Palisadian., 1925-07-03
Next Door to
Heaven
By DUFoRD JENNIE
). 1926. Western Newspaper Union.)

room. Even the dampness of the rain
clinging to her could not destroy the
picture she made-the thick, cloudy
dark hair. deep brown eyes, the faint
hint of rose in her cheeks.
"Oh, | don't know, Mary. l guess
it's not just being poor that makes all
the troubler r' June answered.
Mary slipped into chair. 81 say
it is Look at me! One of my rub
bers leaks-and my shoes went
squash! squash all the way home.
And I'm cold, homeless, and lonely.
All need is money, and l would be
happy as lark !"
But you earn enough as stenog
rapher to"
"Pooh! What's that! a pittance
Now if you would only marry Mr.
Wilkinson"
Marys eyes softened. 81 do love
him, June, but what would 1t mean?
A little fiat, watching the money all
the time, counting the pennies-and
pennies are such small trash ]"
would you marry man for his
money!"
"Nary a bit of it, Junetime, dear;
but those who have the cash are the
happiest-don't tell me different !"
June laughed. mo, | won't; but
remember my work brings me in touch
with those who have money!
"Sure!" Mary's eyes grew bright.
Say. June, when you take your va
cation next week why don't you let
me substitute for you-take your po-
sition as secretary to Mrs. Clernon !;
and give me chance to live for a
little while in lovely homer"
June looked at the winsome face
of her friend, and the older girls
eyes grew tender. you shall. little
dreamer, have the opportunity. Can
you arrange your own work."
Il have two weeks coming to me for
my vacation and I'll take it now. l
told Ted would spend some Of the
time with him, but he can wait. O,
June, if didn't love lovely things so,
would marry him and take a
| chance!"
"You forget that the only loveliness
that abides is the loreliness of things
unseen!"
"Ah. how sweet and poetic that
sounds. dearie, but put it beside a
platter of ham and eggs. and ham
an goes farther!"
June shook her head. 'You have
much to learn"
"But. June, you're not married
Oh. please forgive mel" Mary begged,
the laughter fed from her voice. She
had forgotten that the lad whom June
was to marry never returned from
over the seas where the khaki legions
went.
When Mary, on the next Monday
found herself In the attractive library
of the Clernon mansion, she admitted
to herself that she was just where she
would like some day to be. with the
happiness that money can buy all
about her.
She found Mrs. Clernon gracious
and kind, and quickly made friends
with Mr.. Clernon. whose grave eyes
seemed to find something amusing in
her quick answers and girlish philos-
ophy of life.
Then, one evening Mr. Clernon
asked her to help him with some I'M
pOrtant messages; and in that hour
with him she learned why his eyes
were so grave and tired. The fate
of great business was in his
care; she could see he faced-re-
sponsibilities galore.
She sensed at first, then saw clear
| ly the responsibilities that Mrs. Cler-
non, also a woman of wealth, was
forced to carry; and then, one eve
ming. she heard them planning some
way to get away together for a
month.
Marvin, let's go somewhere togeth-
er-to some simple little place
where can have you all to myself !"
Mrs Clernon said.
"And where l can have you!" Mr..
Clernon said gently. "We1l do it,"
Mary let the book she was reading
sink into her lap. They were trying
to get away from the very things that
she was trying and longing to have
1.-THE loveliness that abides is the
loveliness of things unseen" Mary
thought to herself as she repeated
June's words June knows. She'll
never have the boy she loved; but
she's got something that will never
grow old and die as he would if she
had married him. How happy she is
in that knowledge. And these people
they aren't happy because of what
they have here. but what they have In
their hearts! I wish"
She stole downstairs to the tele-
phone alcove, a new and delicious some
thing warming her to the heart as she
thought of what she was to do.
In answer to her call. clear, manly
voice spoke her name with tender
ness that thrilled her.
Tied. do-do you Suppose-you
could-find a little flat-for two-by
the first of the month";"
She heard a gasp, then the clear
voice rang with the happiness of un-
derstanding joy. Find it? Mary, l
should say | could! And it'll be right
next door to heaven"
Mary hung up the receiver lest too