Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-07-03

"They have them. You can get pref.
ty things anywhere if you pick out
that kind" said Mrs. Merriam gently.
Encouraged by the information they
had received from the newcomer. Ma
rilla Kent whispered to her mother:
You ask her what kind Of cosmetic
she uses. ma. Coming from an old
can be mad about it,"
Mrs. Kent bridled. She had buried
two husbands and would probably lead
another to the altar before her sharp
tongued daughter found a mate. II
amt so old. Marilla Kent. that l need
be called an old lady by you" she
Kissed, sharply. But I'll ask her. be-
cause l want to know myself"
Just then Mrs. Kent in%sinuated her
rusty, black cashmere form in a seat
close to the lady under discussion. 1--WE
was admiring you to pieces in church
last Sunday" she twittered. II says
to Marilla, Mrs. Merriam has the beau
tifulest color Of anybody I know. and
I'm going to ask her what kind Of cos
metic she uses on her face" She
smiled overwhelmingly at her victim.
The warm rush of color that flooded
Mrs. Merriam's clear skin was the an
swer to the question. but she only
smiled sweetly and said:
Il do use a cosmetic, ladies. and I
am fattered that you ask me for the
recipe. 1t is so cheap l am afraid that
you will not believe me-"
II expect your husband being an
artist makes it easy for you to get the
materials" interrupted Mrs. Kent ca
gerly, while old Mrs. Twitchell clutch
ed her daughter by the shoulder. say
ing:
Barbara. don't you dast to get no
painting recipes. Your pail pitch EN-
all outdoors!!"
"Wait till you hear what it is, ma"
retorted Barbara, who had noted the
peculiar little smile that curved Mrs.
Merriam's lips. We'll, what is it you
use. Mrs. Merriam?"
Soap and water and plenty of BOTH"
said Mrs. Merriam quietly. THAT is
all. except for a little simple cold
cream. which I buy at Mr.. Quacken-
bush's drug store. and he assures me Of
it's absolute purity"
The stunning silence in which this re-
mark was received indicated that it
had gone home. There was scarcely
a woman in the room who did not bear
some relationship to the Q~uackenbush-
es. either through blood connection or
by marriage. Mrs. Quackenbush was
the first to recover her self possession.
and she did it CALAMITY. for her own
complexion was hopelessly notified and
muddy.
IF it's James cold cream you're talk
ing about l don't wonder you've got
such a fine complexion. Mrs. Merriam"
she said %graciously. II amt ever used
any of it. though I've promised my
husband I would try it. I'm an awful
busy woman. though"
Mrs. Merriam placed her cup and
saucer on the table and arose to go.
II have finished two caps. Mrs. Quack-
enbush. and as l am expecting guests
on the evening train I must go" With
a farewell nod that included all the
members of the Ladies Aid society
Mrs. Merriam left the room. There
f1oated after her a single sentence:
Come from nothing! Humph!"
When she entered her W home she
closed the door and locked it. Her
husband came in from the yard, where
he had been feeding the chickens.
We'll. dearest" be began. but stop
ped at sight of tears in her eyes.
whats the matter?" he concluded.
They are all so horrible. jim" she
sobbed. What is the matter with
them? They pretend to like me. they
call upon me, cross question me about
everything. copy my clothes. try to
kiss me when we meet and part. call
me dear and vet they say the most
unkind things about me. I know they
do" She threw aside her hat and
tossed her work bag beside it. The
only way to get along with them is to
keep away from them"
Jim Merriam smiled sympathetically.
II wish the women We're as easy to
get along with as ! find the men," he
said. 1T will always be the same I'M
til women lind broader interests.
really believe these New Freedom wo-
men like you. Nell. Perhaps they are
jealous Of your youth and your good
looks. But you must recollect thai
many Of them have never been far
from their home village: that a new.
conner is a matter Of curiosity to them:
that your ways of dressing, of enter
tanning. are all new to Them
even if | grant all those things,
Jim, why should they be so spiteful:
I have heard that they sniff and call
me Come from nothing!'"
Jim Merriam reared with laughter
leone from nothing eh:" he said
That's pretty good. We all come
from nothing and are just what we
make Of ourselves. Now, my dear
perhaps this is your opportunity tc
fulfill a little destiny all your own
Possibly you have been sent to this
obscure village to bring happiness and
: q broader outlook to the cramDed wO