The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1911-03-24


Mrs. Worthington-" he said. who
would have believed it?"
The little old lady rose hurriedly,
and the peas flew in all directions,
ooh, what would Julia say If she
knew you saw me?" she gasped
She was a quaint little figure. Her
modlah black chiffon gown was COW
cred with a big, white apron; her
hair dressed with jeweled combs,
was piled high on her head, and she
had pcrched on it an old straw hat
to shade her eyes.
Julia doesn't like to have me do
anything in the Kitchen" she faltered.
"You know Julia has been away
to school, and since we got the big
house she wants us all to live like
people in the city; but T'-she drew
a quick breath-'T have always
shelled peas, and done such things,
and l cannot get used to idleness."
q know" he added, my mother
loves housewifely things. In orr
place in Virginia she is out in the
garden half the time
ooh, is she?" The little ladys
tone was eager. II wish you would
tell Julia, she thinks ladies-like
your mother-do not do such things."
/ Dushane knew now the cause Of his
instructive suspicion OF Julia's beauty
He had felt behind it there was a
Lack of character and a snObbishness
that was plebeian. His own lineage
was unquestioned, but the women Of
his family had been proud of their
gardens, their kitchens and Of their
housewifely domain.
Now Nell is different" the old
lady was saying. Sometimes she
comes out and helps me. The other
day We ran away and had a picnic.
We bought loaf of bread and bot
tie of milk, and made milk toast over
a little fire we built in the woods,
ano you cannot imagine how good it
tasted"
Indeed can" Dushane said
heartily. "The next time you run
away you must tell me and I will go
too, and | will catch some fish, and
we will broil them over the Goals"
She clasped her hands eagerly.
There comes Nell now," she said.
We've planned to go tomorrow, and
/ am going to tell her you want to
accompany u.s."
Nell had none Of Julias naughty
pride, but she was very fresh, and
hn 10
to Dushane.
DO not tell Julia" she insisted.
"she hates to have mother and me
do such things, but tomorrow there
will be a lot of people for tennis and
tea, and we thought we could run
away, and not have to meet them"
II will run away too" Dushane
said. Il will meet you at the second
bridge. They will never miss me in
the crowd"
But Julia did miss this wealthy and
important guest. 1t was because of
him that she had invited her neigh
boris for tea and tennis. She was
proud Of her conquest, and wished to
show him Off
Dushane appeared among them for
moment, and then he could not be
found. and little did Julia guess that
he was on the road to a tryst with
her mother and schoolgirl sister.
Dushanc caught half dozen trout.
and broiled them with bits Of bacon.
The little old lady made coffee, and
Nell stirred up a cornbread and
baked it over the Goals In the midst
OF the feast came julia flaming.
What are you doing?" she de-
manoed, sweeping in upon them, all
In pale pink. with rosy plumes in her
wide hat. Il missed you, and the
servants said you had come this way.
| thought something must have hap.
pened, and | ran away from my
guests lcng enough to find you here
cannot understand it. Why has
mother come out here in that old
lawn dress and wide hat? Nell, what
IL some one had seen your"
In her anger she had forgotten
that Dushane might sit in judgment
Her voice, usually low and well mod
ulated, was harsh and rough. Du
shane thought Of the cry Of the pea
cock. This was the dlscordant note!
Yes, we ran away" he said. and
his glance met julia's steadily. your
mother does not enjoy tennis and ten
and crowds of people, and she enjoys
fhfa yuhv rho1,IJ not uho bouo