Evening star., 1922-07-23


soIutely.
No. ma'am.' says she. Il don
sit no dinner at night for nobody. Il
amt natural. And what time do yot
think I'd git home. Miss Dodge, aftel
id washed up all them dishes ano
harnessed old Jess and drove three
miles? Dinner at seven O'Clock
Huh, Who ever heard of such
thing?"
NV error" says I. IF it's some
thing that isn't being done in New
Hampshire. who am I to smash any
ronored traditions? Just passing
fancy of mine, anyway. We VIII nave
supper, as you suggest.
at six o'clock, sun time, insisted
sdiry.
quite So" says /, with cold, dis
tant nod.
We have settled down to that basis,
Mrs. Jewett and 7. polite but friSio
neutrality. This has been the status
ouo ever since Sairy discovered that
Barry PIatt's fondness for playing
loud iazz records during mealtime
was simply a trick to drown out her
chatty monologue. Sairy had over
heard Barry chuckling about his sue
ces. to- Uncle Neis. He shouidn I
havo gloated. At least. he should
have been discreet enough to have
done his gloating in private.
That little slip very nearly cost US
our. entire domestic force. In fact'
Sairy did leave within an hour, tax
Ing daughter Millie with her. she
left fauntingly. in deep anger ana
for all time But she came driving
back again at 10 next morning IN
time to do the breakfast dishes.
don't mind saying we were glad
to see her. but I checked down my
Joy long enough to put a few things
plainly before Sairy. We could not
stand a constant running fire of con-
versation. either at meals or between
times. Mr.. Platt. I explained. was
writing a play in the attic room He
went up there to be as remote as
possible. Talking disturbed him. And
while | disliked to seem to criticize
any one for something they couldn't
help, the fact remained that Sairy's
voice. while pleasant and musical, did
nave a penetrating. cdii SiHS do"ii's
which was unusual.
Nobody" says Sairy. pointing her
nose scornful at the ceiling. ever
complained of my voice before; that
is. nobody but that wuthless Sam
.ewett."
And he ran away two years ago.
didn't he?' I asked,
True, that was rubbing it in. and
for days after Sairy was glum and
sullen. But it didn't get into. her
cooking. This particular supper was
one of her best efforts-vegetable
hash. contrived from the relics
Of Yesterdays boiled dinner. and
Drowned to just the right crispness.
with strips of fried salt pork on the
side: featherweight hot biscuits, with
new apple sauce. and blueberry pie
that was dream.
90 we were all In thoroughly
~ satisfied and friendly mood when
there drifted in from the kitchen the
sound of hostile remarks. 1t was
nIain that Sairy's- tongue had broken
loose again.
"Now what's wrong" I asked
Mnie,
Tramp" says she. "Maw's laying
him out"
NO doubt about that" says ]. But
we've been so we'll nourished that
rant think of sending away some
kpoor wretch that's really hungry.
must take look at him
And. sloucbed against the back
door. I found this shambling youth
with the scared. beaten look in his
hig brown eyes. He was wearing an
Rbsurdly small coat. trousers two
sizes too largo and a battered straw
hat Also he was amazingly dirty.
But he was too young to be regu-
lar panhandler and there was such
Searning in his glance at the remains
Of the hash that I simply couldn't
help feeling sorry for him. Espe-
ciaily as Mrs. Jewett was being SO
bitter in her remarks.
ought to be ashamed" she was
saving. "a great lazy hulk like you.
10 be beggin' food from honest, hard
workin' folks: and most likely steal
in anything you can lay your hands
on. Git along now. fore I set the
doc on von.'
But Sairy." 7 protested. perhaps
Rhe poor fellow is hungry. And
there's so much left over that"
i've never fed any tramps," says
Fairy, "and don't mean to begin
now" 50