The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-05-23
Twenty Years
After
by MARTHA WILLIAMS

4Herelore Aunt Mary calle0 10 mel
through the open window. please
honey, run over and ask Madame
Thompson If she can lend me spool
Of black silk. Tell her she shall have
1t back tomorrow asked the mail
man to fetch me lot, but can't walt
for It,"
II think you'd better" Coralie half
sang, not stirring from her knees be-
side the carnation bed. "She won't
sleep tonight fearing she won't get IT.
AS Christian lady you ought to have
thought of that"
Mink! That means you're too busy
with those flowers" Aunt Mary re-
torted smiling. She had achieved her
end-dIverted the girl from the worry
ing thought. She really could make
out without the black silk-much bet
ter than she could endure the lifting
notes that were like Joy flnging def
ance to sorrow.
''They tell me stories-right now
I'm In the middle Of GREATNESS one"
Coralie retorted without turning her
head. But after two minutes she got
up, saying with downcast eyes: "rIl
go-if you really" stopping there
with the faintest possible grimace.
"Never mind" said Aunt Mary, I'D
rather you made some tea cakes. I'm
too busy-and if-if company comes
like to have some to hand round"
'Shut up, schemer!" Coralie said
f116ntffu11r ffVon5u horo vanr frnuhla
for your pains; the company you're
limiting at isn't coming here ever any
more"
Indeed And why not?" sharp and
short from Aunt Mary.
Granny has found somebody with
the price of him-that's whyl" from
Coralie. Miss Benecia Benja min
with tons of money and half ton Of
nose. I hear. Also, I hear. inclined
nightly to marriage-which is a SIAN
der or an appreciation, according to
the way you listen"
"Who told your" Aunt Mary's voice
was dangerously low. cousin Nan,
while we were getting the peaches this !
morning" Coralie flung back. "All |
agog over it-said Bonnie was coming |
to stay a fortnight-gets there tomor
row afternoon-hence Nine. Thompson |
hoped we'd go light on our peaches, |
SOS to make 'em last while she had |
such company. I thought that almost
mpudent-considering we give the
fruit, rather than sell it"
"Well stop that foolishness-short,"
Aunt Mary burst out. Coralie shook
finger at her, saying: 1--WE will not
She shall have all the orchards best
and then some. Remember, l know
the way to the hill orchard that has
finer fruit than ours-and bit later"
"H-m! Suppose you're making
your plans to be bridesmaid" Aunt
Mary interjected with lofty scorn.
Coralie nodded with a smile that
melted suddenly into hard bitten lips,
through which she said presently in
breaks: you and Dad have brought
me up 10 be a good loser, aunty.
iarlingl I know you wouldn't have
ne be less-in the face Of this"
She had grown loving Lacy Field,
|
leir, who had, however, nothing in his
,wn right. His parents had been
Happy spendthrifts throughout their
,rief life together. so the boy had
acked equally the bardenings of thrift
md the freedom Of riches. He had
lad whatever money could buy, but
llways under surveillance. Freedom,
nan will. was the one thing madame
lad denied him. Indeed she had lived
n and for him pretty well ever since
lie was born. Thrifty, almost to the {
egree of meanness all other ways. l
he had seemed to feel 1t a sacred
uty to indulge even his slightest wish s
there Indulgence had meant spending. |
{ spoke volumes for the fineness of S
is nature, the cleanness of his soul, I
hat the indulgence had left him I'M /
poiled.
She had made home for him in the l
ollege town throughout his course.
fterward she had cheerfully gone /
lobe trotting with him for two varied d
ears. She had been doubtful about I
oming home. The grass country would f
Gem stagnant backwater. she had c
cared. But to her joy Lacy reveled
1t. Possibly because it meant Cora {
a hundred times more S
larming than the slim, freckled slip |,
{ girl he had left. h
He had written her many letters, C
mt her many small, pretty gifts. Z
hat wonder that her eyes welcomed s
i'm even more joyously than her lips. s
: that she bloomed into a new and i;
ore exquisite beauty There had 6
zen no tiresome explanations. He p
i'd said over and over: o
"This is just the beginning. But well
ait bit Mustn't peeve granny after
| she has done for me. She can't re-
st you. Nothing human could. And +
her she understands that 1t is you &c
no have preserved me from the wiles II
several and sundry ladies whose Il
signs gave her bad quarters of an a
,ur she'll fall on your neck and make C
III thank offering of me. See II n
e don't. Meantime, ask Aunt Mary b
I may have four more sweet cakes" W