The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1921-03-10
ANASTACIA
BY PAULA PHILLIPS.

social club had conceived the ldea Oh
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 Clovefteld
inn. and went over to decorate the
village hail. Aunt Lydia wanted
things done in good style so she went
to Farmtown for their "rented out"
orchestra. There was so little doing
In CIoverfeld that we were all excited
over this new venture, and early on
the eventfuI morning we drove in the
coming by train from the nearby
city. Annette and | anticipated the
entertainer as we drove along.
"She will wear a gorgeous evening
gown" said Annette land recite Cur
few shall not ring tonight
Wrong" contradicted, "village
people of present date are up to the
minute iii every way. and critical al
that" But Annette was right. When
Miss Anastacia Eawins entered the
inn dining room, we gasped for
breath. even the men stared In aston
ishment She looked exactly like your
grandmOther's 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
"iInprOving" order. but we laughed
secretly as we just looked at her, and
came home in great spirits.
was putting out the light for the
night when a tap sounded al my door,
and opened to find AnastaCia Haw-
iins. funnier than ever in 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 so child-like in
her pleasure, that | wished ! might
offer her some pretty thing as gift
Put 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 be closed to US about this
time. because of the impossihlity 10
obtain help, but young country lad
wandering in from some farm. saved
the day. He wanted work, he said,
and Peter" proved to be universally
useful.
We girls. and the boys too, grew fond
or big stupid Peter who was at once
so dense and so willing, There was
not thing in the wide world ne would
not have attempted for my sake.
Perhaps, because | had given the
poor boy kind words. while others
laughed at his bIunders, or perhaps
because something real deep and sorry
stirred my heart whenever his startled
eyes gazed at me. Billy Towne grew
actually Jealous and the girls thought
II mighty amusing. But one horrid
day, after Peter had spent much time
washing windows in the upper hall,
first this guest then that, became
aware of certain missing articles of
personal jewery; |. 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 ! felt
for a poor wretch who cou'd throw
away his or her life and all that life
meant for bits of gold and stones and
little wicked money Can you be-
Iievc itf Peter was crying. and in two
minutes he had confessed to the theft
and had placed his spoils in my
hands.
.'fsow,'' he said recklessIy. ''have me
locked up if you want to. What do |
carer"
There sat with the cleaning stones
in the lap of my gngham dress,
Peter" | said firmly, "te!I me all
about It," and he did. He had been
raised that way" thar was all; taught
to steal from his cradle. And Peter
was seldom suspected, his apparent
stupidity saved him.
.We usually work the summer
places. he explained doggedly, "the
rooms are so easy to reach and folks
always have jewery with them" I"
"We?" ! asked. Peter nodded dumb
~.
"You mustn't tell this part" he said
at last. ''my mother goes along first
to find the things. She tells me where
I can lay hands on them. Mothers a