The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-19

Horror was written on the comedy
face of the white-haired Melinda Bas-
Sett as she stood at the telephone talk
ing to her daughter-in-law, bride Of
a few weeks.
Yves" she faltered. 81 heard you.
What did they ask you to inase?'
The voice which came ripping back
to her was young and intense with TIE
JOY of life.
"A frosted lemon pie, a sponge cake
and three dozen doughnu.s"
Seems to me they amt mite bash
full about asking for CONSIDERABLE"
"Well, Mrs. Rodgers said she'd heard
what good cook l was, and that ev-
erybody would be anxious TO taste my
things, and they'd sell like hot cakes.
| knew you must have told her. Moth
er Bassett for you're the only one who
has been to a meal here yet"
Involuntary Melinda closed her
eyes to shut out the vision of that
nightmare feast-tOugh meat, half-raw
vegetables. fallen cake ana a pie-Slle
shuddered al the memory but poor, IN
suspecting Jean, who had never in
her life before so much Is boiled wa
ter, radiated pride in her achievement
Mrs. Bassett had never wanted he.
son to marry the little city girl She
had urged him to choose a capable
hOusekeeper from the Willowdale girls
Not yet had Melinda overcome the lit
| tie feeling of hurt resentment when
| she thought of her sons wife, nice
enough little thing. but
And now Ophelia Rodgers had laid
this trap for the unsuspecting girl. a
good cook or nothing" was Willow
dale's slogan, and rivalry was keen.
HonorS had been even between Mrs.
Rodgers and Melinda Bassett for some
| years, but the former cherished a bit
ter hate for anyone who threatened
her culinary position. Thus, then, was
she determined to humiliate the house
of Bassett
MY sorrows" breathed Melinda,
that child mustn't carry her dreadful
messes to that food sale. What'n I
do?"
Aloud she said: Its pretty near
haf-past eight, Jean; you'll have TO
hurry to get ready by two O'Clock. Do
you want me to help yOu?"
The reply was joyfully scornful of
aid. "Oh, no. thank you just the same.
/ love to work in my dear kitchen"
well, good luck to you. Oh. Jean,
ask Prescott to step in here on his way
: to the sale with your things, viii you :;
: may want him to carry something for
me. Good-by."
That afternoon, while Precott was
busy with half coconut custard pie.
! his mother surveyed Jeans cookery.
5 It was worse than she had feared but
: there was no time to waste in lamen-
e tation. Swiftly she packed her own
e toothsome viands and slipped a note
! into Jeans basket, which was the
counterpart of her own. She turned
!. an innocent face upon her son as lac
: entered the kitchen.
!. Don't stub your toe" she warned
e him.
, Jean Bassett reached the food sale
2 almost on the heels of her husband The
, twin baskets had just been lifted 10 a
7 table for inspection when she hest
|, tated in the doorway. Every woman
{ present was bent eagerly over the Bias
j sett baskets and no one heard her en-
l. ter. Mrs. Rodgers lifted a cover in
e deathly silence
is For the lands sakes - She eiacu
: lated, and lifted out a pie with black
&c ened crust, leathery meringue ana ooz
ing lemon altogether a most pitiahle
= pie. 4 cake with a deep depression IN
+ the center, which had been filled with
e sticky frosting was next A pile 81
y deep-hrown. greasy doughnuts com
81 pleted the list. Mrs. Rodgers laughed
n shrilly.
&c "AppetiZin', amt they?" she cackled
ooh, here's a note" Her bony finger,
twitched it open and she read aloud:
Dear Feely-My rheumatism's baC
; today and l amt had real good Incl
/ with my vittles. Yours. NJ. Bassett.'
; Good luck" echoed Mrs. Rodgers
: 81 should say not! Melindy's failin
fast; she's gettin more childish every
day. The idea of Sendin' sech truck {,
sale!"
lie ANtu Siltllte ItlSi4H4 4 mighty ElAs
A. had fallen; the reign of misiress-of
n her-art was over!
ID Well" said Ophelia briskly. "lei'
n see what her new daughter can do
o. She had done amazingly well. if tn,
brown and golden triumph in pastry
= the frosting- crowned cake and th
- tempting doughnuts were sample O
= her skill. A respectful hush prevafle,
as Mrs. Rodgers spread them forth
pIeasant-looking woman broke Tia
silence.
Looks like there'd be a frst-rat
, cook in the Bassett family for d spel
yet. even if Mellndy is failin'.''
Melindy, rocking placldly By the win
dow as she darned socks, was startle
by the tempestuous entry of a teaI
full girl, who flung herself down beS.G
the horse-hair chair.
Mother Bassett. you get your Dor
net and come over to that sale tn
minute, Wen show them whetbe
,-n,,'ra 20 TIL