Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1921-12-29
AnActo of
Providence
By T M. WILLIAMS.

Mercy How I hate sewing"
Elinor said peevishly as her thread
snarled for the third time in a minute.
"But-not quite as much as you
love new frocks-pretty ones" Doris
answered, adding with a smile: "Never
mind the knOts-it's a sure sign when
your thread ties up so you'll be mar
ried and happy before what you are
sewing on wear out"
IF l believed that" Elinor be-
gan with a lurking smile. "But of
course it's nonsense-superstitions all
are"
I'm not so sure" Doris said teas
ingly. Science is finding out that a
heap of superstitions, SO called, are
surface indications Of important facts"
SLOW ridiculous" from Elinor.
Doris went on refectively: Sup
pose something inside you powerful
enough to captivate a big man was
also powerful enough to make your
thread electric-you know almost
everything goes back now to cleo
tricity-"
Il don't know any such thing
and 1 wish you wouldn't parade the
fact that you do. You make my
head ache worse-and it's bad enough
at best. Unless I get help somehow,
this rubbishy thing, touching her
work scornfully, will never get done
in time-nor be fit to look at"
"Stepmama will help if you ask
her nicely" Doris bantered.
Elinor sprang up, stamping her foot,
angry tears flooding her cheeks. "You
know l won't ask her-I can't" she
sobbed. "She ought to do it with
out asking taking my mothers place.
And you, my own cousin, ought to
help"
like heaven, we help those who
help themselves" Doris returned.
Elinor flung herself across the bed,
crying hard. But at the sound Of
her name, spoken in a strong, young
voice below stairs, the tears ceased
magically-after some little business
with the powder-puf, she tripped
away, a pattern of April sunshine.
"If l knew enough, I'd write a pro-
found thesis on The Alternative Value
of a Timely Beau" Doris commented
philosophically: "But those who need
1t would neither read it, nor heed it.
Dick Brownley least of all. He thinks
Miss Elinor came straight from heaven
by ~air-express. Because, forsooth, she
has baby-curls, a beautiful baby-stare
dances like a sunbeam, and sings like
q seraph. Strictly ornamenta-fne
for keeping in cotton wool-or under
a glass case, but apt to get Clipped il
this rough-and-tumble world. How
ever, it is none of my funeral. Tn
no feminine knight-errant yearning tt
save men from the desires Of theil
own hearts"
Elinor rushed back crying: "Put or
your hat. Do-Diek wants US to &c
motoring-you know I can't, unless
you will. Thanks to a stepmother
NC1C " UO SOuC oil udy"luDSu d
some swagger country club, and dine a
another. She-stepmother, you know
has planned to teach me canning this
afternoon. Fancy spending it in thu
kitchen-with such weather outside.
"You might do worse. I'd prefer
to playing g~ooseberry," Doris said
her eyes speculative. 'Ohl You won
do that-Dick is to pick up anothe
hanover at the Travers place,
Elinor said c%oaxingly: "Do come, oil
dear. Everything may depend On it!
In spite of better judgment, Dori
went. She was really sorry for Elinol
a badly spoiled child, suddenly brough
under a curb, strict if kindly. Nat
urally she was unhappy. Marriag
was a way QUIT might also be
way into worse and more lasting III
happiness. Dick Brownley was a
spoiled as Elinor, as headstrong, an,
~extravagant. He would make duck
and brakes of a decent inheritance !
unchecked. Elinor would not chez
him. But, said Doris to herself, smi
ing whimsically: ''What a good tim
they will have spending everythin
together"
The man picked up should hav
warned Doris-he was SO deep-dye
a cleric, pallid almost to anemia an
solemn as an owl. He looked, ihdeet
much like the bird Of wisdom, pee
ing through huge horn-rimmed glasse
set astride a beaky nose. Ente
tanning him was %easy--it involved 4
more than playing audience. But h
droning answered to mask the amoror
dialogue in full blast on the froI
seat. Luncheon at the country clu
reduced it to the terms of blushe
giggles and heads touching as the
bent together owe the menu. Sti
Doris was obtuse-it was, she though
only the rebound. Elinor had bee
held at home sewing for the tw
days past. Naturally, accumulate
affection broke out now.
But presently as they sped pa
a roadside stone Doris knew ths
they were In another state. The
she became uneasy-this neighb'
state was a Gretna Green for II
patient couples in that they had quite
She touched Dicks shoulder, asking