Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-08-12
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hIKTELl., for PHYS sake, mother,
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HIKTELI., for PHYS sake, mother,
w come hcre!" said Janet Logan.
She stood It the kitchen window, from
which she could see the front gate.
What is it?" asked Mrs. Logan. She
was stirring a small kettle Of some
thing on the stove, and did not want to
leave it to buru.
II just want you to look and see
what's coming in at our front gate"
Mrs. Logan took a corner of her apron
for a holder and lifted the kettle and
its bubbling contents onto the back
part of the stove. Then she joined Janet
at the window. a tall, slender, untidy-
looking woman was entering tie gate.
She had a blue-and-white soiled ging-
liam apron tied over her frowzy head
md her chocolate-colored calico dress
skirt was pinned up about her waist,
revealing a black quilted petticoat and
q pair of blue-stockinged feet thrust
into pair of gorgeous carpet slippers
so much toe large for her that her walk
shufled to keep the slippers on. e.
Its Jane Wadlin," said Mrs. Logan.
81 know it," replied Janet. "But will
YOU tell me what she has in that bas-
ket?"
Sure enough" said Mrs. Logan,
vaguely, as she peered over the tops of
her spectacles.
Mrs. Wadlin carried with apparent
effort an enormous clothes basket piled
high with something covered over with
a soiled red-and-white tablecloth. The
basket, which she held by either handle,
was so heavy that it pulled her head
and shoulders forward, and her face
was red and perspiring, although it
was cool Monday morning in late Sep
TENDER.
There's no telling what freak has
struck Jane Wadlin now," said Mrs. Lo-
gan.
But she and Janet soon knew the ma
ture of the freak that had struck their
caller that morning, for in moment or
two the basket thumped up against the
kitchen door which Mrs Wadlin opened
without the preliminary politeness of
knocking.
She dropped the heavy basket to the
floor and sat down on its contents, pant
ing and wiping her red face with cor
ner OF her soiled calico apron.
''Iy!" she gasped, "if amt about
tuckered out! Why! Amt you wash
ing to-day, Marthy Logan?"
eve have a very light washing this
lDoay, -, hurry
about beginning it," replied Mrs. Lo-
gan. "a jar or two of my canned rasp~
berries had begun to work, and I
thought I'd cook EN- over again before
I begun to wash. I'd just tod Janet
she'd better go down cellar and fetch
lip the tubs and bring out what little
wash we have"
Then I'm just in time" said Mrs,
Wadlin. with satisfaction. "I've got an
awful big wash this week, and while
was gathering it up happy thought
struck me. Can't you guess what it
was?"
''NIa, 7 don't know as can"
"Wel, it flashed across me: why
can't I gather up my dirty duds and go
over and wash with Marthy logan and
make a sort of a frolic of it? When
lived over in Peakville friend of minG
named Mag Graves and me washed to-
gether every Monday Of the world. One
Monday she'd lug her things over TO
my house, and the next I'd lug mine
over to hers, and we'd wash and visit
together. It was a real neighborly way
of doing, and we'd awful good times;
and it Just flashed across me this morn
ing: Why can't me and Marthy Logan
do that way?' and here am, with my
wash to begin it."
Mrs. Logan looked aghast, while
Janet's face flushed with annoyance,
but Jane Wadlin's perceptions were not
keen enough to show her that she had
made mistake.
II do love to be neighborly," she said,
us she got up and dragged the rcd and
white tablecioth from the basket of
soiled clothing. III just separate my
eolored things from the white ones, and
ihenwe can pitch right in and wash and
visit at the same time"
Mrs. Logan did not know what to do
or say. She was woman of very mild
and gentle spirit. Her friends often
said that Martha Logan wouldn't hurt
the feelings of fly" She did not want
to hurt the feelings Of Jane Wadlin, and
vet she felt that she could not enter into
the arrangement Mrs. Wadlin had made
regarding the washing.
Janet was also of this opinion, and yet
both mother and daughter felt that Mrs.
Wadlin was woman who was not to be
offended with impunity. She was q
good friend and bitter enemy.
"Come, Janet" said Jane Wadlin, run
down cellar and get the tubs and we'll
pitch right in. The neighbors will think
we're awful slack if we don't get our
things all out by ten o'clock"
Janet glanced at her mother. Mrs
Logan struggled desperately but vainly
to invent some way of preventing what
she regarded as little less than g
calamity.
Finally she said weakly: eyes, Janet;
go down and get the tubs"
Janet's black eyes flashed and she was
,about to speak. but Mrs. Logan shook