Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-11-10
MARTHA INTERVIEWS
BY FLORA A. MONTY.

her bingham apron. "Not but that Kay
Palmer's done enough things in his life
to make US expect anything-eYen II
he is nv own nephew-but it does beat
oil his carryin's on-and him engaged
to that pretty little Madge Townes."
"But what difference does it make,
Mrs. Prince, if Angela did happen to
come home at the same time he did, II
he didn't know she was comlnF
queried Mrs. Thompson gently, as she
half rose from the kitchen chair.
swell now, Maria Thompson! what
difference would 1t make to you II your
husband came all the way from Salem
with Abby Norton? There! l guess
you see it now! Well, it's even worse
for Ray Palmer to come with that
firty Angela Grey-prob-ly settin'
right beside her all the way, too. l
know that boy and that girl. And
even if he is my own nephew, l amt
goin' to let Madge break her heart
wei 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 upY" 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 futteringly arose
with, "Now, amt you the Initial
ways lookin' after Others"
"Well, when others need lookin'
after, and amt got the fool sense to
do it themselves, I'm willin' to do my
duty, however unpleasant it may be for
me-" Mrs. Prince followed her depart
ing visitor to the kitchen door.
Hin! It's ten o'clock ~ mused Mrs.
Prince, as she turned back to her
work. "Mebby I better SO over to
Townes' now" And, changing her
solid apron for a stiffly starched clean
one, she tramped away with the deter
mination Of a martyr to his country's
cause.
Madge was trilling a r%Ollicking 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 a merry smile. "Oh, do come in,
Aunt Martha !" she welcomed her. "Im
going to call you aunt now, for Ray
says I'll have to after we are married,
and I might as well get in practice
now"
The greeting was so winsome that
for a 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
eveA 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 a bite of one Of the crisp crullers.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. good, Madge,"
she finally managed. 81 didn't know
Ray ever cared much about my cookin.'
He always"
"Yes, he always was crazy about It,"
Madge interrupted.
81 came over to talk about Ray"
said Mrs. Prince.
II thought you did, ard I think it's
so dear of you to do it. He told me
he was going to bave you m 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 l together couldn't make a model
husband out Of him 1t 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"
"a sport !" was the startled exclama-
ton.
"Yes. He said you were the best
forgiven he ever saw. Why, he told me
about dozens of little escapades that
: he had when he was a %youngster. He
said you always found out about them.
, and often padded him good for them.
but that you never told his mother. It's
quite a trick to know when to use your
tongue, Madge,' he said"
: "Yes-yes, I guess it is" slowly &C.
quiesced Mrs. Prince.
Just then Mrs. Thompson came hes.
: itatingly up the path, carrying a bowl
full of fresh raspberries. 81 just bruns
'em over, Madge. They'll taste real
good in case you amt feelin' we'll" She
volunteered, ~anxiously.
"Come right in, Mrs. Thompson. II
was lovely of you to bring them. peo.
pie always do such nice things for
me. Why, I just love everyone. AS to
feeling we'll, I was never better, and I
guess those berries will taste de-
licious."
8 Il hope So" was the nervous re-