The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-06-08
The Clstard Cup
FLORENCE BINGHAM LIVINGSTON
ce
CHAPTER xIx-contInued.


CHAPTER xix-contInued.
D.
Mrs. Weatherstone's eyeIids lifted
with involuntary surprise. Mrs Pen
field smiled. but made no explanation.
Experience In q wealthy family had
given her this knowledge, but she al
lowed the information to stand alone,
~ Mrs. Weatherstone would have
done.
''Td only just begun to iron the
hangings," continued Mrs. Penfield
presently. She held up 4 length Of
rose silk embroidered in a scattered
design Of self color. Mrs. Weather
stone stripped on her glove and felt
of the material. She shook her head.
II wouldn't have believed 1t could
be done. It's marvellous. Do you
this and the spread In the water, as
you would white embroideries
Land, no. I'd have ruined 'em that
way for sure. / washed 'em with
bag"
with a. Did you say a bag?"
yes, like this one" Mrs. Penfield
produced from the cupboard small
bag of muslin, half filed with a soft
substance.
Mrs. Weatherstone felt of that. too,
but was still puzzled.
'Ts 1t something that you buy7"
Mrs. Penfeld laughed. ooh, no, 1
make 'em myself. It's a mixture of
grains and"
-Stop" cried Mrs. Weatherstone,
throwing up her hand In gesture of
quick authority. 'Don't you tell me
what's In It,"
why not7 I'd just as soon you'd
know as not"
''Don't you tell -me-or anybody else.
Don't you tell soul what's in it,"
Mrs. Penf1eld gazed at her In silent
bewilderment
you remember what say. Keep 1t
to yourself"
81 don't see why" said Mrs. Pen
field slowly. TITS just something I
worked out, and it's been wonderful
for the children's dresses. I can keep
Bingham as bright as ever-if 1t amt
faded to begin with. l stumbled on it
first by accident, and then l expert
mented till I got the right ingredients
and proportions and"
"Thats just It," nodded Mrs Wealth
erstone, land you've worked out a
method that is ahead of the CONNER
eial methods. You keep your own com
sci till talk with a man 1 know who
owns a chain OF laundries. I'll have
him come to talk with you"
A flash of gratitude lighted Mrs.
Penfield's brown eyes. "Oh, If 1t could
be worth somethingl" she stammered
'T never had thought of that And I
thank you. I always knew you were
kind"
Mrs. Weatherstone's glance Travelled
briefly around the bare kitchen; rest
ed on Lettie, who had followed silent
1y; skipped to Thad, who had padded
IN from the yard. :. She bit her lips,
as II an unwelcome conclusion about
her own thoughtfulness had forced its
way into her mind.
I'm sorry I was impatient, Mrs
Penfield." she apologized, as they went
back into the living-room, "but never
dreamed you were so skillful." She
was fastening her scarf as she spoke.
ooh, do wait a minute, please"
begged Mrs. Penneld "That sounds
like Crink's whistle. He'd be so glad
to meet you'll"
Crink came in at the big door, Crink
In the turned overcoat, pulling of his
shabby cap. Lettie and Thad In their
thin cotton, were dressed according to
the sunshine and the really mild tenn
perature; but Crink, coming In contact
with the outside world, was dressed
January, nominally winter.
"This Is Crink," said Mrs. Penfeld,
proudly. "Crink, amt it grand to see
Mrs. Weatherstone
II should sayl' Crink stepped for
ward eagerly. Il wanter thank you for
this here overcoat. Gee, it's dandy
1t was pretty good last winter, but
now't Pennies turned 1t, amt nobody
got better"
"You turned Geraldine's coati" muir
INJURED Mrs Weatherstone. "Why.
never should imagine it wasn't new"
Drawing on her glove, she became gra-
ciously conversational. "Crink, my |
dear, is 1t possible that you and Lettie
are twins7 You're about the same
size, but your coloring is SO difrerentl"
No, ma'am, we amt twins. I'm most
- but don't know how old Lettie Is. |
vba- Eould you say, Penzle?"
81 e~nS6t Lettie's younger" smiled
Mrs. Penf,eId a few months,
likely. And you know soSs
more or less bout your age, too.
innate ages'll do very well for all three
of you. There's heap of things more
important"
Mrs. Weatherstone paused with her