Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-04-02
LUCINDA'S PROFESSOR.

Lucinda Bowers looked at the lit.
tie invitation card, and rebellion
arose in her heart.
II don't eare," she said. "I'm
going.'
All the Ohio village Of Valley
City knew that afternoon that Lu.
cinda Bowers was buying a new
dress.
Margaret Elton had seen her pur-
chasing the organdie at Dorchester's
that morning. Ben Sturgiss met
Ruth Ames ON his way home to din
ner, and told her just what kind of
paper patterns he had sold to Lu.
cinda.
Mrs. Benson, who had issued
cards for lawn party on the fol.
lowing Thursday, could hardly have
been expected to know who CON-
posed "society" in Valley City, and
who was beyond the pale-though
several well-disposed persons, when
they heard that old Sam Bowers
daughter had been invited, would
have put in a word in the right di.
rection had the list been submitted
to them.
"Mrs. Benson means well,h 1e.
marked the Widow Simpkins, "but
she judges more by a pretty face
and a lively tongue than by 'fami.
ly.'"
II should be very grateful" said
young Mrs. Benson to Lucinda, "if
you would help me with the ice
cream and the cake at the party next
week"
Wherever Lucinda went it was ex-
pected that sbe would look after the
comestibles which Valley City call.
ed Refreshments" She dispensed
the slayer" cake at the straw berry
and ice-cream sociable; she filled
the candy bags at Christmas time,
and attended to the commissary ar
engagements at the annual Sunday
School picnics.
Indeed, Lucinda Bowers lad been
burden bearer from her childhood.
She paid the rent and clothed her
brothers and sisters from the wages
which she earned as school teach.
er.
She led the Christian Endeavor
meetings when nobody else would
do so. She famed the faint spark
which still remained in the Woman's
Missionary Society and kept the
Sewing Circle from disintegration.
Itseemed as though Lucinda Bow.
ers had always been old. AS a mat.
ter of fact she was hardly Is. She
might have been pretty if she had
given more time to sleep and less
to care and worry.
While the whole town was busy
discussing the addition to Lucinda's
wardrobe, the young woman was
busy at work upon her first new
dress In two years.
The organdie was slipped over an
old skirt of blue silk which had be.
longed to her grandmother. A few
bits of lace, a few lines of tucks,
girdle of blue silk ribbon, and the
dress was done.
81 suppose" remarked Lucinda ON
tie evening Of the party, as she look.
ed at herself critically in the crack
ed mirror of the old walnut bureau,
s'that it's wicked for me to spend
this money on dress when Johnny
may need new pair of shoes before
long. / wish / wasn't so rebellious,
but can't help It,.
The Benson lawn party is still ia.
nous in the social history of Valley
City.
The ambitious young matron who
gave the entertainment was not con.
tent with the grass plot which sur
rounded her own pink cottage. She
took the lawn of her neighbor as
we'll.
Showers ofwlld flowers hung from
the old cherry tee in the centre of
the lawn. Chinese lanterns shown
from the fir trees, and a genuine
"Rebecca's Well' gave forth the
most wonderful ,monade--lemon-
ade fortified with the fayor OF piEe-
apples and oranges.
eyes" said Mrs. Benson in reply
to the gentle inquiry of the Widow
Simpkins, 81 got the receipt at my
home in the East 1t is very popu-
lar there"
She did not think it necess ary to
say that this marvellous sherbet was
compounded by Lucinda Bowers.
Neither did she consider it OF any
use to tell her guests that the ar
rangement of tables under the old
cherry tree was suggested by the
young woman in the blue .rgandie.
The fame of those refreshments, Y
which were served on The night on
which Mrs. James jerome Benson