The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-11-16
|AuNT MARTHA MIERvENEs
BY FLORA A. MONTY.

Ii BY FLORA A. MONTY.
lssseesssssseseessseeeessssessssesssse&
"And they do say they came on the
same train together" said Mrs. Prince
excitedly, as she wiped her hands on
her gingham apron. "Not but that Ray
/ Palmers done enough things in his life
to make us expect anything-even If
he is my own nephew-but it does beat
all his carryin's on-and him engaged
to that pretty little Madge Townes."
"But what difference does it make,
Mrs. Prince, IL Angela did happen to
come home at the sume time he did, II
he didn't know she was comin'3"
queried Mrs. Thompson gently, as she
half rose from the kitchen chair.
"Well, now, Maria Thompson! What
difference would it make to you IL your
husband came all the way from Salem
with Abby Norton? There! I guess
you see it now! Well, it's even worse
for Ray Palmer to come with that
flirty Angela Grey-prob-ly settin'
right beside her all the way, too. I
know that boy and that girl. And
| even If he is my own nephew, amt
goin' to let Madge break her heart
over his COINS on! I'm goin' right over
and tell her now, before it's too late"
"But, Mrs. Prince, what If that
should break 'em up?" Mrs. Thomp-
sons mild blue eyes opened wide in
amazement.
'Let it! Better now! What's more,
I'm goin' to tell Madge ever last thing
Ray Palmer ever DONE"
Mrs. Thompson flutteringly arose
with, "Now, amt you the limit-al.
ways lookin' after Others"
swell, when others need lookin'
after, and amt got the fool sense to
do 1t themselves, I'm willin' to do my
duty, however unpleasant 1t may be for
me-" Mrs. Prince followed her depart.
ing visitor to the kitchen door.
"H'm! It's ten o'clock" unused Mrs.
Prince. as she turned back to her
work. "Mebby I better go over to
Townes' now" And, changing her
solid apron for a stiAly starched clean
one. she tramped away with the deter.
mination Of martyr to his country'e
cause.
Madge was trilling rollicking song
as her caller reached the back gate.
Mrs. Prince shifted. "Humph! She'll
sing another tune when she hears
about Ray Palmer"
The sound Of her footsteps on the
back porch brought Madge to the door
with merry smile. "Oh, do come in,
Aunt Martha !" she welcomed her. I'm
going to call you aunt now, for Ray
i says I'll have to after we are married,
and might as well get in practice
now"
The greeting was so winsone that
for q moment the vigorous old lady
was abashed.
"Why, you look all tired out" Madge
went on. "Your face is as red as any.
thing! No. I'm not going to let you
even talk. yet" as Mrs. Prince attempt.
ed to take charge Of the conversation.
II want you to try these 0oughnuts.
They're honey doughnuts, like you
make, you know. Ray copied that
recipe for me. Do you remember him
asking you how to make them one day
last week? He says I've got to learn
to cook like you"
Mrs. Prince unaccountably choked
over bite of one of the crisp crullers.
Observation-Disclosures good, Madge,"
she finally managed. II didn't know
Ray ever cared much about my cookin.'
He always"
Eyes, he always was crazy about :"
Madge interrupted.
II came over to talk about Ray"
said Mrs. Prince
Il thought you did, and think it's
SO dear of YOU to do it. He told me
he was going to have you come. He
said you COULD tell me how to get along
with him better even than his own
mother could. He said he often did
things that people couldn't understand,
but that his Aunt Martha usually
'sensed' things right, and that if YOU
and together couldn't make model
husband out Of him it wasn't in any.
ones power to be one. He stands up
for his Aunt Martha and the things she
does all the time. Aunt Martha's a
great old SPORT he's told me time and
again."