The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1920-08-05
AN OBLIGING
NEIGHBOR
By RALPH HAMILTON


young lady about nineteen Miss
Editha Morse, believe is her name"
Thus MrS. Barth from the next block.
general gossip OF the neighbOrhOod.
She had come purpoSely 10 the home
Of Mrs. Alma IIampdrn TO start her
rounds discussing the new people who
had moved into the house Immediately
adjoining that of the latter lady.
Mrs. Harth proceeded 20 discuss the
WarrcnS. The man dressed shabbily
and did not look very ambitious, his
wife duwdy. The two children. how
ever, were neat and well behaved.
and
They seem to look to their aunt
for direction and training" rambled
on Mrs Barth, and l must say she
IS very Superiorlo looking girl.
Il hope they are companionahle,"
remarked Mrs. IIampdon. 1T has been
very lonesome living here since my
husband died.
After her visitor departed Mrs
Hampdcn could not resist the tempta.
ton To seat herself near the window
and take In the prospect of the new
people The head of the household
was a tircd-looking. Shiftlcss-aCting in.
diyiduaI ana carried things into the
house aS II work was q stranger to
him. His wife mostly ordered. The
two little children wandered about the
yard with frequent looks in the direc-
-
her company. tn" latter at once At
traCtcd Mrs. IIampdcnS attention.
Tall, graceful, rather naughty in
her beariug-Or is it n sort Of self
Consciousness" meditated Mrs. Hamp-
den.
Miss Editha Morse had put on an
old pair of gloves and a covering apron
and was doing most of the work I'm
moving things into the house. Only
light articles had been left on the
porch and lawn by the movers, but II
took her an hour to get them under
cover while her brother-in-law made a
fent at assisting her by spells.
II was just AT dusk when there was
rap at the kitchen door and going
thither Mrs. IIampden was confronted
by the lady from next door.
you'll excuse me, | know you WILL"
spoke Mrs Warren, but the movers
have put our tea canister In some
barrel or box and we are all famish-
ing for n bite to eat"
Mrs. IIampdcn graciOusly attended
10 the needs of her neighbor, asked to
be of assistance and even invited them
over to tea.
mo, l thank you, but l won't do
that" said Mrs Warren. at would
spoil my husband. His dream Of life
is to have money enough to take us
all to board at some hotel where there
won't be anything to do but eat"
The lady departed. very grateful and
very tired, she said. There was an
other summons at the door five min
utes later II was Mr.. Warren.
SORRY to trouble you. ma'am," he
said, "but the sugar is missing, too,
and il you'd loan US cupful-"
"All you need" replied Mrs. Hamp-
den and settled down to her lonely
meal to be interrupted once more by
the temperance of Mr. Warren. This
time it was matches and just before
bedtime fourth call for kerosene.
"Our own supply having given out"
BY noon the following day Mrs.
Hampden was perturbed and diSap-
pointed as to her new neighbors. Half
a dozen times the children or their
parents came In quest of this or that
article.
She expected the usual application
for the assistance that evening when
q knock came at the door, but going
thither it was pressed in almost as
COON as she had unlocked 1t.
"Quick! / don't care to be seen by
the people next door," said Ronald
Pierce. her brother. He proceeded to
impart an enlightenment that consid-
erably aStOnshed his sister.
81 noticed the vacant house next door
and am responsible for directing the
Warrens there" he said. 81 want you
to be kind and indulgent to them, sup
ply their needs, no matter what the
cost, and / will make 1t all up to you.
The fact IS, Alma, am Warren's law
yer In case where he will either
recover q fortune or nothing, but as
/ have q dearer object than that in
view, be my helpful friend, won't your
"Why, certainly, but"
81 love Editha Morse, but have new
er told her 50. She's proud, sensl-
tive. troubled greatly about these shift
less relatives only await the OPP
portunity to offer her a home, but II
cannot be until those she Is loyal to
are able to care for themselves"
The Warrens did not change thelI
borrowing tactics. The father even
asked for the loan OF money. He
dashed in upon Mrs. Hampden one
morning a month later, a fiuttering tel
egram in his hand.
"You dear, kind lady" he cried, tive
good news from my lawsuit. Il am
rich, think Of II, and oh, won't we
make up to you for all that you have
done for usv'
So within a week the Warrens were
able to arrange to spend the rest Of
their lives in ease at hotel. Having
won the suit, Pierce visited the family
pretty often. and now that Editha
Morse was relieved from her duty OF