Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-18


sula Brigham at the corner Of
Wayne and Carter streets. In
~ fact, they almost ran into each
other, for ii was rainy ran
day and each woman was carrying
her umbrella low in order to keep the
rain out of her face.
why. is that YOU. Juliet" said
Ursula in a whining voice which was
fast becoming hahitual with her
I've just been up TO your house and
] was dreadfully disappointed at not
finding YOU home. Are you going
right back now? If so III just run
along with you. Awful day. isn't it?
/ expect | shall catch my death of
cold being out In this weather and
this extra walk I've had Ia take be
cause you were not at homo will fin
ish me-
Now, Juliet Thompkins was widow
who had nursed her husband through
seven long years of invalidiSm and
she felt she richly deserved any com
fort she might derive from the com
Portable living he left her. Ursula
had nursed an ailng father for a
number OF years and at his death was
Gfsgusted to find the old man had
made some requests to other members
Of his family. thereby cutting down
her income 1t is true, it was ample
for the simple needs of n woman of
her age. but the fact that her parent
had dared to prove his independence
by giving away some of his money
proved to her beyond a doubt that he
was ungrateful and that the whole
plan of life was wrong altogether.
Ursula never forgave Juliet the fact
that she had been left with means
sufficient for the necessities Of life as
we'll as n few Injuries. while she.
Ursula, had just enough and not
cent more. Some there were who
were mean enough to say that each
woman got Just what she deserved, be-
cause it was an open secret that
Ursula had KEEP: old Harrison Brigham
as cheaply as she possibly could, even
denying him the comfort of an occa
sional pipe. and he had retaliated by
scrimping her income.
1t was Il strange friendship winch
existed between these two women of
entirely different natures. Juliet,
hearty and generous. never thinking
i'll of any one. and Ursula, little and
brown. sharp of eye and tongue. who
constantly found something to COM
plain of and was easy to take offense.
The two women lived on the same
street and scarcely a day passed that
they did not either see each other or
exchange telephone calls. Never once
in all the years of their acquaintance
had there been an open rupture, al
though there were times when the
fabric of their friendship was pretty
thin.
Ursula had not spoken two words
today before Juliet recognized the fact
that she was in one of her most diff
f1cult moods.
II tell YOU. Juliet. if YOU had to
count the pennies the way | do you'd
4 H., -@11 an 70
wondering where the money for
medicine and doctor and nurse and
perhaps burial expenses was coming
from" and Ursula gave groan that
was heartrending.
oh" said Juliet, wait till you're
hurt. You won't catch cold today |
When we get to my house Wen go
In and III brew good cup of tea
and We'll have good time"
The two women entered the COM |
Portable little house and Juliet put |
the drafts of her stove on and soon |
they We're warm and by the time the |
tea was brewed even Ursula's spirits |
were seen to be visibly rising.
Juliet had just told a funny story |
when the doorbell rang. When she |
opened the door she was astonished |
to see tall man incased in a rubber |
raincoat standing on the steps.
JOOu dIt6THOON, he Sctlu pleas
antly. Can you tell me where l can
find Miss Ursula Brigham? / was
told she lived on this street, but l
have forgotten the number of the |
house-say," he added. peering a
Juliet through near sighted eyeSS tdo |
you happen to be Juliet Frfck?'
II was Juliet Frick when i was a
girl. 1 am Juliet Thompl1ins now"
she added and then after a moment
she exclaimed: why, you must be |
Fatty-oh, l mean Quincy John |
Harper And she held out her hand |
cordially. Come right in, Quincy" |
she said and she led the way into |
the warm sitting room where Ursula /
was sitting.
Here, Suel." she said. lis some |
one who is asking after you, and | |
bet you don't know who it is
But Ursula did. She had overheard |
the conversation and she was so sur
prised that her face for once was
suffused with becoming. rosiness, her |
eyes were bright and her mouth had |
almost lost its downward droop when |
she arose 10 shake hands.
why, Suel," cried Quincy John.
I'D have known you anywhere I /
can't see as you've changed a mite. |
Keeps her looks fine, don't you think. |
Juliet? Well, WELL" he said as he
sank into a chair and took the cup of |
tea Juliet handed him. ITO think 7 |
should find you two girls right here
in one home after all these years.
But, say, just how many years has