The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1913-06-05
Continued From Last week

She and Aunt bettie nau just Conio
up the street from Aunt Bette 3
house and the Pollard cook was fol-
lowing them with a large basket. In
which were packed the things Aunt
Bette was contributing to the enter
tainment bf the distinguished citizen.
Mr.. Johnson is Alfred's nearest hns-
man in Hillsboro. and, of course, he Is
10 be their guest while he is in town
Hell be feeding his eyes on Molly,
Washington almond pudding with
Thomas old port In It," teased Aunt
Bette with laugh as 1 went across
the street with them.
There's going 20 be regular epi-
demic of love in Hillsoboro. l do be-
iieve," she continued in her usual
strain of sentimental speculation. Il
saw Mr.. Graves talking to Della
Hawes in front of the store an hour
ago, as | came out from looking at
the blue chintz TO match Pet for the
west wing, and they were both so abb
sorbed they didn't even see me. That
was what might have been called n
confiagration dinner you gave the
other night, Molly. in more ways than
one. wish a spark had set on Ben
ton Wade and Henrietta, too. Maybe
Il did, but is just taking fire slowly"
l think 1t would be a good thing
Just to let Aunt Bette blindfold every
unmarried person in this town and
marry them to the first person they
touch hands with. II would be fun
for her and then we could have peace
and apparently as much happiness as
we are going to have anyway. Mrs.
johnson seemed to be in somewhat
the same state of mind as found
myself.
-Humph." she said as We went up
the front steps. "I'll be glad when yod
are married and settled. Molly Car
ter, 30 the rest of this town can quiet
down into peace once more. and 4
sincerely hope every woman under
hfty in Hillisboro who Is already mar
ried will stay in that state until she
reaches that age. But / do believe II
the law marched widows from grave
number one to altar number two they
would get into trouble and fuss along
the road But come on in, both of
you, and help me get this marriage
feast ready. II / must, The day is
going by on creased wheels and |
can't let Mr.. Johnson's crochets be
neglected, Al Bennett or no Al Ben
nett, s~t-~.s's'
And from then on for hours and
hours was strapped to torture
wheel that turned and turned, minute
after minute. as II ground spice and
sugar and bridal meats and me relent-
lessiy into a great suffering pulp.
Could | ever In all my life have hun
gered for food and been able'to get
it past the lump in my throat that
grew larger with the seconds? And
II Alfred's pudding tasted OF the salt
OF dead sea-fruit this evening. 1t was
from my surreptitious tears that
dripped into 1t.
II was late. very late before Mrs.
Johnson realized II and shooed me
home to get ready to go TO the train
along with the brass band and all
the other welcomes.
I hurried all could. but for long
minutes / stood In front of my mirror
and questioned myself. Could this
slow. pale dead-eyed. slim, dropping
girl be the rollicking child OF a Molly
who had looked out of that mirror at
me one short week ago? Where were
the wings of her heels, the CLINT IN
Aer euris. the langh on her mouth and
the devil in her eyes7
Slowly at last / lifted the blue
muslin. twenty-three-Inch waist