Gloria and Treeless Street | Page 7

old ones torn down. I asked uncle for a runabout, but I'll give that up. I wish I dared ask him how much it costs to tear a house down--I wonder if you couldn't find out for me?
"Aunt Em and I picked out the kind of automobile for me in an advertisement--a little beauty. Last night I dreamed I had it, and the first ride I took it turned into That Street--I couldn't help it; it would go. It--it ran over little Hunkie. Aunt Em heard me scream, and went in and waked me up.
"I'll give up having an automobile.
"Please try to find out who owns Dinney's house--that is the worst block of all, isn't it? Whoever does own that place couldn't ask very much for it. It's such a rickety thing. You see, I've set my heart on having one nice straight human house, anyway, on that street.
"With love,
"GLORIA ROSE."
The answer to this second letter was not as long as the first letter from the District Nurse. It bore evidence of hurry.
"_Dear Gloria_: I am getting ready to go back this afternoon--no, my vacation isn't done, but Dinney's poor mother is. She can't wait any longer. I shall be there to-night.
"About the houses--my dear, oh, my dear! It will surprise you to know that those houses are very valuable. It would cost a good deal to buy even one of them, I am afraid. Let me tell you--I'll count up as nearly as I can remember how many rents there are just in Dinney's house; that is five stories high--the basement is the first one.
"Fourteen rents. Some of the rents are just one room or two rooms, you see. Fourteen families pay for living in that house. The entire rental of that one house helps fill somebody's pocketbook 'plum' full.' It was a lovely plan--I cried instead of laughing over it--and when I see you I am going to hug you for it! But, dear, I'll see if I can find out who Somebody is, if you still want to know. It will be a simple matter, I should say. I have never asked who owned any of the 'Pleasant Street' property--I did not seem to want to know. But I'll find out if you really wish me to.
"With love,
"MARY WINSHIP."
The District Nurse found Dinney's mother was "waiting" when she at last reached her. But her release came soon. With a smile she left them, and Dinney, seeing it, surprised the Nurse by a look of gladness. Then he took Hunkie into his arms and turned away with him as the door opened and a young girl entered. It was Rose. It seemed somehow to Dinney as though a sweet peace filled the room now that his mother's hard-drawn breath was no longer there. He looked through the window and hugged Hunkie close. He was his baby sure, now. In a way that he could not understand, it seemed as though something good had come to his mother. Loving her as he did, he was glad, and realized not his bereavement.
The District Nurse, a day or two later, found time to attend to Gloria's commission. It was at first a little difficult, because she did not apply to the right party, but she persevered, as she wished to tell Gloria in the letter she meant to write that night. She was told of someone who might know, and to that person she repaired at her first leisure. There she was at last successful.
But she did not write to Gloria that night. Her pen would have refused to trace the name she had found--no, no, no, in very mercy it could not! Poor Gloria--dear child! For already the District Nurse loved Gloria. No, she could not tell her who it was owned Dinney's home. Mr. McAndrew's law case concluded, that gentleman was minded to treat himself to a little recreation. It was not fair, he said, for the women folks to have all the fun--they were to turn to now and see that he had his share. With Gloria's willing aid, he made out a modest little itinerary that would give them a sight of several places of interest.
"The more the better!" Gloria said. "We're good for any number of 'em, aren't we, auntie?"
And dear, patient Aunt Em smiled splendidly, and saw the longed-for arrival home pushed farther away. Gloria was innocently selfish; she could not have comprehended easily how anyone could help enjoying this pleasant dallying from place to place.
The trip finally ended several weeks later than was originally planned. The District Nurse's vacation was dimmed by the many days of hard work that had succeeded it; by this time it was more a beautiful memory than a reality. She must have dreamed of sitting lazily rocking, shut in