The Glenwood post., 1923-06-07

lAOAACs 1ASA ShAAhNAPulAol AAou SuOce5
and stockings was no affair of recent
date. With the mere substitution of
trife of fringed grass for her scrap
Of shredded cotton, Lettie might ap-
propriately have punctuated the peb-
bly, beach Of a sunny island In the
South seas.
Mrs. Penfeld. feeling her way in a
situation which she was far from un.
derstanding, took refuge In general
hospitality.
"Slt right down here, Lettie," she
Invited cordially, showing along tub
of soaking clothes and wiping the
bench free of spatters. 81 guess
likely you're friend of Crink's, amt
your
The cautious Lettie was not pre-
pared to say. She took the offered
seat, but Immediately fixed her wary
eyes again upon her hostess.
"Do you live somewhere round
here, Letter? inquired Mrs. Penfleld
gently.
No answer!
Crink. wriggling uneasily by the
uUtLp LClt lhut lllC udU come 10
talk up his exhibit.
"She's awful strong. Penzie. Amt
any bulldog stronger'n she is, by
cracky!"
Lette visibly expanded, wrapping
this tribute about her as lady might
her silken robes. For the first time
her gaze vanderbilt busy sauce
pan on the stove from which issued
savory odors no longer to be ignored
for the first time she spoke.
~rn stay to supper" she conceded.
with marked condescension.
"Sure you WILL" agreed Mrs. Pen
field warmly. Were going to have
grand parsnip stew"
Crlnk, vastly encouraged by the re-
ceptlon of the first point. proceeded
with another.
"Say. you oughter see Ten-Second
Lettie fight. l never saw nothing like
it-honest, 1 neverl She spits and
scratches and pulls and"
Lettle. immensely pleased. looked
brightly into Mrs. Penfield's face.
1--WE got a helluva temper" she ac-
knowledged placidly.
"Have you, nowr' inquired Mrs.
Penfleld conversationally. That's
good. Amt nothing can move things
Eastern temper. All you got to do is
to learn when to use 1t, else you're
likely to give the wrong thing a
shove"
Lettie was unwilling to allow even
this modification to dim the luster Of
her chief virtue. II don't leave moth
ing standing when get to going" she
continued; mot nothing, nowhere
nor nobody"
Having swept the earth clean of all
obstacles, Miss Lettie devoted her
whole attention to the saucepan,
working her thin nostrils after the
manner of hungry dog. Mrs. Pen
fields keen eyes took In this detail.
as she turned the final fold in a pill
low slip and ironed it fiat.
"Where you been living. Letter"
'Living7 Hain't been living.
been hanging out with two old women
old devils, both of EN-" Lettie,
totally at ease as the center Of fiatter.
ing attention, threw Off this informa-
ton with great carelessness.
"And your father and mother-do
you remember 'em at ALI"
Never had none" With scornful
grunt, Lettie repudiated all natural
connections.
''Yes, you did. Course you"
shut up" flashed Lettie, turning
on Crink In wrath. "Shut up! Don't
you dare to sass me-"
Never mind, children" said Mrs
Penfield, setting her iron on the back
Of the stove "'Tain't always mat.
ter that amounts to much. Don't no
body stay long at the starting-point
question is, what's he doing right this
minute7 Land, II amt most for
getting that I got cornbread In the
oven! Amt 1t wonderful we're hay
Ing an extra-special supper just the
night we got companyY'
yeah" rejoiced Crink, claspinl
one foot and dancing around on the
other. "And say, amt 1t grand tn;
way she fights at you? Say, Penzie-'
He came to the floor on both feet ant
stopped to wheedllng. "Don't yo,
think she's bad 'nough off so't we car
keep herT
Mrs. Penfleld, down on her knee,
in front Of the oven, was critically ex
aminlng the cornbread. "Well, l.
She glanced over the oven door al
her guest. "Would you like to sta!
and live with us. LETTER.
II she had feared an impetuous &C
ceptance, she must have been imme
diately relieved. With highl,
trained big toe, Iettie was engaged II
loosening a silver in the rough boart
floor. and not until she had finished
this fascinating operation did sh'
make any reply whatever. II dom