Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-08-15

$500
Dear, dear!" she sighed. "The eggs
will only net enough to pay those
things, not a cent over. even II | get
twenty cents for them, and likely's not
they won't fetch more than eighteen
cents a dozen" Mandy stared at the
list before her, but the items remained
fixed, not one vanished under her Be-
we're scrutiny. We'll, take It, take II
all-you old figures you'll" then turn
Ing the card she began writing on the
other end of It. Things | want:
want new dimity dress with pink
rose buds In 1t.
want big ribbon for my hair
want a pair of stockings, absolute
ly whole.
A pair OF pumps with high heels
A piece Of chiffon to fix my old hat
want Jim Patterson to come back
She wrote furiously. punctuating
each item with decisive period at the
end, indulging herself just once In her
bare life the luxury OF mute express
sion She paused after re-reading,
flushed to the heavy waves Of her dark
hair, gave the cardboard vicious twist
which rent 1t In two and flung 1t aside.
crushed the remaining egg filters into
the untitled space of the crate, gath
cred up her baskets. and rushed down
cellar. She came up with pan OF
potatoes, which she proceeded to make
with her thoughts OF the last item on
her list, that she forgot everything
else; lost in the remembrance OF her
simple happy life, before her father
had died and Jim Patterson had gone
away. Jim had come to see her as
naturally as the morning sun shone
into the kitchen window, but-well,
Jim had gone to the city to advance
his fortunes. Jim had written, but
his letters were not a bit like Jim.
AMI finally she had stopped answer
ing them, not because she had ceased
to care, but because she cared too
much and felt too proud to continue
what seemed to her to be a one-sided
correspondence. Mandy's face flush
ed, an she peeled the potatoes fierce
ly, flung them into their rinsing with
a splash that splattered the water over
her face and on to the clean floor
beside her.
We'll. for the mercy's sake. Mandy
Harrison!" chided a voice from the
doorway. What spite you got against
those potatoes? The way you're pun.
ishins them, one would think you'd
mortal grudge against them!" Good.
fat Mrs. Morris rolled into the kitch-
en-, drew chair near the egg crate.
sat down and lifted her basket to her
ample lap.
"Ive Just got fit Of the tantrum
grumps," Mandy explained lucidly.
you've been crying" Mrs. Morris
accused aghast. for she had never
seen the brave, high-spirited Mandy
cry. you've never made fuss
about anything
"Im not crying-its just the water
splashed into my face" Mandy retort-
ed, plunging the potatoes into the ket'
tie of boiling water with dash.
Mrs. Morris, noting the surging COL
or In the girls cheeks, shifted her
gaze to the basket she held, saying
gently, I'm wondering. Mandy, II It
isn't about time you'll be shipping a
crate of eggs I've few here don't
! know what to do with 'nless you'll
let me tuck them into your box here.
You can help me with my new dress.
Mandy"
"Ill help you with your dress"
Mandy responded warmly, but you
lust trade your eggs out for groceries.
I ship mine because I just have to
have the money to pay my Install
ments. II ever do get things paid,
I'll never get anything more that
way-though 1t has been awful good
of the trades people to let me pay by
Titles: but there's never a cent ahead
--never!"
There will be-" Mrs. Morris as
sured comfortably. Nov I'm too
penurious to pay for cutting my dress,
SO I'll Just slip these eggs into the
crate. You're just born to cut and
fit"
She stopped heavily. as she eau
tiously slid the eggs into the filters.
and after the last space was filled,
she caught up the torn photograph,
upon the back of which Mandy had
made her memorandum, and tucked 1t
| yau down in the crate to tighten