Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-09
DAILY NOVELETTE,
CLOTHES
by Pearl II. Meyer
MFRS. DREW mopped her eyes and
IN1 stuffed her limp handkerchief in her

MRS. DREW mopped her eyes and
1Nl stuffed her limp handkerchief in her
apron pocket.
'I don't wonder you cry,"' 'sympa-
thized her neighbor, Mrs. Kent, rock
ing violently back and forth in the
porch chair. "After you've worked your
fingers off for that boy, so he could go
to college and have things real fine-to
have him turn around and get married
without saying a word; it's too much. y
"Thcy'n be here tomorrow" sobbed
Mrs. Drew. II haven't the heart to
bake n thing"
"Let the bride try her hand" sneered
Mrs. Kent.
Mrs. Drew shook her head energeti-
caly. Besides, he said she worked in
an Office. Probably all she knows about
cooking is how to typewrite recipes.
"Oh :" said Mrs. Kent significantly,
eve heard tell about that kipd. Wears
French heels. Those girls spend every
penny they earn on silk things"
Mrs. Kent laughed scornfully. She'll
want to boss everything, and Clarence'll
stand UP for her. That's what he'll
do. You just wait"
At this dire prophecy, Mrs. Drew's s
face disappeared completely in the folds
of the checked calico. 81 don't know
how I'm ever going to stand it," she
walled
"There's the expressman," cried Mrs.
Kant with an poppr start
Her hostess lowered her apron.
Clarence wrote she was sending some
of her things"
ooh, really" Mrs. Kent was all in :
terest.
'"He told me to unpack the box" As
she spoke, she walked hurriedly to the
steps to receive the package. Mechani-
cally she signed for it. The mere ac-
ceptance of it appeared disloyalty to
all the past years that had belonged ex-
cusively to Clarence and her. This
seemed the opening wedge bound to
split asunder his life and her own. Her
lips quivered and the box slipped from
her shaking hands.
Mrs. Kent snatched it. "Shall I open
it," she asked eagerly.
ell-yes-no-I'll do it myself. y
Mrs. Drew sat down and commenced
working at the knot.
"Cut it, cut it," snapped her caller,
impatiently. a-
But the mother was thinking that
probably Clarence's hands had tied that
knot, and her fingers fingered over it
lovingly. Slowly she unfastened the
string, removed the heavy wrapping pa
per, united more knots and at length
loosened the cover.
Mrs. Kent pulled up her chair with
i'll concealed satisfaction. 'I'm that
curious" she confessed, her sharp nose
coming over closer.
Mrs. Drew glanced at the greedily
peering eyes, and for a moment her
hands hesitated. Then her longing for
sympathy overcame her scruples. She
let the cover slide to the floor.
"Well ~ calculated Mrs. Kent
The eyes of both women were fixed on
the neatly folded garments. Mrs.
Kent's hand flew out swiftly as if to
disturb them and explore further; but
Il sudden change in her hostess atti-
tude made her as quickly withdraw it.
81 think I'll go in" remarked Mrs.
Drew, after a weighty pause. "You
come over again, Carrie"
There was no mistaking the import of
her words. Mrs. Kent's jaw dropped.
She hurriedly arose.
81 clean forgot I had a cake bak-
ing" she exclaimed with remarkable
presence of mind then added sourly, 81
hope you enjoy your visit"
But Mrs. Drew had passed into the
house, ignoring her. Upstairs in the lit
tie white bedroom where Clarence had
slept until he went to college, she un-
packed the box and laid it's contents.
one piece after another, on the snowy
counterpane.
Just like what l used to have" she
whispered. 'No silk nonsense-iust cot
ton, like mine"
She shook out a white dress, smooth
ing its folds. 81 declare-she must have
made it herself. The lining looks that
way. I'll have to show her how it ought
to be done. Why, bless my heart, here s
real calico aprOn-and another-great
big ones She gave little choking
laugh.
Piece after piece was lifted from the