The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1911-09-07
GETTING
STARTED

n
Never" asserted the young woalaa
who was pouring the tea, has a mem
Der Of my family ever gone away on
a trip or made a train except at the
last possible minute, with millions Of
things to do at the end, hating hip.-
self and the people he was to visit,
and the whole world generally. This
lent pathos to the attitude my sister
took just before she went to visit her
'in-laws.'
"She dashed in here early one morn
Ing with the announcement that she
was going on her long-deferred trip to
see her husbands people and please
would / go shopping with her, as she
had a list as. long as her arm. For
once quoth she, a Barrett is going on
a trip and have "a whole, perfect,
peaceful hours before train time, with
absolutely nothing to do! l simply
will not have Mysteries, as is the gen.
sral rule in the Barrett household!
I'm going to get everything done in
time
Marion l told her, I love your
optimistic disposition. This youthful
trust of yours is indeed beautiful
is sad to contemplate the gatherings
1t is doomed to receive, but, of course,
I'll go shopping with you and assist in
keeping up your delusion that you are
going to get things done!'
ooh, you make me tired!' Marion
told me succinctly and sweetly. Thus
I saw that she actually believed what
she had said.
Well, she was to leave on Thurs
day. Monday we remembered a white
serge skirt that l had promised to
make for her. She heroically protest
ed that it was too late and she didn't
need it, but she had bought the serge
and two pairs of silk stockings and
pumps to go with it, SO l knew her
heart would be broken if she didn't
have it.
Tuesday morning l started it
and when l phoned Marion to come
over and be fitted she answered with
a perfect wall of despair. It seemed
she had forgotten that her stays were
downtown being fixed and by no pos
sibility would be back before Thurs.
day morning. They made her two
inches smaller than any others, so !
knew better than to suggest that she
be fitted anyhow.
"'Never mind l told her. I can
easily finish the skirt Thursday-your
train doesn't leave till evening"
Thursday l worked like mad and
late In the afternoon finished the skirt,
When l pressed it I found that one
gore absolutely wouldn't press right,
and there was nothing to do but rip
off the band and rip down the seam,
1 was over at Marion's when l made
the discovery, and, positively. she
turned pale green at the news.
Now, don't you worry l told her
soothingly, with a confidence which ]
was far from feeling. Just keep cool!
"'It's always this way!' she moaned,
I'll be a nervous wreck by the time
I get away from here!'
you'll have nothing ahead of me
in that respect l assured her. and
then I started in to rip.
We'll, by dinner time l had it fixed
and after a hurried meal l handed II
over to Marion to be damp-ragged and
pressed, while Harry and l. looked
over the evening paper and pretended
that life was calm and beautiful. Sud
denly from the kitchen came a muf
fed scream and we jumped to our feet
pale and shaking.
"''Oh, that cat!' Marion cried in Wit
riolic tones. She tried to climb uI
the skirt as it hung from the ironing
board, and her claw has pulled g
thread aw-w-fully!'
Never mind l repeated, mechan
ically. Well just pull it back! &C
on with your pressing and I'll lool
over your suitcase and see that you've
not forgotten your toothbrush, as
usual, and your handkerchiefs!'
In five minutes there came q CRY
from Marion the like Of which I never
before had heard issue from a human
throat. l suppose because never be
fore had l been present at a great
tragedy. When Harry and l stag
gered into the kitchen Marion glared
at us wildly. On the very last breadth
at the very last spot to be pressed
near the hem she had set her iror
down an instant while she stuck in
hairpin, and there had grown magical
ly the most intense and beautiful
brown scorch.
cat such tense moments n CAM
always recall what took place, but
Harry tells me that l smiled in thu
most heavenly way and grabbed thu
skirt, crying in a weak voice how
very, very fortunate 1t was she hai
chosen exactly that spot to scorch.
Wen just rip of the braid he re
lates l gibbered airily, and rip Out
this section. and put in another piece!
"This l proceeded to do. while Harry
put ice water on Marion's head and
walked her up and down, as they d.
people who have poisoned themselves
well, I got it done and Marion at