Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-26
When Latchstring Is Out.
ALA DARTMOUTH looked


r ALA DARTMOUTH looked UP
from her packing to regard her
neighbor with a questioning
IL frown.
IT may be all the kinds of an
idiot you say, Ida, but I've always fig
ured that since God gave Harry and me
a heavenly spot like Lakeside, we've no
right to be stingy with It,"
IT wouldn't call it being stingy to
close my doors against people who
merely make Summer convenience OF
me and scarcely think Of me at any
other season."
''It isn't quite as bad as that. dear"
"All right, but you wait and see what
happens this Summer, since you've al
ready indicated that your latchstring
Is OUT
In spite of what she was pleased to
term her friends annual croaking, Mrs
Dartmouth went blithely on with her
work, singingly happy with the knowl-
edge that she soon would be in her be-
loved little home on the shore of beau
tiful Lake Penewee.
She loved every blade of grass, every
tree, every wild flower that grew on the
place. She reveled in her daily dips in
the lakes limpid waters-two or three
dips If the weather was especially warm
delighted in the morning rows along the
700 feet Of frontage she and Harry
owned. She even rather enjoyed those
storms which sometimes swept over the
lake from the North, sending the oc-
cupants of Lakeside Cottage porchward
to cover the furniture against the on
coming rain.
And then she adored the flivver and
the motor boat, both kept purposely for
an-10 kx.itz % fI1n NTtl-
lage which was lilo miles distant. She
called the flivver Libbie and was sure
Indy couldn't possibly care more for
his We than she did for the little car
which the Dartmouths kept stored in a
farmers barn all Winter.
Lalia kept the little cottage looking
like a glorified doll house, with bright,
cheerful Grapes and gay painted furni-
ture which she gave fresh coat the
first thing every Summer.
Taking it all in all, she was so proud
Of the place that she never could resist
saying to each friend and acquaintance
their exodus to Lakeside, "Oh, you must
drive down. You've no idea how we've
improved 1t since last season."
Strange as it may seem 1t wasn't al.
ways the best friends nor the closest
acquaintance who availed themselves OF
these wholesale invitations of Lalia' S
and when she came home one Fall tell
ing of entertaining the Meachams
whom she barely knew: the BordenS
whom she never had seen before, but
who were cousins of some people she
had known in childhood. and the Mat
tinglys, whom She scarcely ever saw any
more, but who were passing through on
their way West and were wiShful of q
nights rest in the country, not to men,
ton the saving Of hotel bill, her neigh
Dor and very best friend took her to
task about it.
You're tired out instead Of rested
every Fall when you come home. You
aren't doing right by yourself and your
family to accept SO much responsibility
let alone reaching out for it the way
you do"
Lalia had chuckled. replying with
mock seriousness, "All right, dear old
Pal, next Summer. the moment things
get too much for me, I'll send for you
to straighten them out
This morning, with the Dartmouths
almost ready to leave, Mrs. Stems re-
minded her friend Of her promise of the
Fall before, and Lalia laughingly re-
newed it. Not that I expect to need
you. Ida. darling" she said laughingly.
but you know I am always as good as
my word
When she reached Lakeside Lalia was
filled with renewed woncer at the beau
ty OF the place. AS she was hurrying
the porch chairs and tables into their
accustomed places, more loved than
ever to be there, the telephone smote
her ear rather discordantly.