The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-10-25

u was wondering about a coat" re-
marked Mrs. Penfield quietly, as If
her thoughts had never strayed from
this subject. "If only-if had
but mebbe you could"
Il can borrow a coat. And oh, l
wonder Yes, seel My hat was in
Its box and it's all right" Lorene
held up a small brown travelling hat.
That's fine. My, but you're lucky
girl, Lorene. Now you take part of
these things and well go back and
get to work"
But scarcely had they reached Num-
ber AZ when Mrs. Penfield reversed
her orders. "Ain't no need for you
to stay, Lorene. Washing is simple
thing for me, you know. and I'll en-
Joy doing something toward the occa-
sion. Besides, we might disturb the
children If you stayed. You run
along. You've got a lot of trinkets to
scrub up and your hair to wash. I'll
put these white things a-soak and
squeeze 'em out. They can be ironed
later"
Lorene hesitated. IT hate to have
you, buff set the alarm and come
over real early, you'll leave the iron
ing for me, won't you? And 1t wouldn't
disturb your"
Dear child, you can't disturb me.
Come over as early as you like"
Lorene kissed her gratefully and
went.
Mrs. Penfield started up the fire
and strung the kitchen with many
lines of heavy twine. Contrary to her
careless protestations, the task ahead
of her was by no means simple.
Diversity WAS Its keynote. Some OF
the things required hot water, some
cold, some lukewarm; some demanded
soap, some could not survive 1t. Lace
had to be ripped out and cleansed
separately. The blue silk was put
through water that had been made
milky by one of Mrs. PenHeld's washing
bags devices Of her own for the laun
dering of delicate colored fabrics. The
two tubs were supplemented by pans
and basins. Rinsing, blueing, starch
Ing, all took time. Even the drying
was matter for constant supervision
constant rearrangement, owing to thu
uneven heat in the room.
When 1t came to the ironing, Mrs
Penfeld found the electric bulb too
far from the prescribed position O
her board; but by putting the LAM
on top of the cupboard, she was abl,
to get sufficient light to go on will
her work.
Day was breaking when Loren,
came around the house. Seeing TIL,
light, she went in softly; then stoppet
short in amazement The kitchen wa
hung with dainty garments, smoothl.
lroned, each on a hanger formed by
rolled newspaper and suspended by
string. Her eyes fell on three elabo
rate white blouses that she had no
realized Mrs. Penfield had taken. TIL
white georgette gown was like new
every one of Its many plaits presse
crisp and fiat; the lace that outline
the square neck was fresh and f1utet
The blue silk showed no slightes
trace of the evenings experience.
Mrs. Penfield was sitting on tn
edge of stool, her body crumple
forward, her cheek resting on tn
ironing board, her holder in her out
flung hand. She was asleep.
"And I let her do it," breathed tn
girl in contrition.
Mrs. Penfleld reused, in the mids
of her WEAKNESS sensing the presenc
Of another person. There were tire
shadows under her eyes, but sh
smiled brightly.
II guess I'm all through, Lorene.
was just resting minute"
Lorene sprang forward and thre'
her arms around Mrs. Penfeld's necl
She kissed the tired cheeks.
Mrs. Penfleld held her close. Flee
ing pictures jerked through her brai
of her own life, starting in promis
like Lorene's. breaking In despair q
she hoped Lorene's never would.
Dear little girl, may you be happy
always" she whispered. e
CHAPTER XIV