Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-09-02
CLOTHES
BY PEARL 3. MEYER.

Mrs. Drew mopped her eyes ano
stuffed her limp handkerchief in her
apron pocket.
Il shan't sned another tear" she de-
clared firmly. It's done, and all my
crying won't change things any" The
words had scarcely passed her lips be-
fore the fioodgates opened anew, and.
having no extra handkerchief on hand,
she was obliged to resort to corner
of her apron.
81 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"
They'll be here tomorrow" sObbed
Mrs. Drew. l haven't the heart to
bake thing-and they've got to eat,
l suppose" she added tragically.
Let the bride try her hand" sneered
Mrs. Kent. "He's got to get used to
her cooking sooner or later anyway"
Mrs. Drew stiffened. Let a stranger
come into my kitchen and mess around
with my pots and kettles?' She shook
her head theoretically. Besides, he
said she worked in an office. Probably
all She knows about cooking is how to
typewrite recipes"
"Clarencep' Mrs. Kent laughed
scOrnfully. "What do you expect of
fellow who is so much in love that he
forgets to tell his ma when he gets
married? You wait and see; she'll
want to boss everything, and Clarence
viii stand up for her. That's what
he'll do. You just wait"
At this dire prophecy, Mrs. Drew's
face disappeared completely in the
folds of her checked calico. 81 don't
know how I'm ever going to stand it,"
she walled
There's the eXpressman," cried Mrs.
Kent with an eager 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. Mechan-
ically she signed for it. The mere ac'
ceptance of it appeared a disloyalty
to all the past years that had belonged
exclusively to Clarence and her.
Mrs. Kent snatched it, "Shall open
it?" she asked eagerly.
yes-no-TH do it myself"
Mrs. Drew sat down and commenced
working at the knot.
Cut it, cut it, snapped her caller
impatiently.
But the mother was thinking that
probably Clarence's hands had tied
that knot, and her fingers fingered
over it lovingly. Slowly she unfas
tened the string, removed the heavy
wrapping paper, united more knots
and at length loosened the cover.
Mrs Drew glanced at the greedily
bttIl hS eyes anu Luz d iliVluGlll hCI
hands hesitated. Then her longing for
sympathy overcame her scruples. Sic
.et the cover slide to the floor.
"Well :" calculated Mrs. Kent
The eyes Of both women weie fixed
on the neatly folded garments Mrs.
Kent's hand flew out swiftly as if to
disturb them and explore further; but
sudden change in her hostess att.
tude made her as quickly withdraw it.
Il think I'll go in" remarked Mrs
Drew after a weighty pause. You
come over again, Carrie
There was no installing the impo
of her words Mrs kents jaw
dropped She hurriedly arose.
Il clean forgot had 1t cake baking,
she exclaimed with remarkable pres
ence of mind then added sourly, 81
nope YOU enjoy their visit"
But Mrs Drew had pissed into the
house, ignoring her Upstairs in the
little white bedroom where Clarence
had slept until he went to college. she
unpacked the box and laid its con