The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-08-17

NVAAAOA0SI0S0 Su0t 6u0 VOOA0 OS0s ssss
the others to a frazzle as cook and
each masculine Bowers trained down
to demonstrate by the amount he ate
his fervid appreciation Of the cookery.
Feuds had been known to start over
the refusal Of q second helping Of pie.
OF course, there were always few
guests at the Bowers family picnic.
The guests were not yet Bowerses,
but they were in the blissful state OF
hoping to be- For young person OF
an outside name to attend Bowers
picnic was Just about the same as
making formal announcement of his
or her matrimonial intentions.
Naturally Mamie Bowers, who had
counted on exhibiting Fred Beyes as
escort at the picnic late in May.
was considerably upset when they
Quarreled in April. What made 1t
worse was that the difference had been
over a cousin. Harriet Bowers. who
had been away at school and there
had acquired a perfect manner Of
wearing her clothes. doing her hair
and cutting out the other girls. She
had kept Fred at her side one whole
evening at dance and so Mamie had
told him that he might continue the
process for all she cared. When he
insisted that he couldn't help Tim:
self. Mamie had elevated her pretty
nose and remarked, "Hm'ph!"
This had ended the discussion, for
no man on earth has learned how it,
tingly to reply to "Hm'ph!" when
that argument is advanced by an
angry young woman.
As the time drew near for the an.
nual picnic Mamie realized that the
perfidious Harriet would not fail to
crown her triumph by dragging Fred
Bayes to 1t. Being newcomer, he
would not realize how his presence
would be regarded. Sometimes Mamie
felt that it served him right and then
she felt sorry for his helplessness.
Meanwhile she sewed on dress that
was to be no less than distracting and
held her chin very high whea she
walked past Fred's place Of business.
She would have died on the spot rather
than give him a chance to think she
regretted her summary dismissal of
him.
For years Nantes family had con.
tributed chicken pie to the general
menu, as had also Harriet's branch Of
the family Both were renowned for
the subtle flavor they managed to |
give that particular dish. This year
Mamie resolved to Guido all former
records, for, although Fred would not
sample her chicken pie. there was a
keen satisfaction in feeling that hers
would be better than the one he would |
help to eat. She and her mother made |
half dozen pies, giving special at
tention to the one for their own meal.
It was beautiful chicken pie, flaky
and delicately brown. with crimped
edges and curlycues on its surface.
AS she helped unpack the dinner at
the picnic grounds, Mamie noticed
that Harriet had on dress danger.
ously near as pretty as her own and
was throwing the full expression of
her eyes upon Fred Bayes. who looked
rather pale. Mamie thought. But
when he had. looked at her she had
refrained from seeing him.
{ When dinner time came she found
!Ipck had placed her family close by
Harriet's family. She helped set out
tneir own provisions and tenderly
placed the chicken pie in the place
pf honor. Just then she heard Har-
fters mother scream. The tragedy
was before her eyes when she turned.
The chicken pie that had been intend.
ed to crown that little family feast
was q wreck. Harriet's little brother
had dragged It from the basket and
tipped 1t bottom side up on the
ground!
What shall I do?' murmured Har.
riet's mother. And with company.
too!"
Mamie stood there. pile Of plates
In her hand. She was undeniably clad
that Harriet was baked in one direc.
ton. She did not feel like bursting
into tears over that young persons
chagrin. Then she recalled that Fred
too. would suffer. And he generallx
was fearfully hungry. And her own
family had no guests. II
"Here!" she said to Harriet's moth.
er. handing over her own chicken pie
Take this"
AS Harriet's mother with incoherent
thanks took the pie hand grasned
Mamie's shoulder and she found her.
self drawn behind shelter of hazel
bushel face to face with Fred Bayes.
whom she had supposed somewhere
else dancing attendance on Harriet.
Say. you're all right" said Fred to
her. ANY girl who could do that
after the way Harriet has treated You
is-well. she's all right! feel awful
since you turned me down, Mamie
honest! Won't you call 1t OFF,"
Il didn't do 1t because / felt SORRY
for herr" Mamie said with a oo.n =.