Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1913-08-28

the refrigerator and on the pantry
shelves. One was plump fruit cake
that had been keeping company in a
tight box with sponge soaked in
sherry for ever since New Years. II
was ripe, or smelled so. It made me
gnaw under my belt.
A little later Judy was exclaiming
over two-year-old ham that had been
simmered in port and larded with egg
dressing, when Mrs. Johnson came in
and began to unpack her basket, which
was mostly bottles of things she said
she used to "stick" food The ginger
colored barber got the run of them be-
fore the dinner was over and got bad
ly stuck, so Judy says. That's what
made him make the mistake.
had planned to have lot of strange
food and had ordered some things up
from a caterer in the city, but / tele-.
phoned the expressman not to de-
liver them until the next day, even IL
they did spoil How could use soft
shelled crabs when Mrs Wade had
sent me word that she was going to
bake some brook trout by recipe Of
the judges grandmother? Mrs. Hamp-
ton Buford had let me know about two
fat little summer turkeys she was 60
ing to stuff with corn pone and green
sage, and filet mignon seemed foolish
eating beside them But when the lit
tie bit Of baby pig, roasted whole
with an apple in its mouth, looking too
frisky and innocent for worlds with
his little baked tail curled up In the
air, arrived from Mrs. Caruthers Cain
| went out into the garden and laugh
ed out loud at the idea Of having spent
money for Holsters, to be shipped alive
and to be served broied in their own
shells.
When l got back in the kitchen
things were well under way, every
thing smelling grand and Aunt Bette
in full swing matching up my dinner
guests.
Nobody in this town could suit me
better than Pet Buford for daughter
in-law, and believe I'll have all the
east rooms done over in blue chintz for
her. think that would be the best
thing to set Off her blue eyes and corn
silk hair" she was saying as she cut
orange peel into strips.
you've planned the refurnishing OF
that east wing to suit the style OF
nearly every girl in Hillsboro since
Tom put on long trousers. Bette Pol
lard. and they are just as they have
been for fifteen years since you did
over the whole house," said Mrs. John
son as she poured n wineglass hall
full from one bottle and added table
spoonful from another.
"Well, think he is really interested
now from the way he danced most OF
his time with her down at the hotel the
other night, and | have hopes never
had before. Now, Molly, do put hin
between you and her, sort Of cornered
so he can't even see Ruth Chester
She is too old for him" And Tom:
mother looked at me over the orange
peel as to a confederate.
"Humph, I'd like to see you or Mol!
or any woman corner Tom Pollard,
said Mrs. johnson with wry smile a!
she tasted the concoction in the wine
glass.
81 have put him at the-Gnd of thu
table because he is my kinsman ant
the only host I've got at present, Aun
Bette" l said regretfully. l Away
take every chance to rub in Tom
and my relationship on Aunt Bette, s,
she won't notice our Irritation.
ard put John Moore at the head o
the table If | were you, Molly Carter
because he's about the only man you'v
invited that has got any sense lef
since you and that Chester girl tool
to visiting Hillsboro. He's a host o
steadiness in himself, and the way h
ignores all you women who would rul
after him II he would let you show
what he Is. He has my full conf
dence," and rs she delivered hersel
of this judgment Of Dr. John, Mrs
Johnson drove in all the corks tigh
and began to pound spice.
Hes not out Of the widower wood
yet, Caroline" said Aunt Bette wit
her most speculative smile. II hay
about decided ON him for Ruth sine
the Judge has taken to following Mol
about as bad US Billy Moore does. Blu
don't you all say word, for John
mighty tlmid, and don't believe,
spite Of all these years, he's had sir
gle notion yet. If he had had he
have tried set-to with you, Mol!
like all the rest Of the shy birds 1
town. He doesn't see woman
anything but patient at the end Q
n spoon, and mighty kind and gent
he does the dosing of them too. Jus
the other day-dearie me, Judy, whG
has boiled over now?" And In the e.
element that ensued escaped to u
garden.
Yes, Aunt Bette Is right about d
John; he doesn't see woman an
there is no way to make him. WhI
she had said about 1t made me reall7
that he had always been like that, an
| told myself that there was no rel
son in the world why my heart shoul
beat in my slippers on that accoun
Still don't see why Ruth Chestt
should have her head literally throw
against that stone wall and ! wis
Aunt Bette wouldn't. It seemed I'LL
a dissertation even to try to mate
make him, and II made me hot viii
Indignation all over dug so fierce
at the roots Of my phlox with a trow
| had picked up that they groaned
loud l could almost hear them. ! fe
as II must operate on somethln
And 1t was in this mood that Alfred
letter found me.
1t had a surprise in 1t and sat baC
on the grass and read It with my hea
, beating like a trlphammer He hi
sailed the day he had posted It and
was due TO arrive In New York almo