Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-19
DAILY NOVELETTE,
JOSHUA FINDS 4 WAY
by Adelaide X. Kemp

BY Adelaide X. Kemp
TIlE little clock on the mantel struck
= seven. Martha, with her hands idly
folded in her lap, sat by the kitchen
window and watched the wonderful
sunset. She was startled from her rev.
eric by a knock at the door and the
lifting of the latch.
''Oh, come right in, joshua" she,
exclaimed as she recognized her neigh
Dor, who lived in the white farmhouse
on the hill.
"l'm in peck Of trouble, Marthy."
laughed the man, ''and I've come to
soc if you'd help me out" He seated
his long figure in one of Martha's
slight wooden chairs and tilted it TO a
dangerous angle. She watched him
rather ncryously, expecting a sudden
collapse of her furniture under such a
strain.
''lou SOC, it's like this," he CON
tinued. 'lvc just been to the post
office and found letter from my sister
Nell. Probably you remember her, al
though she has been out West n good
many years. Well. she and her hus-
band are coming on here and want to
make me visit. OF course, | am
glad, but since mother left me last
year "a shadow crossed his pleasant
things have sort of gone at
skies and scvcns. l like my own work
out of doors, but | just hate dishes
and busters ! suppose there are plenty
down in the village who would come up
and clean, but can't bear to think of
them poting and prying among mother s
things, and | wondcrcd"--hc hestatcd
and then stopped short.
"Of course. Joshua. I'll be glad to
help and I'll be right up in the morn
ing" said Martha. With n sigh of re
lief and after few words about crops
and the weather the big farmer said
good night
Early the next morning Martha, true
to her word, reached the farmhouse.
Everything about the grounds and the
| buildings looked immaculate. But oh .
Woe. when she entered the kitchen.
| The look on her face was too much for
.Ioshua's good nature. He laughed
| heartily. "Don't look so desperate.
Martha. They won't be here for Il week
! at least
"And the kitchen is the worst room
| I'll drive down to the store this after
noOn and get some wallpaper and paint
and linolrum for the floor. We can
! work wonders here
! The week that followed was a busy
one to say the least. Martha, with all
| the zcSt and enthusiasm or a competent
| housckecpcr, let in the sweet air and
sunshine which had been excluded a
year or more from the great rooms up
/ stairs. She shook rugs and bedding
until Joshua was fairly dizzy. The
| pleasant kitchen was the greatest sue
cess with its fresh cream colorcd paint
and clean new wallpaper. The floor
was covered with linolcum in soft shades
| of brown. Martha hung fresh white
sash curtains in the windows and even
! brought over. few of her best plants
| to give it last homy touch. The
day the guests were expected she filled
| the pantry shelves with dainticSt pies
and cakes. With a glance of Satisfac-
! ton at the wonderful change she had
effected she was about to stare Tor home
when she saw Joshua drive slowly into
the yard alone.
"Why. Joshua :" she exclaimed. hur.
rying to the door. "Didn't they come"
Joshua left the old mare to craze
and entered the kitchen. He looked al
her socmnly.
"Thcy sent a telegram. They re
not coming for three weeks he said
Martha looked about her. "Why -
she said slowly. "You'll never be able
to keep it clean all that time. 1t will
look as bad as ever when they do come.
The big man shook his head. 81
knew it, Martha.' He looked at the
little woman in front of him while 4
very tender expression crrpt into hi
honest face. "I'vc thought of IL way
though he continued. IF You II onI!
ride down to Minister Aliens with IN
this evening you could stay here all tn
time and then we'd always be read.
for company. Will you, Marthy:'
Martha looked around tie pieasan
room she had made so homcilHe ant
then up to the gray eyes shining low
ingly down on her. With happy smil'
she held out her hand.
Joshua had found way.
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