The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1921-10-06
Elspeth-P ut-the-
Kettle-On
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS

Elspeth undid the package with
fingers that trembled. She had come
to the second knot and was working
painstakingly when Molly thrust her
curly head in at the door.
"We're off, e, dear. Put the key
under the mat If were not home till
late. And do put something on a tray
for us to eat when we get home. The
Careys are delightful, but one never
gets enough to eat there"
The door slammed after Molly and
Janet Elspeth worked on over the
stubborn knot.
IF any one telephones me, say I've
gone to Trevor's," Caroline said draw
ing on her pearl-clasped glove slowly.
Elspeth stopped until she heard the
door close softly. She was alone. as
usual
!, She stood staring at the room gray
ing in the twilight, forgetting her
package, forgetting everything, in
fact, but the situation she faced.
There was something the matter
with her. that was sure. Molly, the
youngest, with her short curls and her
gay smocks, studied art and talked of
technique" and cline" and 'color" as
though they belonged exclusively to
her. Janet, just year older, was en-
gagged to Jim Corey, and nothing else
existed for her in the world. Then
came Elspeth. But Caroline two years
older, was noted for her charm; she
always had new suitors and all the
new clothes that were necessary to
set off her type.
That was it--they were all types;
all except Elspeth. She realized. as
she stood there fighting with her
sense of futility, that she just wasn't
any type.
She was necessary, of course; to
stay at home and get trays ready, to
see that the silver wasn't stolen and
to answer the telephone when Paul
Winslow called up to know If Caroline
was there.
To make sure her mothers papers
were all typed ready to read to the
Tuesday Morning club, and to make
MOlly's new smocks.
1t was so dark in the room now that
Elspeth fumbled about for match
and, having lighted the lamp on the
table. she saw the package still I'M
opened.
She wondered why she had been so
excited over this package; Aunt EN-
ma sent them a few of her old things
every few months. Caroline usually
chose the best as her immemorial
right and Elspeth made them over.
BY the time Janet and Molly had
chosen there was either nothing left
or, If there was, 1t was not worth
much.
This time, however, the package
had come addressed to-:
MISS ELSPETH GREEN.
She shook out the folds of tissue
paper and saw I'm one corner where it
had been crushed something delicately
pink and silver with tiny French flow
ers and frail, cObwebby lace. In her
hand IL looked more like the lining of
sunset cloud than real fr0cK.
She laid it down and went toward
the kitchen.
II believe I'm starved. that's what's
the matter with mel" Elspeth told her.
self firmly.
She had marketed that day so she
knew the chops were thick, that the
lettuce was hard and white and that
she could make cup OF coffee i'm
jiffy.
She paused in the dining room, and
then smiling selfishly she set the table
for two, put the candles on, with their
pink shades, brought out the white
plates with their gold bands, and put
bowl of roses that had come last
night for Caroline in the center of the
table.
Then she caught up the pink cloud
like frock and ran upstairs. 1t took
her much longer than she expected to
dress. For she had to borrow MoIly's
pink slippers and Janet's stockings,
and she had to do her hair i'm that new
way with a twist at the back to suit
the frock. She had to powder her
oiShUVi "iitC anu tiy VII tiiOSt
tiny pearl earrings that Caroline had
bought last week
When at last she had slipped into
the pink frOck, she gasped at her own
reflection. She wasn't just Elspeth-
put-the-kettle-on, but q new, strange
person who smiled back at her with
shining eyes.
She went down stairs slowly and
lighted the candles under their rosy
shades, and put on the chops to broil,
and smelt the delicious aroma of boil
Ing coffee.
She felt rather thrilled as though It
were not really a game she was play
ing with herself but as though she
were expecting some one . and
the some one wanted to see her-not
Caroline or delicious Janet or short.
haired Molly, but herself.
Yet when the bell gave resOundIng
clang, she was as frightened as
though she were guilty of crime.
"It's you, Miss Elspeth," man said.
"and all alone?"
oxuhy VOC Caroline Is out apd cha