Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-02-06

from her seat at the breakfast table
and run around to her quickly.
Whats the matter, mother?" she
cried, a~nxiously. Are you ill.,
Granny disliked to be ailing or to
have anybody think she was ill. She
sat up straight again-perfectly
straight-and looked at Martha Jane
severely.
I'm never ill, Martha Jane" she
said stifiy.
We'll, what's the matter, them
said the daughter, still more anX-
iously.
when mother gives way even for
a minute she told her husband aft
erwara, there's sure to be something
d%readfully out of kilter.'
Her mother stared straight ahead
and did not answer for a full minute.
Then she said in a voice which she
vainly tried to make firm:
"The water has broken through into
the Santa Rosita mines.
"Oh, my sakes!" cried Martha Jane.
picking up the paper with trembling
hands.
For years granny's small savings
had been invested in the Santa Ros-
ita coal mine, and though her invest
ment did not bring her a fortune, there
was enough to clothe her, pay
her board, and give her a little spend
ing money. And now it was all gone,
swept away by that awful wave that
the mine, and granny could be indie
pendent no more. Martha Jane looked
the paper all through to see If the
report had not been ~contradicted; but
no, there it was in black and white.
For a day or two granny was a lib
tie more quiet and thoughtful, though
she appeared as cheerful as ever. Her
beautiful old face had lost it's faint
color, but it was just as sweet. and
the paleness Jriy set off its wonder
full clearness and delicacy.
Eleanor Rossman openly comment
ed on it when she ran in to ask Mat
tie Folsom, Martha James oldest.
daughter, to walk down to the Bowl
ing club with her that evening.
Mrs. Benton" she said, 81 wish you
would tell me what you do to keep
such a wonderful complexion at your
age. 1t must run in your family,
for Mrs. Folsom and Matte, too, have
the same beautiful skin, and such won
derful coloring. No, I'm not f1atter-
ing a bit, Matte. We girls have al
ways admired your complexion and
I've been trying to get up courage to
ask you what cosmetics you use"
Matte laughed outright.
"Cosmetics!" she cried. why, l
eve used such a thing in my life.
Granny always says, clear water and
fresh air are the only cosmetics a girl
needs"
But surely, Mrs, Benton" said Ell
eanor incredulously, you must use
something to keep such a wonderful
complexion at your age"
Granny opened her mouth to speak,
and Eleanor added quickly:
Don't think | want to coax any
secrets away from you, Mrs. Ben
son. But just look at my skin
coarse and rough as a kindergarten,
and the more cosmetics l use the
worse it gets. Why, mamma was
speaking about it the other day, and
she said she'd give a hundred dollars
to find out what made you three wom-
en- have such beautiful compilations"
Granny tried two or three times to
speak. At last she said timidly:
Miss Rossmore, do you think your
mother would be willing to let you
come to me every day for luncheon
neutrality-suspicious. for my treat.
ment."
"Oh, l know she would, Mrs. Ben
ton," cried Eleanor, positively. "Tll
tell her about it this very day. Good
by, Matte"
The next morning granny received
a note from Mrs. Rossmore, and that
afternoon from six other ladies of her
acquaintance, all eager to put their
daughters under her care.
When the Girls arrived they looked
c%uriously at the table, which was dain-
tily set in the old-fashioned way with
the entire meal placed on it at once.
Granny looked the ideal hostess of
colonial days as she sat at the head
of the table-her fine, soft wavy hair
drawn back owe a cushion, and her
slender, erect figure looking more
youthful than ever in an old-fashioned
short gown. :
There was a small howl half filed
with rich creamy milk set at each
plate, and granny smilingly helped
each of her guests to a generous table
spoonful of hasty pudding. Then
Matte removed the bowls, and a pea
soup was served, followed by roast
chicken and brown bread and butter.
These in their turn were superseded
by a pudding, whose principal ingre.
dent must have been eggs-and eggs
and more eggs, If one judged by it's
rich golden color. Every plate was
emptied, and no n refused a second
helping.
Eleanor said smilingly al she passed
her plate: "You are more than good
to us. Mrs. Benton! | feared we
should have but Lenten fare, and /
really dreaded to come for fear our
luncheon would be all cereals and not
even a suspicion Of a dessert"
After that a glass of foamy, acid
drink was passed to each. The flavor
was peculiar but pleasant.
Then granny said deprecatingly:
Nov / must ask you to eat as little