The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-09-27


therefore entitled to the rejoicing of
the beholder. But to sit down and
rejoice over a little girl who has just
wrecked half of your kitchen, obvi-
ously carries with 1t implications
which cannot be sponsored; and in
consequence Mrs. Penfield was often
merely silent and puzzled spectator,
standing by while Lettie put herself
thro9yh the stages of revulsion, an
athena. and self-inflicted penance.
Never did Mrs. Penfield devise pun
ishments half so drastic as those which
were suggested by Lettie, who de-
lighted in methods of self-faggela-
tfon that should translate the frenzy
Of wrong-doing into frenzy of tor
ture-
Opposed to all rules was Mrs. Pen
fields attitude Of neutrality, as of
detached Onlooker You're too easy"
said Mrs. Wopple. you'll be sorry
when it's too late" declared Mrs. Cat
terbox. But Mrs. Penfield only
smiled at them gently, with a far
away look in her eyes which they re-
sented, because 1t showed that their
carefully pointed criticism had failed
Of its aim.
"rd punish her If she'd give me a
chance" she admitted. "but when she
does 1t herself. I can't-'thout heap
ing 1t up double. Besides, II a fell
ler's conscience has stirred up a fight
In his own soul, anybody that takes
hand from the outside is only put
ting himself on record as a meddler."
So the fight was Letties, and thus
far the victory had lowered in sus-
pension, occasionally glimpsed, but
elusive and inclined to fly high.
Ironically enough, the greatest OBJ
stacle in her path of virtue was Mr..
Wopple. He acted as a reagent,
drawing out and precipitating all the
worst in her nature.
By curious instinct. they were
both conscious of a fundamental an
tagonism, complicated on Mr.. Wopple's
side by the irresistible desire to
start something. Turned loose in
menagerie. he would have entertained
himself by thrusting sticks between
the bars of cages. that he might gloat
over the torture of animals deprived
Of the power to give him the retalia-
tion he deserved. He was naturally
a batter of beasts; and in Lettie he
found a most satisfactory subject for
his ingenuity.
'I hate him." declared Lettie,
stamping her foot. "I hate him."
She eased her armful of driftwood
down on the accumulation in the cor
ner and Strengthened up with jerk,
her black eyes flashing.
Mrs. Penfield, sailing the stew for
lunch. smiled at her composedly.
"That's one thing you got to get over,
Lettie."
The child stood still In the middle
of the kitchen and considered this
possibility. "I'll never get over It,"
she said slowly. Its in me to stay"
"Oh. no. it isn't" contradicted Mrs
Penfield mildly. "By and by your ma.
ture'l get widened out more, and all
the hate'n drain off naturally. The
only place that hate can live in is a
small dark hole where the sunshine
Of good nature never can find it.
You'd be s'prised, Lettie, to know how
easy tits to scare hate out of your
system. Why, If you SO much as let
a smile get near it"
Lettie came nearer her eyes shone.
"Say. Penzie, honest. do you like Mr..
WoppleT"
There are times when Truth is an
inconsiderate master. Follow him
faithfully. cheerfully, whole-heart-
edly: and all of u sudden he leads
you into an impasse, points a ma.
licious finger at you, and shouts:
Now what are you going to dor
Through the instrumentality of Let
tie, Mrs. Penfield was confronted by
difficulty. Evasion was no part of
her policy; neither would 1t have with
stood the unerring instinct before her.
Playing for time, she replaced the
cover on the saucepan and smiled
lazily. "Why. Lettie. evidently you
got the wrong Idea bout feelings. You
can't divide the world into folks that
you like and folks that you don't.
They're all the time hopping back and
forth over the line, from bad to good,
and from good to bad. Way 'tis with
me. I like most everybody 1 know"
And what do you do with the
others?" persisted Lettie mercilessly.
"Why. IL don't do nothing t all.
I'm willing they should live, cause
expect the Lord knows what he made
'em for, even If I can't see 1t. They
don't never bother me, Lettie.
don't scurcely pay much real 'ttention.
cause faint worth while"
Lettie looked at her solemnly. II
get you." she said briefly.
The worst Of it was that she did. In
unaccustomed silence she drew in the
advice with the implications that clung
to 1t, incubated 1t diligently. and in
few hours developed product which
she was able to use most effectively.
AS soon as she had wiped the lunch
dishes, she set out on a project
DlaDned in tha mOrninp and ppraIaf-