The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1920-01-17
: OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BY JULIA A. ROBINSON.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


Mrs. Wentworth had moved into a
new apartment on Lowell avenue. IT
was in a fashionable part Of the city.
The apartment was up 10 date. with all
modern mprovements-and yet. what
was there about II that did not suit
Mrs. Wentwortb's artistic taste?
"lln going to have some changes
here" she said TO her neghbor in the
suite below.
=, But you don't know Mr.. Bunker"
|, retorted the other. You won't get
thing done, promise you that: none
of us can. I've been trying myself for
the past five years to have him do
few little things for me and haven't
got a thing yet. He's the most stngy
man know of; won't put out cent If
he can possibly help H."
"Well. we'll see" Mrs. Wentworth
replied with her usual hopefulDess.
Mr.. Bunker was the landlord, 'owner
of large automobile factory. Mrs.
Wentworth thought she did know
little about him for she had been so
frightened by his looks when she went
to engage the apartment that she had
hardly dared speak aloud though she
was usually afraid Of nothing.
Yet this brave little woman was moi
daunted by her neighbor's report She
knew just what she wanted. She want
ed to make the house what 1t ought
to be and she meant to haze it. Very
sweetly and humbly Mrs. Wentworth
sought Nh, Bunker: Perhaps you
haven't noticed Mr.. Bunker she
began with one Of her most fas-
cinating smiles, but the paper
Is falling off from the living
room walls. It must have rained in
sometime; and the ceiling is stained
and cracked. Don't yon really think
something ought to be done?'
"Why, yes, yes! Surely" assented
Mr.. Bunker hurriedly. 1T must be put
in order, of course. meant to have 1t
done before. I'll send man round to
see about 1t at once. Pick out the
paper you want"
Overjoyed, Mrs. Wentworth picked
out the prettiest paper she could find
and the most expensive.
When Mr. Bunker came around to
see the progress OF the work pretty
Mrs. Wentworth stood in her front
hall, with its background of dark
green paper--the dreadful Kind that
fills one with thoughts of sea-sickness
and everything gloomy and makes the
whole world look dark and dreary.
"Oh. Mr. Bunker" she cried in
pleading voice, yet with the cheerful
spirit that was usual to her, and that
made her 50 attractive. don't you see
how duh this hall is with this dreadful
green paper that makes the whole
place look dark. How can l fix any
thing pretty here? How much more
artistic pearl gray would be, 1t would
set off my things and I've just lovely"
"Wcll, go ahead and have it done
ne returned with n half grin as he
passed out of the door.
The hall was papered in artistic
gray, but that was not the end. After
the paperlng was finished Mrs. Went
worth thought she would like TO have
the back porch fixed up it would make
such beautiful place to sit in The
morning il only she could have Did
she dare ask for anything more? Yes,
she did; and she got it, and many 9TH
err things, a little later.
go ahead and have it DONE" Mr..
Bunker assented when she told him
have the porch finished in gray instead
OF the dingy red brick. 1t was done in
gray and the ceiling sheathed. She set
out her jardineres Of potted plants,
her little work table, with her knitting
bag and basket. She arranged small
tables for afternoon tea, with tiny
cups and cut flowers. Then she invit.
cd her neighbors. .,
Isn't it just loyelyw they cried.
Pearl gray How did you get it done?
/ never should have dared to ask for
anything so elaborate, or, indeed, for
anything" they confessed. Did Mr. |
Bunker really do all this for your
"Why, yes" she, smiled; II just
asked him, and he had it done. He
said himself it was much prettier; and |
he simply adores the paper had put |
on the hall and living room walls; and |
he says he is sure never could have
got along without that hot water heat
er for the bathroom"
you got all that" they exclaimed |
in astonishment. GLOW did you ever
dare ask"
"Well, you see, just asked; and it
didn't seem so very hard after I'd once !
made beginning. 1t seemed to come
kind Of natural after the first"
But she wondered to herself how
she Ind managed to do it, when they
all thought 1t was so hard to get any
thing out of him. Then one day Mr..
Bunker himself enlightened her.
do you know how it was you got
so much ont of me-why | did so much
for your" he asked 1T was because
you asked for things kind of gradually Il
and didn't pounce on me for them all Il
Mt once, as the others do, and demand
them as your right and act as if you
were going to tear me to pieces If you
didn't get them You went at it easy
1;Iyo ;,,o+ ne if you ovnoo+o,l ,,,o D., NAV |