The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-07-08
NEIGHBORS
BY LorrIe W. SIMMONS.

declared Myrn Higgins IN yeXed tone
a. she vigorously stirred the content.
10 a huge yellow bowl
Jake Higgins looked up from the
newspaper be was reading
"rll 40 over 20 Iulias and borrow
cupful" he offered
A duh rel stained Myras cheeks
she glanced angrily az the cookbook
Ing mldilragrI man who had spoken.
and great desire cane over her 10
shake him
you stay away from Julla's." she
snapped. You go there too much al.
ready. Don't you know. Jake. the
whole town i talking about you and
Julia Martini
"Oh. Lord Myrn. don't begin that"
replied Jake
Occasionally 20" mlmlcked Myra.
Jake you make me sick You've
hesTl In there twice this morning. al.
ready. How many times yesterday
and the day before. and the day before
thatl Why don't you pack your trunk
and move oyrrI A.. for Tom Martin.
he hasn't the gumptlon of a sick chick.
81. lie start something You could
lug his wife OF under his very eyes
and he'd b. a. resigned ~ dead
lamb. Neighhors. indeed How about
Laum Ficketti Called On her lntelyr
She's a mel ghbor"
Look here" blazed Jake. you
know a well ss I that I stopped call
ing on Laura ~ years ago"
Il know you did" was the hot re-
tort. "and It's high time now that you
paid her call Here" grabbing up
q cup. "you take this and ask Laura
tn let me have cupful Of raisins Till
"Wednesday"
swell. guess not" exploded Jake.
jumping 10 his feet and thrusting out
his stubborn chin.
"All right. Jake Higgins" Myra's
voice dropped 20 zero. Just because
I'm your sister I've stayed here and
kept hous. for you--tsyed when YOU
know I've almost died for the city and
the work I wanted 20 do there. But
at last I'm golng-that l.. unless you
want TO run over To Laura's and bring
m. a cupful ~ raislns."
3D." Jake gritted between hts
teeth and AZ he stralghtened his neck
tie he was duly conscious II the fact
that his safety razor had done good
work that morning. the only trace ~
strong beard being a blush shade
about his square chin. A queer little
sensation began to play about his
heart. Thoughts few thick and fast
Fate vas leading him back 90 Laura
He recalled what n sweet little thing
she had been-long yellow curls.
cheeks as red as the bright side u an
astra chan apple. big eyes and dlmpls
brought often into play by means ~
crinkly little smile. Let's see
Laura would be forty In June. Lord
How time did fyi
As usual Il was a foolish thing they
had qusrreled over.
Nobody saw the hand Of fate when
Tom Martin and his wife came back
after years Of wandering and rented
thu Bromley place.
They had all been playmates togeth-
er. Tom aud Julia. Jake aud Laura.
aud Mya.
Az sight OF Jake's retresting back
Myra's face relaxed and she smiled.
couple Of moments later Julia
Martin appeared at the back door.
MY clothesline IL caught. Myra.
can't get II either one way or the 9th
er. I thought maybe Jake"
"He isn't here" interrupted Myrs
coldly. but come In: want TO ask
you something Why don't you tell
lake TO keep away from your housed
10 you realize that he Is costing you
your good reputationr'
Julia eyed her friend very sersnely
for guilty woman.
what the gossips say can't DO ma
any real harm. Myra." she replied gent.
ly well soon be leaying-Tom can't
stay 10 one place long. you know. but
Laura will be here all her life. and
Jaks-here In this little town where
they we're bon-and they might as
we'll be happy, And you. Myra. you
want your chance. don't your II you
are the old Myra. with the old am
bltions you certainly do"
Myra was puzzled.
II don't know what you are driving
at" she said.
what do you suppose Jake and I
talk about when he comes inf" she |
asked with "a bright smile. "I'll tell
you-one topic always-Laura. That's
why he comes lie loves her, OF
course-he's always loved her. and he
likes 20 talk about her. or hear me
talk. I should say. Haven't | almost
worn out the English language ravins
about her yellow hair. her crinkly
smile. her dimple. her superiority. her
tender heart. her goodness. and still
that man isn't satisfied It's like pour
ing water into jug with hole In Il. I
And. Myra. can't you foreses the re-
-ultp Hes going TO march over there
some day-little by little I've been
melting HIS pride-and then what
should have happened 20 years ago
will happen then"
.Oh, Julia" almost whispered Myra.
a A.