The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-05-07

Ter the arrival of the express at $40,
tle bus pulled up in front of the cot
tage and from her veranda, where she
maze 1t a point to he crocheting. Mrs.
fcnt1eld had her first glimpse of her
1uture n%eighbor. a tall woman. rath-
ef young, CARRIED in sombre black, who
gave the briefest glance at her sur
roundings and at Mrs. Penfield sitting
With the tiniest beginning of a wei.
coming smile curling her lips. only
awaiting the slightest encouragement to
become very radiant. But there was
anything but encouragement in the
utterly Indifferent look which rested
on her for merely a fraction of a min
ute. AS Mrs. Pentield put it to Ted
when he came in for dinner. She's
the stoniest looking individual ever
saw in my life, L don't believe she
Knows how to smile because, in spite
met as h looked over her garden
later, 1 flashed another smile at her
positively. her face was as en-
pressionless as a bit Of marble. tell
You. Ted, she is a genuine sphinX.'
oh, she'll thaw," Penfield indiffer-
entity commented. Sudden chummi-
ness never makes a hit with me, ANY,
way"
But Mrs. Thornton did not "thaw."
- eliiieIu o~NeTtureS OF
ness were met politely, but with abso-
lutte Indifference. The only cali she
made upon her was not returned. nor
was she asked to repeat it. and never
once was there a comfortable little
visit over the fence" Even upon
Teddy. the small son of the Penfields,
she looked coldly. and lived an abso-
lutely ~self-centered, colorless exis-
tence.
Ted" she cried, Indignantly. n
scoffed when said Mrs. Thornton dis dis
liked children. Well. i've discovered
that should have said she detests
them? Now. waltz as the usual ex-
postulation seemed forthcoming. This
morning Teddy's ball bounced over on
to her veranda and I let him go after
il: Just as he ran up the steps Mrs.
thornton came out. Teddy smiled in
that awfully sweet way of his, and
now this is not imaginary, Ted-she
her heel and banged the door! What
do YOU think of that performance"
Penfield laughed softly. I'm not
going to think about it at all, little
omar What it isn't necessary for
us to understand let's leave alone. We
don't know what may be the cause"
Cause" Pshaw. I'm disguised with
her. Shes simply dreadful"
You mean. dear. simply pitiful. At
any rate. Teddy has forgotten ali
about it and We'll forget it, too"
After dinner, with Teddy upon his
knee. Penfield discovered that the
child had not forgotten. Suddenly he
said:
Daddy, why doesn't she like me?"
His finger pointed to the Thornton
cottage.
Mrs. Thornton? Why, of course
she likes you son."
NO" shaking his head. slowly:
daddy, she told me to go right
home..''
Perhaps her head ached, son, like
mothers sometimes does. and she
didn't want to he bothered with little
boys
Perhaps it aches all the time, dad
dy. cause she never likes me-"
Teddy questioned no further, hut his
little mind was busy: and the follow
ing day. to Mrs. Penield's dismay. she
saw him in the forbidden garden
marching toward it's enable
mistress. He hesitated by a he'd of
pansies. a longing glance was thrown
homeward: but, suddenly STOPPING, he
picked a pansy or two. then went for
ward, a very brave looking little chap.
I'm Teddy" he said, shyly. offer