The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-11-02
The Worm
Turned
Bv MARTHA WILLIAMS

well save our time, temper and wear
and tear by staying ut home. Not
man there will pay the least attention
to US unless she sulks and won't look
at anybody"
"Must be aggravatin'," Lem Lenox
bantered. Running against sixty
thousand-and father. 1t must be like
blufin' when the other fellow holds
four aces-and a pair Of bowie
knives"
"You go to Halifax" Lucinda flung
at him. Lem bowed grandly, saying:
"With all the pleasure In life-if only
I'm told what to go for"
"Heap of things you might try to
fnd-almost anywhere" Lucinda re-
turned acidly. "a civil tongue, for in
stance, and common decency; and not
to make fool of yourself-same as
oil the rest" +.
Dear me, I'm learning things. Un-
til now l didn't dream Halifax kept
school for all that" Lem returned,
shaking his head, but meekly: "Say,
Cindy," he ran on, ''let us plot against
the Endowed One. Seven sorts of a
fool in spite of her thousand-dollar
edjycashun she's forever talkin' about.
1t should be easy"
ut lsn't-just because she is such
a fool" Lucinda interrupted. Trick
ing her into maxim show of herself
would be the same az eggin' on an
idiot"
"Or even a widowe1 man" Lem
tw1nkled wickedly over the query. Lu-
cinda flung an apple at his head-be-
cause 1t was the thing handiest. He
caught II with both hands. saying
loftily: "Ah. ha, young person, I'm
getting on your curves. The white
haired one among Ewes daughters
that's what you must be-tempting
one thus with apples from the happy
paths Of folly"
"Quarrelin' as usuaI-you two! ]
wonder you haven't worn the tips off
your tongues at that game" Sue Da-
Wis Thompson hurled at them through
the opening door, following the speech
herself in a gale of laughter, and
thereby moving Lem to say: you for
get Sue Davis. rubber don't disinte-
CRATE In the strongest acid"
go to-Guinea," from Sue Davis.
Lem bowed gravely, saying: Delight
ed, but I'm already under orders for
Halifax. Ladies', settle it betwixt you
which It shall be-"
II say. you better go home-or to
heaven" Aunt Peg called from the
dining room, where she was setting
down cakes hot and spicy, fresh from
the oven. Lem shifted and sighed.
saying: my nose forbids-and al
ways I follow 1t. Peggy. darling, cain't
ye produce the cake of peacei Stop
our mouths with-what I'm smellin'-
and I'll murder the next one who
dares to speak a cross look"
Carried? Unanimously Sue
Davis shrieked. Aunt Peg came to the
door, glIstening white cake held In
both hands higher than her head. She
shook 1t and said. smiling and twin
killing: "Bait for your betters! Think
I'll waste 1t on you rowdy drap-shots7
No, stree, Bob! Billy Barlow can
eat every crumb of this; he's so cake
hungry, with a wife three months
buried. I'm aimin' to cut out Gorgeous
Jones with him. Cindy is such a stick
in-the-mud, she won't even try-and
do want that man In the family-his
life insurance is so handsome and he's
liable to make collection Of II easy
next time he gets real cussln' mad.
Then think Of the dignity-Mrs. Judge
Barlowl That alone II be worth this
cake and another"
"Peg, you mercenary wretch. Lem
exploded. Sue Davis couldn't speak
for laughing-even Lucinda was gig
Cling nearly as hard as she. 1t was
relief to hear lusty hallos at the
lawn gate, even though II meant
LENS ushering in Judge Barlow. red
and putting. Ruddy. massive. CULVER
ing when he walked. he smiled at all
hands, saying as he sank upon the
settee: "Now Of l didn't love every
body IN this house I'd have ye up for
keepin' sech pixen mean dogs
WOulOnt let ue COInc ulBH Tie yhru
gate, ner get back In my buggy.
Chased me inside the horse lot and
made me climb wagon and stood
there yappin' and snappin' and dancin'
like everything-"
II know. Cindy's trained 'em that
way" Lem interrupted gravely.
Aunt Peg hissed at him:
"Liari"
Sue Davis cried:
"Yes. she does, 1udgei" whereat
Lucinda, with the courage Of despera-
tion, nodded. saying little thickly !:
IT see I must explain. I'm trainin'
them. you see, to give to poor. dear
Gorgeous. We all know how she IL
bothered with all sorts and conditions
of men. Don't believe could count
her proposals since her old man died.
yet I'm pretty good at 'rithmetic over
ordinary things. Aunt Peg Is right
ashy over the way she takes all eyes,
and Sue Davis turns like a splitting
cat at thought Of her. Now. like her.
she's 80 naiye--almost snfantile-v
"Don't try to pull any Of that book
stuff." Lem managed to gasp. The
others were too stunned for speech.
The worm had turned with ven