Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-06-10
Popcorn
Queen
By r. RAY BAKER

e. 1sfE, ~ Mcclure EsHspap-r IS Ldleste'
AS the little roadster rounded the
curve near the tiny house tie wheels
ceased to spin so rapidly.
''Ihis would be q good time." re-
marked Ted Marshall, ITO call on
the popcorn queen. What do you say,
Madgef'
M7dge Hol5rook turned q glance
on him IN which the presence of ir-
ritation might have been noted had
there been more light.
Popcorn queen" she said, with
q tinge of asper.ty in the tone. DO
you mean old Mrs Quentin? What a
name to apply to her Ted, you
must have popcorn on the brain.
You're eating it or talking about it
all the time. Some day you'll have
q ruined Stoma ch because of It. Don't
you know that popcorn will destroy
your appetite, consuming it by the
barre the way vou do?"
Tee lad brought the roadster to
q stop in front of the tiny house,
which perched on q green terrace,
peeking over q group Of rose bushes
and between the tendrils Of a -four
fishing vine.
Popcorn is an appetizer for me"
he replied. Il Just can't seem to get
enough of It. Yes, Mrs. Quentin is
the popcorn queen. You see she used
TO be neighbor TO US over in Val
ley City and / call On her now and
then to renew acquaintanceship-a
to consume q big bowl Of popcorn
which she always prepares. She and
her husband, who works at the saw
mill, are perfect fiends for popcorn
AS bad as or worse than I. ] prom
ised I'd bring you for call some
time, so let's stop now"
Madge shrugged her shoulders and
adjusted her cape.
"All right, I'm willing, because it's
rather chilly and this will be an OPP
portunity to get warm. But don't eX
pect me to eat any corn. You know
detest It. It's bad enough to sit
around and watch a lot Of others I'll
up Oh it-apd hear them, tOo-with-
out being Obliged to take a hand in
the performance. Remember, we can't
stay long"
Mr. and Mrs Quentin were quaint,
kindly old souls, both with beaming
rudy faces, and they extended a
hearty welcome to the wayrarers. The
man Of the house smoked corncob
pipe while his wife busted herself in
the kitchen, and the two young people
sat about the fireplace blaze, which
was glowing red, and discussed wealth
er. motion picture stars and congress
with the genial old gentleman. In the
kitchen could be heard a staccato re-
frain like tile voice Of machine gun,
and presently Mrs. Quentin hustled in
to the parlor with four heaping bowls
OF fluffy white kernels which she pro-
ceeded to distribute.
I'm sorry, Mrs, Quentin" said
Madge "but 7 Lever sal it. 1t looks
tempting. but really don't care FOR
it,"
Heaven sakes, gin" deplored the
hostess, Tut you certainly do miss
q lot IN life"
When the roadster had resumed its
rolling on the road Madge remarked:
"Nice people, but that popcorn eat
ing session nearly drove me wild"
"yum, yum" said TED, smacling his
lips, Il can taste 1t yet. Madge, you
must learn to like popcorn. BY the
way, have you decided yet when we
are to get marrled?"
Don't you think" she said finally,
shat 1t would be nicer for YOU to
learn to unlike popcorn, seeing that
I have no use for it? And. as for
marrying you, l haven't thought seri-
ously about it. In fact, marriage
doesn't worry me at all You're a
nice enough friend, Ted, except when
you're eating popcorn, but really you q
never do for husband. Let's talk
about the weather
But Ted was insistent. Perhaps the
harvest moon, rising over the eastern
hills, had something 70 do with it.
"But you can give ma little hope
can't you Madge? You know, I'm go
ing away to the city-.to get rich,
hope. and l want something to look
forward to-"
The MOONLIGHT was not sufficiently
bright to reveal the whimsical little
smile that played about Madges red
lips.
"rhis much I'll promise, Ted" she
Saio. when consent to eat popcorn
I'll consent TO marry you"
In the TWO years that Ted spent
in the city ne did not amass wealth
but he managed to obtain nice little
nestegg. The city was a long way
from the village If Gregory and his
business prevented any visits home
until the termination Of those two
years. Ee carried on a regular CORE
spondence with Madge and occasion
ally asked her whether she hat
learned 70 like popcorn, to which he
always received Il negative answer.
When Ted came home for his FIRST
vacation he made the trip in a new
roadster. It. was early in the fall
and he and iadge enjoyed a number
OF rides along the roads which were
familiar 10 them. The weather was
warm witt bright sunshine, and the
tours we're made more attractive By
fha tnuiti .cOIorpd Autumn leaves that