Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-10-02
CHAPTER I-continued.

p
She looked about the place some
what hopelessly. Her father read he
perplexity.
at seems as though you would b.
in charge here for while, Reenie,
he said, $50 you will save time b!
getting acquainted at once with you
equipment. Look the house over ant
see what you have to work with"
'Well, I can commence here" SHE
answered. This is Dawes room.
suppose l should say Mr.. Elden's
but-what was it he said about mis-
tering'? 1t would be splendid if il
were cleaned up" she continued, witt
kindling enthusiasm. "These bare
logs, bare floors, bare rafters-we've
got back to essentials anyway. And
that's his bed" She surveyed a
lay an old straw mattress and some
very gray blankets 81 suppose he
is very tired when he goes to bed"
she said, drOlly, as though that could
be the only explanation of sleep amid
such surroundings.
In the south end of the larger room
stood a fireplace, crudely mate of
slabs of native rock. The fires of
many winters had crumbled the rock,
so that it had fallen in in places and
was no longer employed for its origi-
nal purpose. A very rusty and greasy
stove now occupied the space imme-
diately in front of the fireplace, the
stovepipe leading into the ample but
tottering chimney. Near the stove
was a bench supporting a tin wash
basin, wooden pail and certain frag-
ments of soap--evidently all the equip
ment necessary for the simple ablu-
lions of the Eden household The
remnant of a grain-bag, with maAy evil
dences of use and abuse, performed
the functions of towel. and broken
piece Of loolKing-glass gave the -faintest
intimatiOn that strain of fundamen-
tai relationship links the sexes. By
the western wall was table, with nu-
merOus dishes, and to the wall itself
had been nailed wooden boxes-salmon
and tomato cases-now containing an
assortment of culinary supplies. A
partially used sack of flour and an
other of rolled oats leaned against the
wall, and a trapdoor in the floor gave
promise of further resources beneath
There was a window in the east and
another in the west, both open and
myriads of flies gave the
only touch of life to the dismal scene.
Irene looked it all over, then leaned 1.
against the window sill and laughed. !
Her father had brought her west for /
holidays, with the promise of changed |
and new experiences, but |
he had promised her no such delight
as this With the Eden kitchen still
in her mind she called up
the picture of her own city home-the
order; the precision the tiXedness;
he its-here-and-that -stands-there-
ness; the fairness and emptiness and
of it ALL and she turned
again to the Eden kitchen and laughed
IA soft, ripping, irrepressible laugh,
Is irrepressible as the laughter of the
mountain stream amid the evergreens.
Then she looked again from the open
window, this time with eyes that saw
he vista of valley and woodland and
Oothill that stretched down into the
pening prairie. Suddenly she realized
hat she was looking down upon q pic
ure-one of natures obscure master
in brown and green
nd saffron against an opal canvas. 1t
vas beautiful not with the Solemnity
f the great mountains, nor the sol
unity of the great plains, but with
hat nearer, more intimate relationship |
'hch is the peculiar property of the |
Dothill country. The girl drew {
reat breath of the pure air and was
bout to dream a new daydream when {
ne voice of her father brought her to S
nrth. f
Cant you find anything that will do
)r bandage?" he asked. t
"Oh, you dear Daddykins!" she re- Il
lied, her voice tremulous with self t
spaDNNh' lOi SOtlShs lii'l' |
as spell, or something; 1t just came '
own upon me in the window. The b
lndage? Dear, no. The only cloth fl
.e Is the kitchen towel, and | can't d
1t. But what a goose | h
n! Our grips are in the car, or I'M 5
n it, or somewhere. I'll be back in In
jiffy." And she was off at sharp
OF down the trail along which she d
I'd so recently come in Dave Eldens ii
agon. h,
The grips were duly found, and Irene "
herself that she and her It
Their were in the habit of travelling tn
It'll equipment for overnight. Arrived dc
the house, she deftly wrapped n
ndnge about her fathers injury and to
{ to work at the preparation of sup of
"a task not strange to her, as her ",