The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-12-05
Accomplishing A
Reformation
By LULA LINTON
IssJtr~sss1 1s>~-ssaS s,~>sessH,si:
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles)

I1Clc, you IVY DOu uOlu Iuot
suit case under the drip. You're like.
ly to get it all soaked and spoil my
silk dress. l 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
tanned silk dress, and that the own
er of it had the impudence to talk
sassy to Mr.. Chester, who was al
ways so kind and helpful, made it i'm
possible for them to extend the vel
come they had prepared.
Mrs. Birch, the matron, came
bustling out, saying: And here yor
are at last. We are glad to welcome
you to Maplewood Mrs. Vandegriff
and we hope to make up to you the
loss of these three days. Come right
up to the room and let me help you
get ready for supper
Il should think Id need help, after
tramping through that wet grass, :"
the way from the car. l should think
you might keep conveyance was
the ungracious reply.
The five old ladies on the veranda
fairly shivered at such speech adj.
dressed to the matron. and almost
wished that the late arrival had come
even later
Maplewood Cottage could only &C.
commodate six old ladies at one time,
as they We're 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
filed with pity for her.
The morning dawned glOriouslv
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.
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 20 the cottage, bid
ding Mrs. Birch to hurry to the home
of her son, who had been suddenly
taken ill. Mr.. Chester and Mrs. Bar
ton helped the bewildered woman
make her hasty preparations for leav.
ing, and the management of the cot
tage was left in the hands of Mr.
Chester, with Mrs. Barton as overseer
of the girl in the kitchen
Just before supper-time Mrs. Bar
ton was called from her duties in the
kitchen, out to the front veranda
where she found the other old ladies
in high state of excitement over the
disappearance of Mrs. Vandegriff
She had come downstairs just after
noon, saying that she intended to
take a little walk. She had not re-
turned and they were anxious abour
her.
We'll, | can't leave that girl with
no one to oversee the supper said
Mrs. Barton. But if Mrs. Jones feels
like walking piece IN search of her
she may go, and for PHYS 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 report of her research.
"And guess. if you can, where !
found our LADY, she exclaimed, drop.
ping down exhausted from her hur.
ried walk. No one volunteered a
guess. 81 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 Ground corner from me-
and l heard her telling what an aw.
full place this cottage is, with nothing
fittin' to eat. She said she had beer,
sent down here to be company for
the matron, who was awful lonesome
with only poor, low-dowD 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, l 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 on! She ought to be
rid on a rail-" snorted Mrs. Jones.
"Why not try that?" giggled little
Mrs. Barton, and, lowering her voice.
she presented plan that caused mucI,
muffled laughter among the other Ia
dies.
The next morning found Mrs. Van.
degriff ready with a fresh supply of