The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-03
A BROKEN COMPACT.

,-. -foof9On'o W0ekiys
A BROKEN COMPACT.
"wsll, for PHYS sake, mother, come
hsrsi" said Janet Logan. She stood Of
the Kitchen window, from which she
could sss the front gate.
"whst 10 itf' asked Mrs. Logan. She
was stirring small kettle Of something
on the stove and did not want to leave ii
70 burn.
II Just want you to look and rec what's
coming In at our front gate"
Mrs. Logan took q corner Of her apron
for holder and lifted the bottle and Its
bubbllug contents on to the back part Of
the stove. Then she Joined Janet at the
window. A tall, slender, untidy looking
woman was entering the gate. She had q
blue end white soiled gingham apron tied
over her frowxly head, and her chocolate
oolored calico dress skirt was pinned up
about her waist. revealing black quilted
pstticoat and a pair of blue stookinged
feet thrust into pair Of gorgeous carpet
slippers 60 much too large for her that her
walk shuflsd to keep the slippers on.
"It's Jane Wsdlin," said Mrs. Logan.
AZ know IT," replied Janet. "But will
you tell me what She has in that basket3"
"Sure enough, said Mrs. Logan vague
y Nc she pcsred over the tops Of her spec
tao,es
Mrs wsdl,n carried with apparent
effort on enormous clothesbasket piled
high with something covered over with D
settled red and white tabieoloth. The
basket, which she hsld by either handle,
WIS 90 heavy that 10 pulled her head and
shoulders forward, and her face was rod
and psrspirtng, although 1t WAS . cool
Monday morning In late September.
There's no telling what freak has
struck Jane Wadlin now," said Mrs. Lo-
gan.
But sho and Janet soon knew the nature
Of tho freak that had struck their caller
that morning, for In moment or two tho
basket thumped up against the kitchen
door, which Mrs. Wadlin opened without
the preliminary politeness Of knocking.
Sho dropped the heavy basket to the
floor ind sat down on its contents, pant-
ing and wiplng her red face with corner
Of her soiled onlico apron.
N.Y." she gasped, "if ain't about
tuokored outl Whyl Amt you washing
today. Msrthy Logan9'
I'VE have 9 very light washing this
week, and I haven't been In any hurry
about beginning It," replied Mrs. Logan.
"a jar or two Of my Damned raspberries
had begun TO work, and l thought ia
cook 'e,n over again before begun to
wash. Id Just told Janet she'd better 90
down cellar and fetch up tho tubs and
bring out what little wash we have"
"Then I'm Just In time" said Mrs
Wad!in. with satisfaction. 1--WE got an
awful big wash this week, and while
was gathering 1t up happy thought
struck me. Can't you guess what 1t wasP"
mo, don't know as oan."
"Well, 1t flashed across me, why oac't
gather up my dirty duds and go over
and wash with Marthy Logan and mako
sort of frolic Of itS' When lived over
In Peakville, friend of mine named Mag
Graves and me washed together every Mon
hor things over to my house and the next
I'd lug mine over to hers, and we'd wash
and visit together. 1t was real neigh.
borly way of doing, and we'd awful good
times, and 1t Just flashed across Inc this
morning, why can't me and Marthy Lo.
gun do that way2' and hero am with my
wush to begin 1t"
Mrs Logan looked aghast, while Janet's
face flushed with annoyance, but Jane
Wadlin perceptions were not keen enough
to show her that she had make mistake
II do love to be neighborly," she said
Us she got up and dragged the red and
white tablecloth from the basket Of soiled
clothing. "I'll just separate my colored
things from the white ones and then wa
can pitch right in and wash and visit at
the same time"
Mrs Logan did not know what to do CT
say. She was q woman of very mild and
gentle spirit. Her friends often said that
"Martha Logan wouldn't hurt the feel
ings of fly" She did not want to hurt
the feelings of Janet Wadlin, and yet she
felt that she could not entor into the ar
rangement Mrs. Wadlln had made regard
ing tho washing
both mother and daughter felt that Mrs
Wadlin was woman who was not to DO
offended with impunity. She was good
friend md bitter enemy.
"Come, Janet, )" said Jane Wadlin, run
down cellar and got the tubs, and we'll
pitch right in. The neighbors will think
we're awful slack IL we don't get our
things all out by 10 O'Clock"
Janet glanced at her mother. Mrs. 1o-
gan struggled desperately. but vainly, to
invent some way of preventing what she
regarded as little less than calamity.
Finally she said weakly: "Yes, Janet.
Go down and get the tubs. B"
Janet's black eyes flashed, and she was
about to speak, but Mrs. Logan shook her
head, and Janet kept silent. When she
reached the cellar, she said angrily, with
an angry stamp Of her foot on the cellar
floor:
well, of all the impudent perform
ances As II we didn't have work enough
Of our own without doing any of Mrs.
Wadlin'sl There's eight in ber family and
only three In ours, and it's just a scheme
on her part to got most Of her washing
done by some one else. But It'll be the
last time she'll bring her washing here.
Now, see If 1t isn't!'
Janet repeated this resolve many times
during tho day, and Mrs. Logan made
similar resolution. Mrs. Wadlin was no.
toriously slack and unsystematio in her
methods Of work, and at intervals of about
two hours she would suggest that they
"eat bite'' and ''visit little.'
1t was nearly the middle Of the after
noon before the last of the "colored
things" were Haunting from the line in
the Logan back yard.
"And such looking array Of things as
they arel What will the neighbors think"
said Janet as she stood at the window Of