The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-13
Plan That
Failed

new dresses and more hats. Among
savages she sticks on few more
beads and feathers. But in small
middle western towns she rolls uI
her sleeves, opens the -four bin and
cooks something calculated to knock
the spots OF anything culinary the 9th
er girl ever dared dream OF.
That was why Mrs. Fruby said to
her daughter with hint Of excite
ment in her voice. TRY him on beat
en- biscuits. Sadie! And your choco'
late marshmallow pudding!"
1t had been hard enough all her life
for Mrs. Fruby to be outdone by Mary
Sander without having to endure see.
ing Mary Sanders daughter get ahead
of her own Sadie. And of late Rose
Sander had asked Peter Vernon to
dinner entirely too often to suit Mrs.
Fruby's plans. So had half dozen
other girls. For Peter Vernon was q
matrimonial prize, the like Of which
a small town does not see more than
once in generation. He had an in.
terest in the big engine works, which
made money SO fast that it gave the
populace hiccoughs trying to count it.
Natural Jealousy Of Mary Sander
made Mrs. Fruby consider Rosa q
deadly rival. Rosa was nearly as
pretty as Sadie and, moreover, she
was good cook. So were Margaret
and Agnes and Carrie. other aspirants.
Louise-Mrs. Nuby merely smiled at
the idea Of Louise.
Being built on solid lines herself,
Mrs. Fruby had an imagined contempt
for ethereal creatures like Louise, who
looked as though puff Of wind might
easily remove her from the scene.
Louise was of the ethereal. useless kind
and Mrs. Fruby knew that no sensible
man wanted helpless wife. Men, she
often told Sadie. liked energy and abil.
ity in a girl. As for cooking, 1t was
doubtful II Louise could even cook .
pan Of fudge without burning II.
Peter Vernon was a tall, thin young
man with a we'll set head and a kind.
ly, If shrewd. smile.
Hes not the sort to get taken I'M"
Mrs. Fruby said thankfully as she
superintended Sadie's work making
the beaten biscuits for that nights
supper, to which Peter was coming.
Does your arm ache? Let me beat
while!"
Peter Vernon liked the beaten bis.
cult immensely. He ate six. And he
had two helpings Of the chocolate
marshmallow pudding.
"She nearly beat her arm on max.
ing those" Sadie's mother conflded to
him. But. tell you. nothing daunts
Sadie! When she does q thing she
does IT,"
"They certainly were mighty good"
repeated Peter Vernon.
I'VE always have 'em Wednesday
evenings" said Sadie's mother with a
sudden inspiration. And you drop
in that night without waiting TO be
asked. since you're SO fond Of EN-"
Yes, do!" echoed Sadie.
Beaten biscuits are hard to make.
Many were the weary hours Sadie
Fruby put in over them. because they
had to be made regularly on Wednes.
day. Sometimes Peter dropped in, and
If he did not he was certain to be
met on the street the next day by Sa.
die or her mother and pinned down to
another date. Mrs. Fruby took his
fondness for the marshmallow pud.
ding as an especially good sign.
You keep 1t up. Sadie" she told
her daughter the evening Peter had
stayed half.hour beyond his usual
time. Il can begin to see that you're
winning OUT"
Il don't know" Sadie said dubious.
~. HE goes to Isabel's and Margar.
cts, tOO-auO Louise &.
Il wouldn't worry" declared her
mother. Il guess Isabel can't make
biscuit like yours and Margarets cake
is a joke. And you know Louise.
Why, you've got 'em all on the rum"
But he never says nothing" Sadie
protested. Il mean anything that |
could take as"
He amt that Kind" declared Mrs.
Fruby. He amt going to make love
to q girl till he's engaged to her.
You beat those biscuits longer next
time!"
Shortly after that the local newspa.
per contained the unexpected an.
nouncement Of the quiet marriage OF
Peter Vernon and Louise. the ethereal
Mrs. Fruby. after q hysterical
scream when she read the news. told
Sadie plainly what she thought OF Pc
ter. She talked SO vehemently that
she did not notice how pale Sadie's
cheeks were. Sadie usually was e,olid
and unmoved.
We'll" Mrs. Fuby said at last
wiping her eyes. 1T can't be helped.
You'd better stir up some beaten bis
cult for supper tonight-its wedne,.
day" Habit was strong with her.
II was then that Sadie voiced n
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