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canning to do； and pit them there on the front porch partially shielded by
her porch vine； but not so effectually that she was deprived of the sights
and sounds about her。 The kettle in her lap and the dishpan full of great
ripe cherries on the porch floor by her chair； she would pit and chat and
peer out through the vines； the red juice staining her plump bare arms。
I have wondered since what Blanche Devine thought of us those
lonesome eveningsthose evenings filled with friendly sights and sounds。
It must have been difficult for her； who had dwelt behind closed shutters
so long； to seat herself on the new front porch for all the world to stare at；
but she did sit thereresolutelywatching us in silence。
She seized hungrily upon the stray crumbs of conversation that fell to
her。 The milkman and the iceman and the butcher boy used to hold daily
conversation with her。 Theysociable gentlemenwould stand on her
door… step； one grimy hand resting against the white of her doorpost；
exchanging the time of day with Blanche in the doorwaya tea towel in
one hand； perhaps； and a plate in the other。 Her little house was a miracle
of cleanliness。 It was no uncommon sight to see her down on her knees
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on the kitchen floor； wielding her brush and rag like the rest of us。 In
canning and preserving time there floated out from her kitchen the
pungent scent of pickled crab apples； the mouth…watering smell that meant
sweet pickles； or the cloying； divinely sticky odor that meant raspberry
jam。 Snooky； from her side of the fence； often used to peer through the
pickets； gazing in the direction of the enticing smells next door。
Early one September morning there floated out from Blanche Devine's
kitchen that fragrant； sweet scent of fresh…baked cookiescookies with
butter in them； and spice； and with nuts on top。 Just by the smell of them
your mind's eye pictured them coming from the oven…crisp brown circlets；
crumbly； delectable。 Snooky； in her scarlet sweater and cap； sniffed them
from afar and straightway deserted her sand pile to take her stand at the
fence。 She peered through the restraining bars； standing on tiptoe。
Blanche Devine； glancing up from her board and rolling pin； saw the eager
golden head。 And Snooky； with guile in her heart； raised one fat；
dimpled hand above the fence and waved it friendlily。 Blanche Devine
waved back。 Thus encouraged； Snooky's two hands wigwagged
frantically above the pickets。 Blanche Devine hesitated a moment； her
floury hand on her hip。 Then she went to the pantry shelf and took out a
clean white saucer。 She selected from the brown jar on the table three of
the brownest； crumbliest； most perfect cookies； with a walnut meat
perched atop of each； placed them temptingly on the saucer and；
descending the steps； came swiftly across the grass to the triumphant
Snooky。 Blanche Devine held out the saucer； her lips smiling； her eyes
tender。 Snooky reached up with one plump white arm。
〃Snooky！〃 shrilled a high voice。 〃Snooky！〃 A voice of horror and
of wrath。 〃Come here to me this minute！ And don't you dare to touch
those！〃 Snooky hesitated rebelliously； one pink finger in her pouting
mouth。
〃Snooky！ Do you hear me？〃
And the Very Young Wife began to descend the steps of her back porch。
Snooky； regretful eyes on the toothsome dainties； turned away aggrieved。
The Very Young Wife； her lips set； her eyes flashing； advanced and seized
the shrieking Snooky by one arm and dragged her away toward home and
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safety。
Blanche Devine stood there at the fence； holding the saucer in her
hand。 The saucer tipped slowly； and the three cookies slipped off and fell
to the grass。 Blanche Devine stood staring at them a moment。 Then she
turned quickly； went into the house； and shut the door。
It was about this time we noticed that Blanche Devine was away much
of the time。 The little white cottage would be empty for weeks。 We
knew she was out of town because the expressman would come for her
trunk。 We used to lift our eyebrows significantly。 The newspapers and
handbills would accumulate in a dusty little heap on the porch； but when
she returned there was always a grand cleaning； with the windows open；
and Blancheher head bound turbanwise in a towelappearing at a
window every few minutes to shake out a dustcloth。 She seemed to put
an enormous amount of energy into those cleaningsas if they were a sort
of safety valve。
As winter came on she used to sit up before her grate fire long； long
after we were asleep in our beds。 When she neglected to pull down the
shades we could see the flames of her cosy fire dancing gnomelike on the
wall。 There came a night of sleet and snow； and wind and rattling hail
one of those blustering； wild nights that are followed by morning…paper
reports of trains stalled in drifts； mail delayed； telephone and telegraph
wires down。 It must have been midnight or past when there came a
hammering at Blanche Devine's doora persistent； clamorous rapping。
Blanche Devine； sitting before her dying fire half asleep； started and
cringed when she heard it； then jumped to her feet； her hand at her breast
her eyes darting this way and that； as though seeking escape。
She had heard a rapping like that before。 It had meant bluecoats
swarming up the stairway； and frightened cries and pleadings； and wild
confusion。 So she started forward now； quivering。 And then she
remembered； being wholly awake nowshe remembered； and threw up
her head and smiled a little bitterly and walked toward the door。 The
hammering continued； louder than ever。 Blanche Devine flicked on the
porch light and opened the door。 The half…clad figure of the Very Young
Wife next door staggered into the room。 She seized Blanche Devine's
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arm with both her frenzied hands and shook her； the wind and snow
beating in upon both of them。
〃The baby！〃 she screamed in a high； hysterical voice。 〃The baby！
The baby！〃
Blanche Devine shut the door and shook the Young Wife smartly by
the shoulders。
〃Stop screaming；〃 she said quietly。 〃Is she sick？〃
The Young Wife told her； her teeth chattering：
〃Come quick！ She's dying！ Will's out of town。 I tried to get the
doctor。 The telephone wouldn't I saw your light！ For God's sake〃
Blanche Devine grasped the Young Wife's arm； opened the door； and
together they sped across the little space that separated the two houses。
Blanche Devine was a big woman； but she took the stairs like a girl and
found the right bedroom by some miraculous woman instinct。 A dreadful
choking； rattling sound was coming from Snooky's bed。
〃Croup；〃 said Blanche Devine； and began her fight。
It was a good fight。 She marshaled her inadequate forces； made up of
the half…fainting Young Wife and the terrified and awkward hired girl。
〃Get the hot water onlots of it！〃 Blanche Devine pinned up her
sleeves。 〃Hot cloths！ Tear up a sheetor anything！ Got an oilstove？ I
want a tea… kettle boiling in the room。 She's got to have the steam。 If
that don't do it we'll raise an umbrella over her and throw a sheet over； and
hold the kettle under till the steam gets to her that way。 Got any ipecac？〃
The Young Wife obeyed orders； white…faced and shaking。 Once
Blanche Devine glanced up at her sharply。
〃Don't you dare faint！〃 she commanded。
And the fight went on。