was being said but she had always felt close to Miss Travers; always felt, in a way, akin to her. She was the nicest lady she ever knew.

"There was that talk goin' round about sho and that woman friend of hers," said Mrs. Malone. "Let me tell you right now, Miss Travers knew it too. I got an idear that was why she come hore to live. After leavin' her friend and all seems like she didn't want to see nobody. You remember. About two years ago it was. Funny thing, though, was right after that she started goin' downhill; gettin' skinny and all that. Beats me how a young woman like that can up and die." The last word kept her silent for a moment; an infinitely large silence. "And let me tell you, after that her own father'd have nothin' to do with her. He kep' away all the time. Called him this mornin' though. Poor man. Just broke right down and cried. Says he'll do all the arrangements. Says he'll take a bunch of her water color paintin' she done out of her room so's I can rent it right away. Got some of her stuff in the g'rage too."

"Just run down, huh. Poor-thing," Mrs. Patterson said. "Wonder how come?"

"Mommy..."

"Can't you see Mother's talking, Patey? Wo're going to what's-her-name's after supper and I got to hurry." Mrs. Patterson turned to her neighbor. "As if I didn't have nothing else to do. Oh my, she said, putting a freckled hand to her heart, "Oh my, I got me heartburn again. You supposo it could be serious?"

"Sure not," said Mrs. Malone, "the children excite you, is all. It don't mean nothin' really. Look at Miss Travers, so nice and quiet and her goin' so sudden and all that." Mrs. Malone could not really believe it yet. "Just you don't pay it no mind," she said.

"Well, pro'bly. We all got to for today, I always say," Mrs. "such a nice girl she was too.

go some time I guess. Live Patterson said and thon, And so young."

5