Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-31

DCBBY rubbed his shoes on the
ID scraper until his feet burned before
entering Miss Bassett's immaculate
kitchen with his strawberries. She was
in westbury. Microbes hurried by her
door, but never entered, and 1t would
have seemed a sacrilege to have car
ried dust into that speckless domain.
Come n Robert sra she aSsn saea sns in wsT ReT
different. Nobody else ever called him
by the name his godfathers and god
mothers had given him, unless indeed
1t was father at certain untCrgettapie
times when he desired an interview in
the woodshed. He looked with admiring
eyes on the spotless floor and shining
stove, while Miss Bassett empted the
luscious fruit into a big yellow DOW
at home. and the couch, sagged ny many
a Jolly ride on its springs with Tiger
the ancient family cat. Also IN tne
corner was the pleasant table 1uil Oh
fathers farm journals and mother s
big work basket. generally yawning with
his stockings full of darning holes.
Mary is going to have larger gar.
den than usual this year, ism sne!
asked Miss Bassett as she counted me
money into Bubby's hand out CT her
tidy apron pocket ,,
He wondered If she noticed his grlmy
knockles. Mary had warned MIN oeiore
he left home to scrub up.
'Yes'm." he finally said In answer 10
her question. She wants TO ratss
anough vegetables to can lot tor
mother. besides all she sells ene e,,,diy pays
Miss Rassett smiled. "Mary,s smart
girl and a pretty one. and believe likes
her summer farming better than teach-
Bubbv liked to hear his sister praised
and his estimation of Miss Bassett rose,
especially when she returned from the
pantry with two sugared doughnuts'
They had not had anything as unwar-
like as that for several months at nome.
He told Mary of his conversation with
Miss Bassett on his return Mary snllled
dreamily, although there was sad ex-
preston in her blue eyes that had been
money that Bubby gave her and left
shining nickel in his hand. not even no
ticing the dirt much to her young PROM
er's wonderment. True, she did prefer
closed schoolroom. Yet last winter had
been very happy in more ways than one
in the distant town where she had
taught. especially after she had met Ted
Winthrop at the club dance. The admira.
ton had been apparently mutual and
many pleasant evenings were spent to-
gether: Mary fast lost her heart to the
strapping young fellow. All went well
until one evening the course of the con-
rersation turned to the subject of women
taking mems places in various occupa-
tions. Ted. not knowing Mary's particu-
lar, hobby, spoke rather warmly against
other, members of her family. was in
tensely patriotic and very proud of her
older brother John. who had been these
many months in France, leaving his girl
bride tanother Mary, by the way) at
home with them. So her spark Of temper
came to the surface and she spoke some
| things to her lasting regret. However,
the deed was done. for he left town i'm
mediately. and she did not hear from or
see him again. So this summer was not
such happy one as those previous had
been, for down in her heart there was
always an aching spot.
| However the warm days came and
Mary's energy and patience were re.
warded by successful crops, which not
only swelled her bank account, but
helped very materially to fill her moth
er's store closet in the cellar Bubby
too, showed such business ability that
spent for lollypops or fish hooks or
| whatever else he deemed necessary at
the time for his own welfare Unfor-
tunately he awoke one morning to find
| he had developed a fine case of mumps
over night. This meant ten days i'm.
prisonment at the least. He tried to
play the glad game and feel thankful
they had not put in an appearance the
town. Still. he drew a sigh as he saw
Mary, trinity dressed in white, go down
the road with basket of peas on her
arm to deliver to Miss Bassett herself
Alas, it was Saturday. too. the day she
always made sugared doughnuts; many
of which Bubby had sampled Mary
| with no idea Of her young brothers re.
grets or sighs. walked along the shady
road. her mind busy with thoughts OF
| other things.
Indeed, so occupied was she that II
was with surprise that she found her.
| self so soon IN front of Miss Bassett's