The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1910-08-19


ncin l'riddy flew brisLly around her
little kitchen Dclln was giving ten
party that night.
In the other half of the house two
women sat talking In II sunny bow
window. Everything hero was neat
aud orderly. but the rooms lacked tho
air Of fcstivIty that was impaired by
the preparations for the party.
III was to give ten party 10 tho
sewing society wouldn't you think |
was mean II didn't invite my next
door neighbour" demanded Ann hart
impnticntIy
II don't know" returned Mrs. White
cvaslvrly. II guess III put this cdging
In plain Whnt do you think, ANN
Mrs. Kart stabbed her knitting nee.
dies into the folds of the shawl and
leaned back IN her rocking chair. 'l'd
put II In plain II | was you. Sonny.
You needn't try TO get out Of answer
Ing me, for | want 10 know what's tho
reason Della l'riddy didn't nsk mo 10
her Imrtyi Haven't | always been
nice 10 her? I've asked her time mud
ngnln 10 every kind Of dOings me and
James ever had Not that shed ever
come II step, but | invited her. and
now James ~ dead aud buried and
I've come To live IN the other half Of
the house | should think she'd huyo
manners enough Ia nsL me I've been
since | married aud came 10 SILVIA.
Ter that's twenty y"nra ngo It's II
public slight. that's what II Isl"
Mrs white uuivcrrd unrnslly. "You
never knew Della before You was mar.
rird aud came to saltwater" she ven
turrI hrsiintInply.
Ann Bart shook her hrnd
"I'll have Ia he going along home, ]
guess" said the other woman. rising
slowly aud picking the thrcndH from
her dress There's supper 10 get for
Henry aud Ia" children and sl"
paused nwkWnrdly unh shifted her
glance from her rumpanlun'H face Ia
the lowering plants In the window
"your night blooming c"r"us has got
one, two, three it's got Hclun buds
IN 1t! They hook like thry'il open 10.
night" She turned surprised eyes
upon her hostess.
Mrs. lInri's lips took on n bitter
curve n4 she replied. Eyes, Il'll hr
bloom tonight. | guess ri have I"
ndmirr 1t All by myself Every mem
her Of the soricty | asked 10 com" In
and see II snId she had IN engage.
mcnt Just as II didn't know twas
Della rriddy's pnrty they were going
to"
As the afternoon wore On her bitter.
ness Increased. aud she wns trembling
with anger aud disappointment that
SHE could no longer conceal from her.
self She wished some calamity might
bcfnII Brlia's tea party. Indeed, she
was quite willing to become the M.
thor Of any catastrophe TINT would put
nm end To the merry mnklng
At . o'clock she saw D"lln. nrrnycd
In II black silk skirt and white shirt
waist tripping down the street with
II pitcher In one hand. Della would bo
bncl, In ten minutes.
Like II little fury the widow llcw
ncrus4 Tia" hail aud opened Dclin'S
door The table was set for supper
gold banded china, pnlc pink ham.
pickles nnd preserves. tire" kinds ~
cake, balls Of pot cheese. II golden sal.
ad even the bubbllng Of the trnketllc
In the Kitchen bespoke IL" pot Of fra
grant tea TINT wna 10 come. Ten places
were laid. aud Ann Bart swiftly count
ed the members Of the sewing society,
and there were ulnc aud one over
That would be- D"lin's cousin from ihe
Junction She WINS always invited To
DclIn's parties.
Ann Bart hrsItntcd for an instant
only. Then she dnri"d back into her
own room aud fetched n large fiat has.
krt from her kiich"n closet. Into the
basket she set HE plates 81 ham hnd
cake and cheese, the dishes Of pre-.
serves aud the bowl Of salad. Guilty.
sought the stairs leading 10 the large,
open raflcrrd attic TINT was shared
alike by the two inmates Of TIA" hnut"
ON the north half Of The room Della
prI,IIu I.t' I,I,u,.intf4 and In Itil
south half AIMS things w"rn stored
away. Ann WAS particular 10 place
the captured winds in D"lia's hnlf Of
the nitlc. When Della found them she
might conjecture what she plcns"d.
Mrs. Bart was too angry 10 analyze
her own motives at that moment
A lnrge chest was SET bnck under the
rnftcrs. Ann rrept forward aud threw
back the lid The chest was hair liIlch
with boxes aud bundles and formed II
safe hiding place for the plates OF
food. These were set carefully on top
Of the packages In the trunk. ana Ann
held one small box In her hand while
she arranged the chest The sound OF
Footsteps on lne l'HlH b''" bl'"Sh'
her to her feet with n sudden sense u
guilt. She dropped the iii with II bang
and threw the basket into u distant
corner among her own things
Once below IN her own rooms she
found herself clutchIng II small paste
board box. She had forgotten 10 r."
place 1t IN the chest ST." heard Della
on the back porch talking 10 the cat,
aud she hastily thrust the box Ia her
wOrkbaskct mud threw her knitting
over the whOi"
Dellu's light step came INTO IA" hall
and paused Mt AIMS kitchen door.
Mrs. Bafts heart almost stopped bent
lug for an instant. then II went on In
heavy, angry thrObs.
Let Della Priddy accuse her Of steal.
Ing the supper. She would laugh ia
her face.
There was the sound OF n low knock