Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-12-30
ANASTACIA
BY PAULA PHILLIPS.


the time when Aunt Lyda's little
social club had conceived the idea Of
an entertainment in the village hall.
the proceeds to go for local charity.
Aunt Lydia had friend over In Farm
town who had heard Of the entertain
er through another friend out in the
country and she recommended the
woman as having given fine pro
gram, in their school house.
Aunt Lydia grasped AT the sugges
tion and wrote the Farmtown lady to
send along her amusing friend ex-
penseS paid. We engaged the best
vacant room for her in Cloverfield
Inn, and went over TO decorate the
village han, Aunt Lydia wanted
things done in good style so she went
10 FarmtOwn for their rented out"
orchestra. There was so little doing
in Cloverfield that we were all excited
over this new venture, and early on
the eventful morning we drove in the
big car TO meet Aunt Lydia's guests
coming by train from the nearby
city. Annette and / anticipated the
entertainer as we drove along.
"She will wear gorgeous evening
gown" said Annette. "and recite Cur
few shall not ring tonight"
Wrong" l contradicted village
people of present date are up to the
minute in every way, and critical at
that" But Annette was right. When
Miss Anastacia Hawlins entered the
finn dining room, we gasped for
breath, even the men stared in aston
ishment, She looked exactly like your
grandmothers picture if your grand
mother was not very well to do.
Well, it wasn't the curfew exactly,
neither was Miss Hawlins amusing /;
in fact, ! think her talk was on the
Improving" order but we laughed
secretly rs we just looked at her, and
came home in great spirits
l was putting out the light for the
night when a tap sounded at my door,
and | opened to find Anastacia Haw-
Inns, funnier than ever in a queer
flannel dressing gown, with her hair
skewed all over her head in wires,
obtained no doubt the moth-eaten eff
feet of which some one had spoken.
She wondered timidly, if | could
loan her needle and thread, her silk
wrap had ripped and she had no thread
with her to mend it. She was leaving
early in the morning.
She went into little raptures of de
light over the monogramed things on
my bureau, and was 50 child-like in
her pleasure that ! wished | might
offer her some pretty thing as gift,
But that was out OF the question;
Miss Anastacia was as proud as
shabby. and Withdrew with a grateful
'thank you" for the long threaded
needle. ] never saw her again. We
were afraid that lovely Cloverfield
inn would he closed TO us about this
time. because ot the impOsSibility to
obtain help, bu young country lad
wandering in from some farm, saved
the day He wanted work, he said
and 'Pcter' proved 60 be universally
useful
We girls, and the boys too, grew fond
of big stupid Peter who was at once
SO dense and so willing. There was
not a thing in the wide world he would
not have attempted for my sake.
Perhaps. because | had given the
poor boy kind words, while others
laughed at his blunders or perhaps,
because something real deep and sorry
stirred nv heart whenever his startled
eyes gazed at me. Billy Towne grew
actually jealous and the girls thought
It mighty amusing. But one horrid
day. after Peter had spent much time
washing windows in the upper hail,
first this guest then that, became
aware of certain missing articles OF
personal jewelry; l, upon nervous eX-
animation found that my diamond ring
was gone, mothers ring left to me. But
though / was pale with fear | didn't
report the loss but just went out TO
the garage and told Peter. Told him
all that the ring meant to me. Told
him also how terribly sorry l felt
for poor wretch who could throw
away his or her life and all that life
meant for bits of gold and stones ana
a little wicked money. Can you be
Iieve IT? Peter was crying, and In two
minutes he had confessed TO the theft
and had placed his spells IN my
hands.
"Now" he said recklessly, have me
locked up if you want to. What 90
care?'
There | sat with the cleaning stones
I'm the lap Of my gingham dress
"Peter." l said firmly "tell me all
about it." and he did. He had beer
raised that way that was all; taught
10 steal from his cradle. And Peter
was seldom suspected his apparent
stupidity saved him
1--WE usually work the summer
places" he explained doggedly' th'
rooms are so easy to reach and .olk'
always have jewelry with them.
"we?" | asked Peter nodded dump
ly.
.'You mustn't tell this part he sai'
nj last "my mother goes along mrs
70 find the things. She tells me "her'
l,r hands on them Mothers