The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-07
Tie DAILY
81 I0RT STORY
Iust Pie
III Z. AITC.EI PnERCE.
copyfight 1919. by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.)

newspaper SynaicaLe.)
n these days when the average edi-
dition Of "a city daily contains in
me half column such a startling
iem as the successful flight of an air
plane across the ocean and in the
next records the safe delivery Of a
deceased aunt,s remains to Mr.. Blank
of Bianktown, via parcel post, at the
fifling cost of forty three cents, we
ne compelled to describe Phoebe
Huriburt as an anachrnism.
Long ago when the whalers set sail
rom the little port, Phoebe's grand
mother made the most wonderful pies
Phoebe makes them Just as delecta-
bic and by the same recipe. Not the
most noted map Of science can sug-
gest one improvement in the pies OF
he old New England housewives con-
cOcted. Phoebe didn't try, and there
n lay her success.
Phoebe Hurlburt occupied a place
IN the sun not too close to forty at
the time her romance began. Cousin
Jane was close behind. Jane had all
along intended to be her own ro-
nance; but somehow, in the last act
the cues got twisted and John Bel
layre walked into the Hurlburt kitch-
en- where Phoebe in an immaculate
,alico housedress, was in the act 0f
removing from the oven two crIspy,
fragrant apple pies, instead of into
the orchard where Jane had staged
herself in an act worthy Of Belasco
himself. John stayed in the kitchen
to have sample served with elotted
cream, and stayed so long that finally
Jane, all unassisted, climbed down
from the tree in which she was pre-
cariously seated,
IL had been along about Christmas
time when Jane met John Bellayre'
He had been the guest Of honor at q
so-called Sunday morning break1ast
party. AS matter Of fact both the
ttmorning" and breakfast" were mis-
nomers, for the guests assembled at
o'clock and what they had to eat
was rather elaborate luncheon.
Jane had written her country cousin
all about it and had kept her inform
ed of the progress of the friendship.
Jane liked to be called clever" and
1t was with that adjective that the
other women present at the breakfast
described her manipulation of John
BeIlayre. But to do Jane justice she
was an attractive woman. And Bel
iayre didn't need much managing TO
drift into close friendship.
Things were at this stage when
Jane wrote to Phoebe asking II she
miKht bring Mr.. Bellayre down for
; week Jane usually exercised all the
N privileges Of inviting friend or two
tofler cousins two or three times dur
IN, fheayear. Mrs. Hurlburt, who
was something of an invalid5 enjoyed
me diversion. And nothing Delighted
Phaebe more than cooking for people
fsctatRds results. Thoagh'
Jane.s friends were varied as 10 sta-
ion IN life and in tastes, when 1t came
toithea primitive enjoyment OF good
food we'll cooked they were Just hu-
man beings and much alike.
phoebe usually listened in on the
conversations, now and then surpris-
ing everybody by putting in bright
IL intelligent comment in exactly the
tight place. She presided over the
Z house-cool, competent, immaculate.
But to all invitations to visit the city
sf1e returned polite but final declin-
alton. She didn't like cities.
It was here in the charming old
New England village that Jane had
planned that the GROWING event OF
her life should take place. John Bel
Iayre was dramatic critic for one OF
khe city dailies, He knew many de-
sirahle people and he was himself an
extremely lilIable man. Jane calcu-
lated that her oft-repeated statement
that she would not give up her free
dom before she reached the age OF
ttirty=fiYe would help, rather than
hinder. Men preferred to have some
masculine vanity.
1t didn't suggest itself to Jane to
take into consideration the fine sense
Of values which a dramatic critic
must possess to take him high in his
profession. 1t never occurred 10 her
that she looked much out Of place in
Phoebe's home as an orchid would
we're 1t used in the stage setting Of
The 1Old Homestead" She merely
noted casually that John seemed to
enjoy sitting on the yeranda where
Phoebeiwas always to be found in the
afternoon with her crocheting. He
would sit there by the hour, hardly
speaking at all. Jane usually spent
those hours in rest, that she might
be more vivacious, physically and
mentally fresher later on. OF course
John was merely killing the time
when she was absent.
On the last evening of her guests
stay, some restless impulse, foreign
to her placid nature, drove Phoebe to
The kitchen. She explained to her
mother that 1t promised to be hot to-
morrow and so she guessed>she would
10 some baking before she went to
bed. She had heard James words to
John Bellayre as her cousin went up
stairs directly after the early supper.
4 have some notes to write, John; l
will meet you in the orchard at half
past seven. Then, at seven she had
seen her cousin steal out Of the side
door arrayed lin a pale mauve gown,
one Phoebe had never seen before
and which struck her as almost indie
cent in its daring simplicity.
John Bellagre caught whiff of
The fragrant odor Of steaming apple
pie as he started down the path to-
ward the orchard. Without in the
least analyzing his own motives he
etraced his steps, opened the kitchen
door and walked in.
If itis true that the way to mans