Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-12-25
ROMANCE VS.. RICE
~ ADELAlp r. KEMP.

~ ADELAiD r. KEMP.
s. Anne Preston boarded the crowded
Pullman Of through train with an ex-
preston of absolute WEAKNESS on her
pretty face. II was warm day and
she settled herself for her long Jour-
ney unmoved by the monotonous MUIR
muir Of voices drifting about her, and
thinking only of the visit ahead Tired
from her hard winter in the office, she
felt glad indeed she had resisted the
pleading Of the other girls to spend
her three weeks vacation with them
at fashionable seaside resort. With
closed eyes she remembered gratefully
the kind letter from dear Aunt Maria
inviting her down to the old home in
Maine, where she had spent such
happy summers when she was little
girl.
It was late in the afternoon when
the train came to her station. Alight-
Ing, the first thing on which her eyes
fell was an old surrey with its fringed
top and a plump horse in the shafts.
Coming toward her was tall, we'll
built young man with eyes gray, Sc
rene, and strangely compelling, the
look Of strength In his mouth and chin
and in the square swing Of his shoul-
ders. Could this be Aunt Maria's
adopted son, the merry, freckled-faced
lad with whom she had spent such
happy days fishing and picking ber-
ries3
With outstretched hand and a slow.
friendly smile, he met her.
"You are little Anne. should have
known you anywhere" he said.
"Why!" she exclaimed. his calm,
deep voice causing an odd flutter in
her heart, "you must be David"
AS they logged along the country
road they were soon chatting merrily
together, quickly bridging over the
gears since they last met, as is the
way Of youth.
Il "Oh!" she said, was anything ever
10 lovely7 Why have stayed away so
long?'
David looked at her thoughtfully.
II don't know" he said slowly. "Rut
hope you won't do 1t again.
On the brow of the hill overlooking
the sea stood the lovely old farmhouse.
White paint cleaned on every board
and timber. Eaves, window shutters
and doors were green, and there also,
as Anne had remembered, We're the
geraniums blending with the holly
hooks. AS they drove up Aunt Maria's
motherly figure rose from the wicker
rocker on the porch and with a kind.
rnddy face beaming with affection,
came to meet her. Anne felt tight
ening at her throat. and with sud-
den mist blurring her eyes she hid her
face in the ample bosom.
Long hours on the beach or in the
hammock among the pines gave splen-
did results, and the flush of health re-
turned to Anne's cheeks, the sparkle
to her brown eyes. With 1t all spirit
Of happiness and content filled her
whole being. One morning she en-
tered the kitchen at an earlier hour
than usual, to find 1t deserted. A few
dishes at the end of the table gave evil
dence that the men had finished their
breakfast. But the fire was low and
an unusual air of desolation seemed
to pervade the atmosphere. Anne
quickly ran upstairs to Aunt A1aria's
room, only to find that kind-hearted
soul stricken with a severe headache
and unable to dress.
ooh. auntie, why ever didn't you
call me?" exclaimed Anne, laying her
cool Little fingers on the aching brow.
"YOu mustn't worry, dearie. I'll soon
be better" answered Aunt Maria. "If
could only sleep short time. But
there is so much to be done down
stairs"
"Auntie." said Anne. with determine
ton, II can do everything If you will
tell me what to get for dinner. And
then you can take a good rest aud
feel all right by afternoon.
Aunt Maria. with a relieved sigh,
gave few directions, adding at the
last, "and David loves rice pudding.
So you can make big one, and he
can have it for supper too
1t might have been two hours later
that David, returning TO the house as
was his habit for little lunch, heard
queer. choking noise in the kitchen.
Hurriedly entering, he saw a slight fig
ure huddled on the old sofa.
"Why. little Anne" he said hurrying
to her side. what has happened" For
a moment she lifted her tear-stained
face and glancing despairingly toward
the stove, sobbed: Rice"
David looked wonderingly in the
same direction. II don't understand
he said. Annes face was hidden on
his broad shoulder now and he held
her close.
"Why! Why!" she stammered in
muffled toes, "Auntie asked me TO make
you a rice pudding-a big one. And
opened her new five-pomd package
and put 1t to sOak-and, oh, dear!''
she was overcome now and could say
no more. A look of understanding
came suddenly to David's face. Over
on the stove We're kettles of rice, little
kettles, big kettles, even the dishpan
had been called into service. He drew
one long breath and then his peals
Of laughter could be heard in the at
tic. Anne looked up Indignantly, and
tried to draw away.
It was at this iunctnre Aunt Maria