Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-16
White Iris.

Dear me! They're quarreling
again." said Miss Lydia Gage to her
self. She Sighed.
II was perfect morning in Sep
TENDER, a golden, dreamful morning.
Miss Lydia. getting ready to go TO
California for the Winter, looked at
the sunshine and almost wished that
she were gong to stay at home. 1t
was only that she knew it would he
soon cold. with all the gold faded =
ICY whiteness, that she felt she must
go, for Miss Lydia had rheumatic
knees and although her house was
comfortable and warm and filled with
every luxury she suffered so much
that experience had taught her TO
fee before the first tang of cold. In
California she could stay out of doors
and still be warm. But, oh, dear,
the Summer in her dear old Eveland
home had gone terribly fast.
I'm sure" Miss Lydia sighed
again, that IL ! had as good knees
as Mrs. Puff and Mrs. Green have
and was able to stay in my own home
I would find something better to do
than to quarrel. They are forever
quarreling. Sometimes l feel quite
inclined to tell them that they must
vacate those houses
Miss Lydia looked across the street
at the two neat white houses which
stood side by side with only. a narrow
strip Of green grass between them.
She owned those houses. One she
rented to Mrs. Puff, the other to Mrs.
Green. Now there was no reason in
the world why the two old women
should not have been friends. except
for the fact that they always were
disagreeing over the grass-plot be-
tween. their houses. Mrs. Puff said
that all OF the grass-plot belonged to
her and Mrs. Green said that all or II
belonged to her. Never until this
morning had Miss Lydia paid much
attention to the continual controversy
going on before her eyes.
II could put up a dividing fence,
she thought, but, no, that would not
do. ] wish I could do something. 1t
seems a pity for such beautiful
morning to be spoiled by such bicker-
ing. / wish I could think Of some
thing that would put a stop to it,
She studied the situation wistFully.
The situation consisted mainly or two
angry old women each fighting for
what she though she possessed. Mrs.
Puff was tall ind thin, Mrs. Green
was short and stout. Miss LYDIA
sympathies were slightly In favor OF
Mrs. Green. because she was short
WlnQed ana MIS-. uil eA|oileu Az
vociferosity.
II warn YOU not to step foot on
my ground again." cried Mrs. Puff.
IT'S mine as much as 1t IS yours, .
painted Mrs. Green.
I'm see a lawyer about It" said
Mrs. Puff.
DO so. do so.' Mrs. Green was
fairly inarticulate. "I'll go and visit
my son and he'll tell me what my
rights are"
And III go to see my son-in-law
and he'll tell what my rights are, >
gasped Mrs. Puff Then she shot into
her house and slammed the door.
An hour later Miss Lydia saw Mrs.
Green with her little black bag in
her hand trotting toward the station.
She was going out to Turnwood to
see her son. Scarcely had Mrs. Green
left the scene before the Cloud Creek
stage stopped at the door for Mrs.
Puff. She climbed In and the scene
was vacant.
I'm glad they've gone" said Miss
Lydia, for I've thought of something
70 do. Let me see-Mrs. Green can't
get back before tomorrow noon,
neither can Mrs. Puff. Tomorrow |
shall be on my way to California.
What | do I must do quickly
Miss Lydia was small and sweet
and dear. like a lovely little white
carnatton. 1t was pity she had such
rad knees, for she was only 63, but.
of course. a great deal of money made
even a pair Of rheumatic knees bear
able. She touched a button in the
wall beside her porch chair and a
woman appeared. a sensible. elderly
woman, who. busy though she was
with getting ready to accompany her
Ia. Tr-lc ct
willing to he interrupted in her work
that she might perform some little ex-
fra service for Miss Lydia.
Susan" said Miss Lydia. send
Mr. Sprague to me-" Mr.. SpraGue
was the man of all work.
Mr. Sprague came to the veranda
rail and leaned upon it while he
listened to Miss I.ydia's orders.
And be sure, Mr.. Sprague, that
YOU use only the white ones, and he
very careful about the transplanting.
for I want them to blossom next
Spring without fail"
IF | take up all those I am afraid
YOU will have to go without" said
Mr.. SpraRue.
1T doesn't matter. There will he
the pink and the purple ones left. be
sides all the peoples and other things.
Remember, Mr., Sprague. only white
ones" She smiled. Miss Lydia's au-
thority was usually delivered smil-
ingly. I'm sure they won't ask you
any questions. AS for me. ! shall be
miles away when they find out"
All the rest of that afternoon Mr.,
Spra que worked carrying plants from
Miss Lydia's big flower garden at the
hack of the house and setting them
out in the grass plot between the
houses Of Mrs. Puff and Mrs Green
Miss Lydia, quite excited, watched
from the porch chair.
Il think that will accomplish what
WISH" she thought with relief
Next day when Mrs. Puff and Mrs.
Green came home they found the big