Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-06-09
From Lucille S
Diary

! Carol is several years older than l am
we were schoolmates We have been
intimate friends for so long that felt
It would be perfectly good form and
good fun. too, to surprise her by APP
pearing unannounced at her home.
When | arrived Carol did not look
as pleased as had expected.
IL was Just packing Toms and my
suit cases for a short trip east" she
said as she welcomed me in a rather
| perfunctory manner. we had in
| tended going tomorrow"
We'll, my dear Carol" l replied,
you mustn't think of permitting my
/ visit TO interfere with your plans.
shall enjoy a few days of absolute
quiet In this deliciously peaceful home,
If you will only let me stay. OF
course | could go back to town at
| once, but as l have declined several
| invitations on the score of absence
| from home, &c would be awkward to
return now"
You must certainly stay" urged
| Carol, with increased warmth. I'm
/ so glad you have a love for the coun-
| try, Lucille. People who do not APP
preciate simple pleasures miss a great
! deal"
Yes, | think so, too" l interposed
hastily, for Carol tires me when she
gets started on her hobbies of country
| life.
81 noticed as l drove in that you
| haven't done much to your garden
| yet" | went on, to show her that |
was observing. Your roses, lilies and
other perennials aren't even uncov-
cred"
NO, because | can't help feeling
that this wonderfully advancing spring
is too good to be true, so l have been
little slow about taking the cover
ings of my precious plants" an
| swered Carol.
Il should think they would suffo-
cate in this warm weather." | told
her.
oh, there's no danger of that, ana
there is danger from the frost getting
them yet If we are in too much of s
hurry. shall certainly wait unit.
May. You haven't had as much ex
perience in gardening as have"
Carols superior manner was ira.
tating, but did not argue the matter
further with her, as l think all use
less discussion quite i'll bred. But
the second day after she and Tom had
gone | found the house so dull that
went out into the garden and 1t oo-
Cured to me that ! should like to see
for myself how those covered plants
| looked.
| lifted a little straw off the peony
bed, and when | beheld the tiny red
stock bravely pushing upward l felt
It would be cruel not to help them
into the air and sunshine, so l raked
off every bit of the straw and leaves
under which they were buried. It
seemed a shame not. to release the
roses, too, SO called Thora, the maid,
out to help me.
Mrs. Nodine, she say she not want
the bushes uncovered yet" Thora OBJ.
jected.
But Mrs. Nodine didn't know how
very fast the leaves are growing,
Thora," l explained. She will be
glad to find this work done when she
comes home"
Thora went to work at the rosea
SO ungraciously that | should have
preferred doing it myself, had | not
been afraid of tearing my hands on
the thorns. The texture of my hands
is so delicate that | never dare let
them come in contact with anything
| that is the least bit harsh.
There, l not do any more" sa4d
Thora, Grossly, as she unwound the
last rose stalk
Very WE'LL" | replied, with dignity.
You may go into the house and re.
sumo your usual duties"
Il think go in the house and pack
my Clothes" she said, rudely. 81 not
stay here any longer with you"
| fancied this was merely an idle
4 threat, so l was very much surprised
the next morning when, against all
my remonstrances, Thora left imme-
1iately after breakfast. She did not
even wash the dishes, which / think
was very incOnsiderate of her. It must
have annoyed Carol very much when
she found them in that condition.
OF course 1t was impossible for me
to stay alone in the house, so / tcle-
phoned for carriage to take me to
he station. left the key In the care
of the nearest neighbor and drove
away, really glad to go, for the wealth
or had taken a sudden cold turn in the
night and snow was falling.
A few days after my return home I
was inexpressibly shocked and hurt
to receive a most inconsiderate let
ter from Carol who actually appeared
to believe it was my fault that win.
ter had so Unexpectedly descended
lpon her garden. She wrote that It
was heartbreaking to see her poor
frozen lilies, peonies and roses. She
did not seem TO remember all the trou.
BILE | had taken to try to helm har IN