, he
thought
Heretofore he had been able to ac-
compliSh much in the isolation of the
country; but with screaming children
just beyond the boundary of the gar
den fence-Peter scowled darkly and
sent for his housekeeper.
''Who?" he asked, "are the people
next door? The agent assured me
that the cid house would not be rent
ed"
st amt rented" Martha told him.
''The lady who owns the place has
come out for the summer Her folks
used to live there; they's herself an
her three boys an an old black wom-
an cook. The black woman won't
talk" Martha added, scornfully.
''Kinda grunts if one asks her a ques-
ton"
Peter thought that he had never
grinning mouths and small, shrewd
eyes. After repetition of the hail
storm Martha crossed to the old house
door, being met with a fusillade of
small stones on her way. When she
returned soon after to the study her
angry resentment had mysteriously
vanished.
81 asked the black woman if could
see her missus," Martha said, "an' she
sent me out to the garden, where the
lady lay a-swingin' in her hammock.
An when 1 told her about your book,
an how you must have quiet, she was
that sorry about the children!
I will try to keep them away from
that side of the house, she says, but
can't promise; they won't mind me
at ALL
But when, later, Peter saw the heads
of his favorite hollyhocks assaulted
with well aimed missiles he himself
went to the garden fence and called
to the lady in her hammock.
Distressed, she came toward him,
and Peter drew back in surprise be-
fore her winsome fairness. With such
homely scamps of young sons one
Sould hardly have supposed
"You see," he Said in more civil
tone than he had intended to use-"my
ruined flowers
'Tm so sorry" his neighbor said.
Her eyes were tragic as they swept
his garden. 81 have tried to punish
the children different ways. If l lock
the boys in a room it merely makes
them more spirited when they come
out If they are obliged to go without
breakfast they eat twice as much at
dinner-so what can one do?"
Couldn't you" he asked doubtfully,
"get your colored woman to chastiSe
them?"
81 tried" the little lady answered,
demurely, "but she says that she
wasn't hired for that sort of thing"
Suddenly her face frightened. ''Tll
tell your she exclaimed. 81 will take
my boys away picnicking tomorrow"
And his neighbor was as good as
her word Peter, watching from his
window, saw the three merrily depart.
The helpless young mother was much
in Peters mind that day. Unaccount-
ably and provokingly she could not be
banished from his thoughts. And when,
later, he walked with his pipe through
the moOnlit garden, she herself came
and spoke to him across the dividing
fence.
Tomorrow" she said, YEARLY, II
will take them away again. Is your
book progressing, Mr.. Craythone?"
It was late when Peter finished an
unusual confidence concerning his
writings and went into the house.
Next morning, when his neighbor
and her tormentors were whirled
away in an auto, Peters tranquil eyes
grew troubled.
cts a blamed shamei" he muttered,
shat she has to go wandering about
with that trio for my sake!"
His sakeI Peters bachelor heart
trembled. 1t was for his sake that sha
was doing this, of course-and she
was widow. Peter feared widows;
so many had openly endeavored t.
bear his name And this woman who
so interested him-a widow with three
invincible imps Of boys! Dismayed at
future possibilities, Peter determined
to avoid even the proximity OF the gar
den fence.
Please" called voice through the
study window at twilight, Twill you
come over Mr.. Craythorne? The chill
dren won't go to bed. If you could
help me to get the biggest boy into
his room I'd lock the door,"
Peter turned to look into the appeal
ing face of his neighbor. 'And-Pm
going to take the boys back where
they belong" she added, perplexedly.
ST fhoupht T was doinp q GOOD WORK