Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-07-20
CHAPTER XIII
Calamity Coal Oil

sion ana intercessiOn, Mrs. Percy had
raised no permanent obstacle. Lo-
rene's friends felt certain that her re-
lease from home rule was assured.
1t was the evening before the mar
rage ceremony. All the little Pen
fields had long since retired to their
sleeping-boxes and that they might
not be disturbed by the light, Mrs.
Penheld was sewing in the kitchen.
1t was late and she was very tired.
Twice she had caught herself nap
ping and had gone to the back door to
breathe in the fresh air and get thor
oughly awake again. The moon was
full; the sky was intensely blue ex-
cept where quilts Of white cloud we're
laid across it; the back yard was filed
with soft radiance that transformed
the ugly clothes-poles into slender
shafts of light.
What a beautiful world it Isl" she
said to herself. "And we all go so
fast that we don't haTa tyne to look
at 1t the way 1t is. I wonder why we
get fretted up over lot of pesky de-
tails that we forget all about In a
week, when the universe is calm and
happy. Looks like we amt in har-
mony with 1t. l wish l had time
No, l don't. What I wish is that
can stay awake and sew an oyercoat."
ResoluteIy she went back to her
chair and fitted sections Of the coat
together
Footsteps sounded on the board
walk. There was quick knock. The
door opened.
"Oh, l knew something would hap
pen. l just knew 1t would. And 1t
has. Oh-ohr'
Mrs. Penfeld sprang to her feet.
The voice was familiar, but she
would hardly have recognized. with
out this evidence, the figure that con-
fronted her.
'Lorenel" she gasped.
Look at mel" cried the girl Her
tragic tone emphasized her ludicrous
appearance. Her face and hands
were covered with fine SCOT, in fiecks,
in streaks; her fair hair was curiously
darkened. as if a thin black veil had
been drawn over it; her light blue
house dress looked greasy and soiled.
why, my dear, can see you've
had a little accident" said Mrs. Pen
field briskly, "but 'twon't take long
TO get you washed up again. I'll help
YOU. Oil heater, l spOse."
The girl nodded. "My-Mrs. Percy
lighted it and put it in my room. was
going to pack. She said I'd take cold
if the room wasn't warmed. And-and
when l went in a few minutes later,
| couldn't see The air was full Of
black everywhere of it
Oh, dear; oh, dear, what can dor
"Why, Lorene, I'll help. We"
Mrs. Penzie," shrieked the girl.
wringing her hands in distress. you
don't understand. Everything is ru-
med"
"Ev'rything?'
Eyes, everything. All my clothes
I had them all laid out, ready to pack
IN the bed, the chairs. The clothes
press was open. They're all black.
sticky. spo-oiled." She threw herself
N the wash bench and broke into
Wild sobbing. "Why. by the time I'd
,een in there two minutes-looh at
nel
"Oh, my dear" begged Mrs Pen
ield. don't cry. We've got to think
# something"
1--WE can't" walled the girl There
sn't ANYTHING to be-begin on. They
we're all there-everything l own in
he world, everything I've been saving
or all these mo-months." She lifted
er head and looked at Mrs. Penheld
nth streaming eyes. Eyes. l suppose
hey can be cl-cleaned, but there isn't
me before tomorrow. There isn't
-ti-time.v Her voice broke. "Dick
as his leave Of absence and the ne
ckets and all the de-details arranged
e can't put Il or and-and we can't
can't be m-m-married like this ear
:" She threw our her arms IN ges'
re OF h0pelessDess
MIS-. ltIUttN t'iti H't t'"tf""
nile as she gazed az the f0rlorp
.ide-elect, huddled on the Wash
.nch. TOO abject 90 realize her Own
,pearance az the moment o. 20 care
,out IL compared wit the greater
lamify az home.
eWhaf can DO, 1rs. fenzlef
az ask Dick 20 Jake mss IKE his
mo. dear, y0u arenf going tp e.s
nBeld puf her hands on one f'pf
builders and gaye her . gentle sna"
N pas hof reproof apd half faless
lab your nerve, l.oreneI anf Won
VA d Nay ouf " flis ~ 'nnf M
Ie alni nothing wolf Y'ia' N TN
M ihan 5000 and r.pielf J rffd'N
NJ s0ns io Ne maUai f0W0tn'
mn ID. s.Nnnl0d 1p1 al freaN Hnf
uy im sou M lNW n'Ni'W
n i.HHI lHN|
Nn .f4 NNi
ll.0 lh0 M mHH io .ln8f N nN
. I WN NW i0N INNl Nl
III .0N.Ila.If NNi .0f N0l Nl'Nf