The Glenwood post., 1923-07-12

ssS.ss!!y - - ~
Mrs. Pereys EyeIids Dropped Mourn
fully.
three ladies were thus enabled to be
seated.
'how are you FEELING todayT' in
Quired Mrs. Penfield briskly.
i,rs Percy shook her head. I've
got my warning" she replied lugubri-
ously.
"Warningl" echoed Mrs. Penfield.
Good land, what do you meanT'
Mrs. Percy's eyelids dropped mourn
fully. II mean the forerunner Of the
the end"
"Oh, nonsense, don't believe It."
cheered Mrs Penfeld. whats wrongT
You couldn't have been using your
eyes" returned her hostess, in an ag-
grieved tone. Maybe it doesn't show
in my face-yet, but it's strange II
you didn't notice the way walked.
My right foot drags. can't scarcely
use my right arm at ALL"
"How long have you had itT'
one morning."
II s'pose you've seen a doctor" sug-
gested Mrs. Penfield.
Mrs. Percy sighed heavily. "No
need. he couldn't tell me more'n l
know. I've just got to wait-and grow
steadily more helpless. The hardest
part of It is Lorenes leaving. I shall
be alone, and can't do for myself
now. Troubles always come together.
I've been set against Lorene's mar
rying from the first. She might wait
while before she plunges; probably
she'd marry better If she did"
Mrs. Penfield appeared to be pom
dering the situation. II thought you
felt that way, Mrs. Percy, but that's
slight trouble compared with your
sickness, amt it7'
Eyes. Of course, but"
"I'll just bet" exclaimed Mrs. Pen
field with conviction. that If you
could use both your arms and legs all
right, you'd feel that was the main
thing. What Lorene done would be
so small point you wouldn't scurcely
care which way 1t went, would your
Mrs. Percy opened her mouth :
closed 1t again.
Mrs. Penfeld's brown eyes grew
VIDE in a stare Of innocent surprise.
"Why, land, you don't mean to tell
me-for goodness sakes. Mrs. Percy.
II your body was all right again,
| wouldn't you be so thankful that
you'd be more'n willing Lorene should
leave you for life Of her ownY'
A slight flush colored her hostess
heavy cheeks. "Why. yes, Of course"
she acknowledged stiffly. II should
feel very different in that case"
Mrs. Penfield nodded condolingly.
Yes. I guess you would. Health's
the main thing. Little troubles don't
seem no bigger'n specks when big
trouble comes long to measure 'em
BY"
Mrs Percy grabbed this statement
with vehemence. "I don't know much
about little troubles, myself. I've
had big ones, one right after another.
haven't never been reconciled to Mr..
Percy's going. Doesn't seem right for
a man to die because he was brave.
way he did. He was a police officer,
and he was shot while making an ar
rest. 1t was reckless, the chance he
took It wouldn't seem so hard If he'd
Just been sick and died of it."
"Oh, you'd have felt 1t Just as
much" began Mrs. Sanders.
acbood Mro DoVAa1d.
as tits, you've got something to be
proud Of. I've always thought I'd
rather mourn for man that was
brave than cook for a man that's q
coward"
Mrs. Percy, repudiating this conso
lation tossed her head In some Of
fense. IT didn't mean 1t would have
been easy In any event. The thing
after all. that makes me miserable Is
my broken life. When you've had ter
years Of married happiness, you dom
get reconclled to giving 1t up"
Mrs. Penfleld gazed at her dream
lily. "No, not reconciledl Being re
signed to ev'rything is pretty goot
sign Of moral prostration. But there'i
one thing you got to remember: Il
you had ten years of happy married
life, you had exactly ten years more
than lot Of women have. and you't
oughter be thankful for 1t, long with
your mourning"
Mrs. Percy's lips came together
with snap. An uncomfortable 81
lence spread over the room. pressing
conversation out Of existence. Mrs
Penheld. fearing that she had beer
TOO outspokeA, sprang up briskly, will
the thought Of breaking the tension.
you mustn't imagine I'm unsympa
thetic, 'cause underneath 1 been study