Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-12-20
First Prize
Success Follows a
Failure

By CLARISSA MACKIE

~VNVSNSvNN~v~~Vv~vV
The crowd pushed through the en-
trance gates of the big county fair in
continuous stream. Outside the
great fenced In area was maze of
vehicles OF every description. from the
humblest box wagon to the highly var
nished and luxuriously equipped mo-
torcar.
Inside the grounds there was as
great dissimiltuds among the people
wandering from one exhibit to anoth-
err streaming In and out of the side
shows or gathered In the refreshment
tents.
Phoebe Sweet had arrived that morn
ing in her fathers comfortable two
seated carriage. all the available space
about her piled with daintily wrapped
boxes, for Phoebe always exhibited at
the Corinth county fair, and her bread
and cake and canned fruit always car
rled away the first prizes.
Today had been an exception, how
ever for one by one the coveted
prizes had been awarded to another ex-
hlbitor. who In years past had been
among the vanqulshed, and, although
Phoebe had smiled bravely Ms she saw
her products passed by, she was bit
terly disappointed at the outcome.
Her father, arriving at the building
too late, found her at the door. flushed
and rather detected. Same old story,
Phoebe, birdY' he asked affection
ately.
She shook her head dolefully. "What
Is the matter with me, father2 l
didn't take prlze-not one"
"Why -eeeep exploded Mr.. Sweet.
aghast. What IN thunder are those
fellows thinking about anyway What
do they know about bread or cake or
pies, Ell? Let me have look"
He was about to pass her when
Phoebe caught his shoulder and shook
him laughlngly.
"It's no use, father dear. Mrs. SEQ
villes products really are superior to
mine Let us go back and look at
them. and please don't let any one
know we are very much disappointed,
"Pll look as glad as | can that Mrs
Whats her-name has carried Off all the
honors." smiled Mr. Sweet as he led
his daughter down the building to the
exhibit of domestic productions.
A few people were gathered about
table on which were set forth several
loaves Of beautifully baked bread,
frautad aud "a
row of vnri-tinted canned fruits. A
tall, sunburned young man was speak
Ing TO short. plump. motherly look
Ing woman.
you've carried Off honors for the
family, Aunt Sabrlna," he was saying
cordially.
"Good land George. I'm almost
ashamed TO have taken II. That pref.
ty girl almost cried when they passed
over her things with Just honorable
mention There's so few girls who
can cook nowadays that they ought to
be encouraged instead OF an old won.
an like me stepping In. l declare, there
she is nowr
Phoebe had heard the frankly spo
ken words and had flushed warmly.
Mr. Sweet smiled good nnturedly. and
the woman. who was Mrs ScOville,
stepped forward with a pleasant win.
ming smile.
"YOu heard what said" she remark
ed. holding out n plump hand to PhOe
be- "And meant It too. Your things
look beautiful, and I'm sure they taste |
as good as they look"
"Thank you, Mrs Scoville, you are |
too kind" said Phoebe gratefully.
This is my father; dad. this is Mrs.
scovile, who carried on the prizes this
year. We must congratulate her"
Mrs. scoville warmly insisted that |
Pboebe's daintIes we're as good as her |
own II not much better, and much time |
was spent In comparing the two ex.
hlbits
II used TO see you carrying OF the |
prize every year" said Mrs. Scovillo |
at last "and I told George, my neph- |
CIV, that II was too bad a girl should |
carry or highest honOrs every year. |
20 pitched In and tried for the prizes,
and now that I've got them all don't |
feel mite better. I feel just as you |
overheard me telling George. And, by |
the way. where is GeorgeT She look.
ed around for the sunburned young |
man who had been talking to her
"If he was the tall young chap who |
was talking TO you when we came |
up saw him going over toward the |
race track" remarked Mr. Sweet.
"oh. dear mel OF course he would |
be going there at this time. His little
mare Princess will be In the three-year.
old trottlng class Would you care to
20 over and see the raceT
1--WE expected TO. I've got a horse
in II myself" said Mr.. Sweet my
hired man is going to drive"
George will drive himself" observ.
ed Mra ScOyille as they walked across
the grass toward the trotting course.
II do hope Princess win win. He's 80
fond Of her and has set his heart on
winning this race"
Phoebe, walking silently beside the |
two older people, looked like n pretty |
flower In her sheer white dress, from |
which her pink face, under lacy
white hat. trembled like wind blown |
blossom. Chlldless and widowed Mrs |
Scoville looked at the girl more than
once rs Mr.. Sweet told OF how cleveriy |
his only child managed the motherless
household