Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-06-08
CHAPTER TX
Where Ell Caesar ed

pink sweater had not been worn. It
was sometimes looked at, reposing In
a paper wrapper in the cleanest apple
box-Monday morning with high hope,
Saturday night with black despair.
once Lettie had picked her way gin
gerry through five days of behavior
that might have been recorded with
gold pen on pearly page-and
then, presto! Humanity Imps
Cataclysm! Once her impetuous feet
had trod the narrow way up to and
including Saturday noon. The goal
was IN sight. Miss Lettie staged a
War-dance In premature celebration,
caught her ragged sleeve In the handle
of a saucepan on the stove, dragged
1t over the edge, deluged the kitchen
with precious soup stock, soaking in
delibly into the rough board floor.
Lettie's contrition was always i'm.
mediate and sincere, but it lacked that
element of projection which might
have fastened into the future and In
sured better things. Nevertheless, it
was a difficult problem to discipline
her. She had an unfailing perception
of right and wrong, and knew at any
moment which side of the fence she
was on. She never denied; she never
ran away; she never excused. On the
contrary, she stood by in the thickest
Of the disaster, often very thick In
deed, and rent the atmosphere with
shrill confession 81 done it; done it."
1t was the purest futility to call her
attention to the fact that she had
sinned; Lettie forestalled such action
by her lightning metamorphosis into
the sinner who repenteth and is
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, obyi-
ously carries with 1t implications
which cannot be sponsored; and in
consequence Mrs. Penfeld was often
merely a silent and puzzled spectator,
standing by while Lettie put herself
through 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-
ton that should translate the frenzy
of wrong doing into a frenzy of tor
ture.
Opposed to all rules was Mrs. Pen
fields attitude Of neutrality, as Of a
detached onlooker. You're too easy"
said Mrs. Wopple. You'll be sorry
when it's too late" declared Mrs. Cat
terbox. But Mrs. Penfeld only
smiled at them gently, with q far
away look in her eyes which they re-
scented, because it showed that their /
carefully pointed criticism had failed
of its aim.
ard punish her If she'd give me .
chance" she admitted, "but when she
does 1t herself, l can't-'thout heap
ing 1t up double. Besides, If fell
ler's conscience has stirred up fight
in his own soul, anybody that takes
a hand from the outside Is only put.
ting himself on record as meddler"
So the fight was Lettie's, and thus
far the victory had lowered in sus'
pension, occasionally glimpsed, but
elusive and inclined to fly high.
Ironically enough, the greatest 3D.
stacle in her path Of virtue was Dir
Wopple. He acted as a reagent'
drawing out and precipitating all the
worst in her nature.
BY a curious instinct, they were
both conscious Of a fundamental an
complicated Oh Mr. WOpples
side By the irresistible desire n
start something. Turned loose In
nenagerie, he would have entertained
himself by thrusting sticks between
he bars Of cages. that he might gloai
,ver the torture Of animals deprived
II the power 10 give him fne retalia'
ion be deserved. He was naturally
. batter Of beasts and in i.ethe be
ound O most satisfactory subject fN
Us Ingenuity,
u hate him. declared Ieftie &
tamplng Der foot u hate himF
ne eased her armful OF drlfiwood +
0Nn on me accumulation ~ the cor r
Nh mo sirplahiened up Nlrl ierf Z
M hlaet eyes Aashlng
Mrs. ponheld sailing me stew foi B
neh, smiled ~ hef oomposeA'i
Jnaff one ihlng soy goa 'o fe' 0''' Il
.flifN