Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-06-02
JUST PIE
BY ALICE PIERCE.

BY ALICE PIERCE.
In these days when the average edi-
ton Of city daily contains in one col
umn such a startling item as the sue
cessful flight of an airplane across the
ocean and In the next records the safe
delivery Of deceased aunts remains
to Mr.. Blank, Of Blanktowp. via parcel
post, at the trihing cost OF forty-three
cents, we are compelled to describe
Phoebe Hurlburt as an anachronism.
Long ago, when the whaiers set sail
from the little port Phoebe's grand
mother made most wonderful pies.
Phoebe makes them just as delectable
and by the same recipe. Not the
most noted man of science can sug-
gest one improvement In the pies the
old New England housewives con-
cocted. Phoebe didn't try, and there
In lay her success
Phoebe Hurlburt occupied 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 1t to be her own romance;
but, somehow, In the last act the cues
got twisted and John Bellayre walked
into the Hurlburt kitchen where
Phoebe, In an Immaculate calico house,
dress, was In the act Of 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 stay
cd In the kitchen to have Q sample,
served with clotted cream. and stayed
SO long that finally Jane, all unassist-
ed. climbed down from the tree IN
which she was previously seated
II had been along about Christmas
time when Jane met John Bellayre.
He had been the guest Of honor 1t
so-called Sunday morning breakfast
party. AS matter Of fact both
s.morning" and breakfast were mis-
uomers, for the guests assembled at
one 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 informed
OF the progress Of the friendship.
Jane liked to be called CLEVER, and
IL was with that adjective that tho
other women present at tho breakfast
described her manipulation ct John
Bellayre. But to DO Jane Justice she
was al attractive woman and Bel
layre didn't need much managing to
drift into close friendship
Phoebe usually listened IN on the
conversations, now and then surprising
everybody by putting In brightly In
telligent comment In exactly the right
place. She presided over the house
cool competent immaculate But to
all invitations tp rislt In the city she
returned 4 Polite but final declination.
She didn't like cities
It was here In the charming old New
England village that Jane had planned
that the crownins event Of her Life
should take place. John Bellayre was
dramatic critic for one Of the city DAT
lies He knew many desirable people
and be was himself an extremely Tx
able man. Jane calculated that her
oft-rpeated statement that she would
not give up her freedom before she
reached The age Of thirty-fva would
help, rather than hinder. Men pre-
ferred to have some obstacles to over
come-it hckled their masculine van
ity.
Il didn't suggest itself to Jahe to
take into consideration the fine sense
81 values which o dramatic critic must
possess to take him high 10 his pro-
fession. Il never occurred to her that
she looked as an orchid would were It
used In the stage setting Of the "0ld
Homestead She merely noted casu-
ally that John seemed to enjoy sitting
on the yeranda where Phoebe was al
ways to be found 10 the afternoon with
her crocheting. He would IT there
lazily by the hour, hardly speaking at
all Jane usually spent those hours
In rest.
On the last evening Of her guests
stay some restless impulse, foreign to
her PLACID nature. drove Phoebe to the
kttchen She explained to her mother
that It promised to be hot tomorrow.
and 80 she guessed she would do some
baking before she went to bed. She
had heard James words TO John Bel
layre as her cousin went upstairs d.
rectly after the early supper. Il have
some notes to write, John; l win meet
Won IN the orchard at half-past seven"
Then, at seven, she had seen her
cousin steal ont Of the side door ar
rayed In 0 pale mauve gown, one
"A nnvor com hafnr0 and