The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-28
TODAY,S SHORT STORY
The Green House.

ID oSE MARTIN stood at Mrs. Plas. A~ kett's door, waiting for her ring to. be answered and looked down Caper street with q pucker of curiosity upon her vivid young face. Twice before she has visited Caper street and Rose Martha had an astonishing memory There was no change anywhere so far as she could see save for that one great. est change of all. The big house on the opposite corner had achieved an occu. pant and a coat of paint--paint SC green that it shamed tha April grass and put everything out of harmony. Rose Martha had never seen such an eye torturing, beauty-destroyin color as l that in all her twenty years. It wal a comedy in color and she was just be ginning to litter when Mrs. Plasketi opened the door. 4
 "why, it's my little lace grill" ex. claimed Mrs. Plaskett. Come in, my dear"
 Somehow elderly ladies always said ''my dear" to Rose Martha. She wal that kind of girl.
 In the sunny living room, Rose Mar tha displayed her delicate, convent m20S l&CeBs
 }"Mrs. Plaskett,' she asked suddenly, "what has happened to the corner house?'
 Mrs. Plaskett laid down the piece of Cluny lace she was examining.
 My dear! Isn't that house out rageoUs. It ruins the appearance of the whole street. And the worst of it it's just halfway down where we all have ka xwS, Mrs. Plaskett went on excidetly, 'tfor be so conspieious. You can't imagine how it looked with snow al iabout it. ''What kind of people are they ?' murmured Rose Martha, fishing in her bag for c piece of edging.
 "Why, my dear, just one solitary woman. I don't think she's crazy, but she might as well be. Her name is VaFick, and although she's lived here in the neighborhood nearly q year only one person has been inside the house. She told the rest of us to avoid her experience and we have"
 Does this Mrs. Varick biteg' Rose Martha began to look interested. .'No," Mrs. Plaskett laughed. But she wouldn't be thought less of if she did. By the way, my dear, if you have any insertion to match this eAsing--"
 Rose Martha had plenty of insertion and Mrs. Plaskett bought literally. When an hour later Rose Martha left she said to herself, "What Mrs. Plas. kett told me about the green house sounds interesting. l believe I'll go over there"
 Humming blithely Rose Martha ap- preached the green house. She pushed the bell. She pushed the bell again and waited. She pushed it still again. This time she thought she saw the shadow of a face behind the lace at the nearest window. Rose Martha knew good lace when she saw it and realized that this lace was especially fine. It seemed to make a community of interest between her and that mysterious per sonality within, so with gentle patience she pushed in the bell for the fourth time, ss
 There was a. cautious stir within. a bolt creaked and the door opened. A woman looked out. Rose Martha had never been more surprised in her life. She had expected some one SO differ ent from this little pink-cheeked, blue symptom of oddity was the squared ends 
 "Go right away" said the woman. q never buy of peddlers."
 Dear me!" exclaimed Rose Martha, FtDo look like a peddler?
 The woman stared back. They held each others eyes for full minute. Then Rose Martha's sense of humor overcame her and she smiled. When Rose Martha smiled her face curled and crinkled about her white teeth and her sparkling eyes, the deep dimple in her cheek played forth and thu freckles on her small nose danced with glee. 1n- variably Rose Martha giggled after the smile. She giggled now. - ..
 "Do IF ahe urged.
 "No," said the woman, and she now looked as if she might smile any in- stant herself, mo, you don't But ! suppose you are one just the same"
 T suppose I am" agreed Rose Martha, demurely. T sell laees." She pulled a handful out of her bag. 'sThat kind, eeeT She trusted to the woman's judgment to discern that they were pillow made.
 "1 saw you going into that Plas- kett woman's house." Mrs. Varick said, while her eyes fingered upon the faces.
 "Yes. She is one of my best custom CTS" Rose Martha answered.
 "Well," said MrG sVariek, If she can buy Iacs cf yoH ! guess ] can, toe. I've g. z