Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-15

disinclination because she wasn't in the
humor to care whether Vernon had any
jam and jelly that winter or not.
But by the time that she had stewed,
boiled and stirred through the long June
morning and afternoon relief and disin-
clhation had both been diasipated. She
was tired. but il was the satisfying tired
ness that testiieS to day 5 excellent
work. and she complacentiy surveyed the
shining, red-filled glass jars that stood on
table. shelves. sink and stove. Vernon
was fonder Of strawberry jam than any
thing except green tomato pickles Well,
she had for once put up enough to do him
through the winter. 1t was while she
was complacently admiring her work that
she remembered shiftless Mrs. Bronson
and the crates of good fruit that had
been allowed TO spoil. Letha grew medi-
| tauve. 1t seemed queer that she should
buy ii and then waste il. Maybe she
didn't know how. Although any one
surely could stew berries ana pour them
into jars even if she couldn't make jam
Il believe Letha hesitated. She had
never spoken TO the slim little woman.
But Vernon had said that she looked
lonesome. Curiosity Had as much friend
illness to do with Letha's sudden deter
inination to run over and take dish OF
jam as excuse. But she was bound To
find out why good berries went to waste.
She ran in the back way, bit en-
barrassed. Custom DEGREES that a front
door call shall precede a back way Visit.
But Letha was impulsive. Moreover.
woman who let her husband wash the
dishes when he came home at night was
not worth wasting conyentionality on.
Mrs. Bronson opened the door at her
knock and looked at her In surprise.
Letha was more than a bit embarrassed
then But not for her call-because she
hadn't come before. "Oh. come In, said
Mrs. Bronson, in the glad voice OF utter
loneliness.
| Letha went into the kitchen. which
anti Nv oh had pNnprted
Mrs. Bronson preparing supper. al
though it was hardly ), and her husband.
in company witrh the other husbands OF
the suburb. would not be home TIL 4
1T takes me so long she said, explain
! ingly, "since-my, How do you make 1t
so clear? And how do you get that tansy
flavor? 1t tastes like-like- What does
| it taste like
Lemon explained i.etha. Il put just
a little juice in. But you Were saying
Since / burnt my arms carelessly
They're stiff and il makes the work slow.
and I got some berries and couldnt can
| them. l cried. :
MY gracious cried Letha. How'd
you burn your arms? She gazed shiver-
ingly at the red, lvid streaks that
stretched from wrists TO elbows.
II had kettle of potatoes on the stove
They were burning and as l reached to
turn off the gas l slipped and fell for
ward with my outstretched arms. My
| hands went beyond the hot iron and so
escaped, but my arms. didn't sleep that
lnight-and," with a laugh. neither did
| Mr. Bronson. But they'll he well enough
| in few days. At least we'll enough TO
work with I'm starting dinner early to-
day because my brother is coming out
why didn't you let some of us know? ?,
Letha demanded Wed have been glad
| to run In and do your work.
| Il didn't know any of you. murmured
Mrs. Bronson. Her face was pink. Ietha
own face grew red They mad oeeh
hadn't been SO free with her tales of
waste uetha caught herself up with a
mental JOLT. She was as much to blame
for listening as the other for telling. she
hurried to make what amends she could
NOW Mrs Brenson. determinedly
You just put away those potatoes, put
| off your apron and come over TO my
house for dinner l insist 1t won De
a bit of bother. No, it won't. And you
| can watch from my porch for your hus-
band and brother
| AS she finished Letha was flying home
to begin preparations. And presently
Mrs Bronson followed. She watched
Lethas swift. skillful movements with
open envy. and presently confessed that
she had been married only short time
and was retarded as much by igno-
rance as by the burned arms.
j You couldn't be any more stupid than
III was in the beginning. said Letha.
Hello, here's my husband. Vernon, you
go out and watch for Mr.. Bronson and
Mrs. Brenson's brother. They're coming
| here for dinner. and they don't know 1t.
Hurry. They'll be in the house.
And she pushed him out. He seemed
rather dazed and anxious to say some
thing But almost in minute he was
/ back with Mr.. Bronson and large,
pompous man, whose only point of re-
semblance 10 his sister was pair of
pleasant blue eyes. She introduced him
as Mr. Cotton Letha did not remark the
name. She was wondering what had up
set Vernon. who seemed to be holding
back a nervous chill or CONFUSION. But
presently she understood. 1t was after
Mr.. Cotton had been helped four times to
strawberry jam.
! Mrs Vernon he said. I'm going TO
raise your husbands salary. Any man
| that had sense enough to pick out wom-
an that can fix up that combination de-
serves it, And if you'll show Bessy
here how to make it I'll make him gem
| eral manager.
/ Letha Joined in the laugh. But. when
they had gone home afterward she
looked at Vernon with an expression far
from laughter Just think If I'd never
gone near her. guess I'll wait after this
before Judging!