The Washington herald., 1914-03-02
DAILY SHORT STORY.
A ROMANCE OF FLAVOR.
NJ MARTHA Il. WILLIAMS.
tcownsht. lsiLl

lg-efen IN steep the coming ordeai mar
haunted her. But with one black froci
to her name. and that growing rusty
something had to be done-unless---
She would not let the thought. the ap-
prehension rather snaps itself articulate.
ly. But Greenville articulated II laudiy
saying In pariors, choir meetings, upor
street corners even. II was the poorhouss
for those proud Jeffersons, unless Maids
came 10 her senses and married Be,
Jones. What II he were elderly-a bald
bachelor, and grizzled as TO what hair
remained? Hadn't he two farms, besides
4 money ahead? Also wasn't he anxious 70
live in GreenviIle, renting or leasing the
farms-if It could be managed with home
cooking and without too much expense
Jefferson cooking was famous-taste of
Il indeed had FIRST set him Considering
MAZDA Nobody knew II certainly, though
surmise was open enough that the JEFF
fersons. mother and daughter. had stint
ed themselves through q month In order
to AFFORD the marvels Of rich cake they
had sent to the missionary festival.
Neither OF them had come-upon plea of
recent bereavement. II had saved their
faces. 10 be sure. but Sis Jenkins had
sniffed she didn't really believe they had
the price OF tickets. and since It was in
q cause so holy there was, Of course. no
! free list.
Thus she had been free to drop a hint
In the bachelors ear, after he had de-
youred his third slice OF cake. and was
offering TO buy what remained OF the big
ger ioaf. IL the price was made to suit.
There he had been turned down-the
CAKE was going like wildhre-as later
nls advances were turned down by
Mazda herself. The missionary festival
had shot faint rev Of hope to her.
IL had hurt SO to think she could do
nothing but marry for a living, since
her only talent appeared to Ebe for
home-making. Cooking she loved dear
ly, not the while disdaining books.
Her education had been desultory, got
mostly at home browsing amid old
good books. Her father, the major.
had been so much a bookworm he had
let his estate slip piecemesl through
his fingers.
His ofice-he had made a feint of
practicing law-stood at the roadside,
well away from the rambling house.
House. ragged lawn. the ofice itself,
were mortgaged, and SO heavily they
were good as lost. Paying the last in
terest had taken everything but one
COW and the chickens. All told, they
would hardly fetch enough at sheriffs
sale, even waiving exemption. to pay
more than court costs of foreclosure
But until New Year the Jefrersons
were secure. Hence the shop. MAZDA
had scrubbed and whitewashed the
ONCE. curtained the half door. the tiny
window, with her sole party frock-
out of style, even II she had not been
beyond hope of use for it. She had set
the mahogany side tables. which her
great-grandfather had fetched across
the Alleghanies. end to end. for a coun-
ter. covering them with the very best
tablecloth- Upon IL, In the finest china
they owned, mother and daughter had
spread cakes. pies. custards. loaves Of
fresh salt-rising bread. crisp beaten
biscuit. melting tea cakes. most extrav-
agantly of all. a ham. boiled and baked.
spiced and wine favored. until II per-
fumed delicately the whole place.
All this had meant a fearful outlay
one that spelled ruin, IL customers did
not come. But MAZDA had said with a
rather grim laugh: II the worst hap
pens. mammy-we1l live high for a |
stock being edible |
They had cooked all day Thu sday, the |
most part of Friday. and made the bis
cult early Saturday morning. There was
something of method in their madness. |
Auto travel was always heaviest Satur- |
days. This particular Saturday had n |
Sunday Monday holiday interval ahead. |
hence the traffic would be certainly dou-
BILE Riding made people hungry-that the |
Jeffersons had already found out through |
pleas for food-food OF any sort. So far
they had given ungrudingly. Even in
the thought of sale grated. But
hand had been steady when she
nailed up the sign outside. She couldn't
bear to let nanny see how she was
hurt.
She went on duty as saIeswoman while !
he 1nCs f. haLr rFFaa Nnfas NA.~
came. Her heart went down. down. down. !
as each whirl of wheels sped forward |
unchecked. At II not one person evident
" had noted the sign. She ran outside
for a minute. 1t seemed to her she must
scream without a breath of air. But she
got scant refreshment, for as she lifted
her eyes they fell upon Bev Jones getting
Town from his blackboard and grinning
lie strode through the
outer door. which gave upon the road.
helped himself to a couple of tea cakes,
,gled the ham. and called Justify, For
vardr' as he had heard men do in the
.ity stores.
Good morning: Want anything?"
MAZDA said loftiIy.
He answered with his mouth full Bet
ier life! Want-pretty much everything
n sight. Say, these here sweet cakes
would liven a wooden lntun. Have an
'ther. Bev," helping himself: so good
hey've put a fine notion in my head.
It's this-now that you've done the cook
n up SO fine. why not let's have a
yeddin'? I'm ready"
How about the bride?' Mazda flung
,ack.
He laughed loudly. The bride? oh.
he'll be throwed in with the supper,
zee! 7 allow ter pay a lot fer the sup
YER. Let's see, How much is the mort
.age and Interest,"
You can find out at the bank-being
director" Mazda answered, a red spot
Iaming In either cheek.
The spots ought to have warned Bev.
instead they made him more reckless
George! Cookin' becomes you, Didn't
Inow till this minute how good you
ooked," he cried, coming close and try
ng to clutch her hand.
She evaded him. and tried to say light
', "All / want you to admire is this"
odding at the spread table. But don't
hink you can drive bargains. Remem-
er, i have healthy appetite"
And soon went have much but county
ittels for It." Bev returned doggedly,
Now see her Maid"-thatd be a shame. 4
'e sensible. Take me! II ye will-weIl,
on can dip as deep as ye please ever {
fter in butter, sugar. an eggs-anything ]
G like" IL
Can't think of it-even with that to !
empt me-" MAZDA cried. laughing. She
1ought he meant to Jest, though fearing {
n earnest lay under II. She grew cold
nd sick as his heavy hands clutched her ]
houlders. while he rumbled on. I
Dye know-rve bought that mort &
age? Unless you listen ter reason-weIl, ,
faybe you'll have ter listen to-some- ]