Middletown transcript., 1902-09-13


the Clearwater way" when duty was
TO be done. Tall Constance and little
Grandmother Clearwater were related to
each other.
''Pm going to pack my trunk" Con-
(, stance announced, abruptly. Her room
mate dropped the banjo she had been
strumming and regarded her with sus
picion. "You've been studying too hard
Its gone to your head"
''No, it's gone to my trunkP' punneo
Constance, essaying sorry little laugh
She was already folding one Of her skirts
''Don't say anything, judy" she added,
"Don't say Pm going to lose the mid
year exams. and get behind, and fall out
of my beloved class, bump-don't say it!
Perhaps you think don't know it; per-
haps YOU think l want-there, there,
go on banjoing, like dear. II your
grandmother had broken her leg and the
cook had gone and got married and your
father wrote Tm afraid you'll have to
come, my DEAR you'd be packing your
trunk, wouldn't your
sT would So" Judy said briefly; but
she put away.the banjo and went to told-
ing clothes, too.
The next day Constance went home
The first half of the tedious journey she
allowed herself the luxury OF a gentle
self-commiseratiox; the latter halt she
put away all regrets and went to work
with paper and pencil. By the time she
had made out careful bills-of-fare for
breakfasts, dinners, and teas, as far as
Wednesday noon, she even experienced
measure of mild anticipatory pleasure.
It was not altogether q calamity, after
all--except, of course, poor grandmother's
leg-for it would be such good chance
to put into practice her pet theories.
Constance had also the Clearwater love
of theories" 1t was another link be-
tween her and the little Clearwater
grandmother, differing only in kind.
Grandmother's pet theory had always
been the "bring-up" of children, until
it had come to grief over Pollykins, the
grandbaby.
"I shall practice all my pet theories"
decided Connie, beginning on Wednes-
day noon's bill-of-fare. "Fillet of beet,
what part Of beef is fillet, I wonder?
potato salad, scalloped tomatoes, yes,
it will be a splendid chance. 1 shall
atipulate that have things my own way
-Tll tell father that's no more than
fair, after I've had to give up so much
Fathers dear. He'll say, Yes, yes, 60
ahead; you shall have clear track And
I mean to 60 gliding over it in fine style!
With eclat-a clatter, anywayW and
Connie laughed softly to herself, remem-
bering the tin pans and dishes that might
be strewn along the track.
1t was very interesting making out
bills-of-fare. And, then, it wonld be
such a help, too. No stopping to null
and worry over what to get for breakfast
Mondays, or dinner Tuesdays and We'd
nesdays-iust glance at the careful little
program, and there you were! Constance
gave painful care to the work. She tried
to put in all the things that father liked
especially, and Larry and little Polykins
She did not know very well what grand
mother liked, but something old-fash-
ioned, it was likely. Constance san
wiched in a number of old-fashioned
dishes for grandmother.
A motherly-faced woman sat in the
seat ahead of Connie. She had caught
several glimpses of plump, smooth pro-
file, and once of the full-front smiling
face. Now sudden idea occurred to
Connie, as she sat gazing absentiy at the
neat little bonnet. while she struggled
with Saturday nights tea. On the i'm
pulse of the moment she leaned forward
and touched the woman's shoulder.
Excuse me, but won't you please
suggest something good for supper2" she
said. "Pm certain you can,-Oh, I beg
your pardonl 1 know you think I'm
crazy; but, honestly, I'm notl" Con-
stances fresh, young laugh verified her
words. "I'm only going home to keep
house, and getting my dinners and sup
pers ready on the way. I've got as far as
Saturday night, and I can't think what
to have"
The pleasant, motherly face nodded
smilingly.
. "Come and sit down beside me, dear,
and we'll see. Beet hash is nice"
ooh, beet hash,-thank you; that's
just the thing! Larry and father dote on
it. I can call it hash 'au' or de la some
thing, for euphony!"
For the rest Of the trip Constance and
the motherly woman sat together and
confded extensively in each other,
friendly fashion.
Then the train slipped into the home
station, and Constance said goodbye and
hurried away.
"Good luck to you, my DEAR" the
motherly woman said, and under her
breath she added. 'she'll get into prose
soon enough, poor child. Yeu can't keep
house in rhyme; most of us have found
that out"
Larry was waiting. His freckled face
stood out in smiling relief, among all the
faces, and Connie hurried towards it.
"Well, Larry"
"Hullo, Con-"
''Well, I've come"
"So've /. Go off from school pur-
pese. There is hack out here waiting
all aboard"
The Clearwater home was on the fur
ther outskirts of the town. There was
time to do considerable talking on the
way.to it. Grandmother's accident, the
cooks desertion, the whole family crisis
time enough to discuss them all. Larry
answered all the questions in bis mono
syllable way, and let Constance I'LL in all
the intervening spaces. He volunteered
but one brief item OF news.
"Father's found girl-green."