The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-12-09
Miss Preserves
By M. DIBBELL

a favor"
1T will give us a chance to learn
how to wash glassware properly"
said the captain.
The cadets speedily cleared Gym
thia's wagon and she drove away with
five crisp flve-dollar bills tucked In
her purse.
Mrs. Brannon, trying to hope that
Cynthia's SCENE might prove sue
cess, while not daring to believe 1t
really feasible. was a delighted and
thankful woman when. much sooner
than she had thought possible. her
daughter drove up to the door, wav-
ing a bunch of greenbacks triumph
antly aloft.
Now you must acknowledge that
/ am the business woman of the fam
lily" she cried.
Later on Cynthia said soberly,
Mother. | believe l have found the
way for paying OF the principal as
well as interest Just think of the
quantity of fruit that goes to waste
because there is no use for it.
mean to write Cousin Arnold and ask
II some store in town would not sell
preserves on commission. and ! shall
not let the shore people escape with
only one load another year. We must
put In the rest of the season preserv-
ing everything there is to preserve
Mr.. Thompson will trust us for
sugar"
Her mother looked proudly upon
her daughter and answered, You are
the business woman as you said. Gym
thia, and l will do just what ! am
commanded to-"
A week after her excursion to the
shore. Cynthia was returning from a
trip to the village When driving
through deep pass where the ground
rose steeply on both sides into hills
crowned with stunted pines. she
heard voice calling loudly. Miss
Preserves! Miss Preserves!" Look
ing up she beheld the smallest of the
st. John cadets scrambling down the
steep incline to the road.
At once she drew rein. and called
back, Am Miss Preservesg"
Il didn't know what else to call
you" painted the youngster as he
reached the wagon. "Oh, Miss Pre-
serves. won't you let US bring Johnnie
Action down to you. and then drive
him over to camp? He fell into a
hole and sprained his ankle SO he
can't walk, and Captain Morgan sent
me to watch the road for wager and
was just in time to catch you"
Yes, indeed answered Cynthia.
Bring Johnnie right along and will
get him to camp as fast as Dobbin
can travel"
Il knew it was all right soon as
saw you" said the small cadet CRATE
fully, and then FASTENED up the hill
after his comrades.
Captain Morgan and one of the
boys appeared soon. carrying the
famed Johnnie between them, and fol-
lowed by the whole flock
You seem to be our guardian an
GEL" said the captain to Cynthia, as
they gently deposited the disabled
youngster on the seat beside her.
I'VE shall be more than grateful for
your help today-and the boys have
carefully packed away all the jars
we have emptied so far" he added
laughingly.
The captain and three of the small
est boys climbed into the rear o. the
wagon. leaving the rest to follow on
| foot.
The injured foot had been propped
up as comfortably as possible. and its
owner bore the pain bravely Before
the shore was reached her compan-
ions had learned Cynthia's name and
where she lived, and the boys assured
Aer that they intended to pay her a
visit soon with an installment of the
| fruit jars.
| The weeks passed swiftly, and all
too soon for any of them the time
came for the cadets to break camp.
The youngsters were enjoying a final
game of baseball on one of their last
afternoons. the grassy lot beside Mrs.
Brannon's orchard furnishing their
diamond. while Cynthia and Captain
Morgan formed part of an admiring
| audience.
What fine lot of boys they are,
and how lonely mother and | will
feel without them," said Cynthia with
little sigh.
They are the best boys in the
world" answered their captain heart.
lily. but though you may miss them
| know of some one who will be q
thousand times more lonely when
leaving you"
Cynthia looked up in real SURPRISE
at his tone. for never word of senti
ment had passed Captain Morgan's
lips before-they had been good com
rades, that was all.
The brave little girl who started
out alone to sell her wares won my
| heart the first time | saw her. and