Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-29
] Accomplishing A ]. Reformation
By LULA LINTON
! I~V1ra~s-0/a-ssVS Ss-sssJlIsl
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowie

NopyrlSHt, Dy JoSepn D. 6oWies.l
 Here, you boy! Don't hold that suit case under the drip. You're like ly to get it all soaked and spoil my silk dress. I just can't abide such carelessness."
 The tall college boy. who was earn ing his next years tuition by assist ing the matron of the fresh air mis- sion, shifted the pasteboard box to the other shoulder. and smiled down at the querulous old lady as he helped her up the steps.
 The five old ladies who occupied rocking chairs on the broad veranda seemed suddenly stricken dumb by this outburst of the new arrival. The intimation that the suit case con tained silk dress, and that the own- CT of it had the impudence to talk sassy to MT. Chester, who was al- ways so kind and helpful. made it i'm possible for them to extend the well come they had prepared.
 Mrs. Birch, the matron, came bustling out. saying: And here you are at last We are glad to welcome you to Maplewood. Mrs. Vandegriff. and we hope to make up to you the loss of those three days. Come right up to the room and let me help you get ready for supper"
 T should think I'd need help, after tramping through that wet grass, all the way from the car. should think you might keep conveyance" was the ungracious reply.
 The five old ladies on the veranda fairly shivered at such speech ad- dressed to the matron, and almost wished that the late arrival had come even later.
 Maplewood Cottage could only ac. commodate six old ladies at one time, as they were sent out for their ten days outing, and this time one of the number selected as deserving had been unable to come with the others, and the five fortunate ones had been filled with pity for her.
 The morning dawned gloriously, and the old earth seemed to have taken on new life after his bath. The spirits of the guests rose accordingly as they gathered on the veranda, some with their knitting, others with quilt pieces, and all ready to enjoy the beautiful day to the utmost.
 Mrs. Vandegriff took possession of the one hammock and prepared to spoil their pleasure. t...
 Even the excellent dinner of roast. brown gravy and potatoes failed to put Mrs. Vandegriff in a good humor. The next morning at breakfast time a telegram came to the cottage, bid ding Mrs. Birch to hurry to the home of her son, who had been suddenly taken i'll. MT. Chester and Mrs. Bar ton helped the bewildered woman make her nasty preparations for leav- | ing, and the management of the cot 1 tage was left in the hands of MT. | Chester, with Mrs. Barton as overseer 1 of the girl in the kitchen.
 | Just before supper-time Mrs. Bar. ton was called from her duties in tho kitchen, out to the front veranda, where she found the other old ladies 1 in high state of excitement over the disappearance of Mrs. Vandegriff. ! She had come downstairs just after l noon, saying that she intended to take little walk. She had not re- turned, and they were anxious about i her.
 Well, I can't leave that girl with no one to oversee the supper" said ! Mrs. Barton. But if Mrs. Jones feels like walking a piece in search of her she may go. and for pity's sake try to get her back in time for supper while it Is warm. or don't know what she will do to us."
 Half an hour later Mrs. Jones. breathless and excited, came back to make a report of her research.
 And guess. if you can, where I found our lady!" she exclaimed, drop ping down exhausted from her hur. ried walk. No one volunteered a guess. T found her down on the yer. anda of that summer hotel by the street car line, a-rocking and a-talking to an old lady who sat near her They were just around corner from me, and head her telling what an aw. full place tnis cottage is, with nothing fittin' to eat. She said she had been sent dowE here to be company for the matron, who was awful lonesome with only poor. low-down trash in the cottage. She said we were all ignor- ant working folks. and she was the only lady down here besides the matron. She said the place might do very well for poor folks. but she was used to better. living as she did in a fine home on College avenoo. She said if her folks knew what she was having to put up with down here they would sue the committee that persuaded her to come. She said the newspaper had better call this a Hot Air Mission. and-and-oh. I don't know what she didn't say"
 There she comes. now. and don't be too hard on her" pleaded Grand ma Wilkins. You know we promised Mrs. Birch to try to keep peace"
 She's just going to ruin our whole ten days" groaned Mrs. Bernstein.
 Such carrying oni She ought to be rid on a raili- snorted Mrs. Jones.
 Why not try that7" giggIed little Mrs. Barton. and. lowering her voiee