The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-10-11

g E
Mrs. Perey's EyeIIds Dropped Mourn
| fully. iN-t
sent a white crochete1 shawl from
third chair to a small table. The
three ladies were thus enabled to be
seated.
"How are you feeling todayw In
Quired Mrs. Penfield briskly.
Mrs Percy shook her head. 1--WE
got my warming" she replied lrgcbri-
ously.
"Warningr echoed Mrs. Penfeld.
Good land, what do you meanr'
Mrs. Percy's eyelids dropped mourn
fully. II mean the forerupper of the
the end"
"Oh, nonsense, don't believe it,"
cheered Mrs. Penfield. whats wrong?"
you couldn't have been using your
eyes," returned her hostess, in an ag-
grieved tone. Maybe it doesn't show
in my face-yet. but it's strange If
you didn't notice the way Wake
My right foot drags. 1 can't scarcely
use my right arm at ALL"
"How long have you had itY'
"Three days. II came on sudden
one morning."
"I s'pose you've seen doctor" sug-
gested Mrs. Penfield.
Mrs. Percy sighed heavily "No
need. He couldn't tell me more'n l
know. I've just got to wait-and grow
steadily more helpless. The hardest
part Of 1t is Lorenes leaving. ! shall
be alone. and can't do for myself
now. Troubles always come together.
I've been set against Lorene's mar
rying from the first. She might wait
awhile before she plunges; probably
she'd marry better If she did,"
Mrs. Penfield appeared to be pom
dering the situation. II thought You
felt that way, Mrs. Percy, but that's a
slight trouble compared with your
sickness, amt it?'
Eyes, Of course, but"
'Tll just bet" exclaimed Mrs. Pen
field with conviction. "that If you
could use both your arms and legs all
right, you'd feel that was the main
thing. What Lorene done would he
so small point you wouldn't scurcely
care which way 1t went, would your
Mrs. Percy opened her mouth
closed 1t again.
Mrs. Penfield's brown eyes grew
,, VIDE in a stare of innocent surprise
"Why, land, you don't mean to tell
me-for goodness sakes, Mrs. Percy
II your body was all right again
wouldn't you be so thankful thai
you'd be more'n willing Lorene should
leave you for life of her ownY'
A slight flush colcred her hostess
heavy cheeks. "Why. yes, Of course.
she acknowledged stiffly. "I should
feel very different in that case"
Mrs. Penfield nodded condolingly
, Eyes, guess you would. Health's
, the main tfiing. Little troubles dom
, seem no bigger'n specks when bis
BY"
Mrs. Percy grabbed this statement
!. with vehemence. II don't know mucf
about little troubles. myself. I've
had big ones, one right after another
haven't never been reconciled to Mr.
Percy's going. Doesn't seem right fol
a man to die because he was brave
!, way he did. He was a police officer
and he was shot while making an ar
i. rest. 1t was reckless, the chance hi
took. 1t wouldn't seem so hard If he't
/ just been sick and died of It,"
"Oh, you'd have felt 1t just al
much" began Mrs. Sanders.
"Yes," echoed Mrs. Penfield; "ant
as tits, you've got something to b'
! proud of. I've always thought II
/ brave than cook for man that's
= coward"
u Mrs. Percy, repudlating this conso
. lation. tossed her head in some Of
fense. II didn't mean 1t would hav
:, been easy in any event The thing
! after all. that makes me miserable
> my broken life. When you've had tel
= years of married happiness, you don
get reconciled to giving 1t up"
. Mrs. Penfleld gazed at her dream
. ily "No. not reconciledi Being re
!. signed to ev'rything is pretty goo
sign of moral prostration. But there
= one thing you got to remember:
:. you had ten years of happy marie
life. you had exactly ten years NOR
!. than lot of women have. and you
I oughter be thankful for 1t, long wit
your mourning"
n Mrs. Percy's lips came togethe
with a snap. An uncomfortable g
g lence spread over the room. pressin
> conversation out of existence. Mr.
e Penfeld. fearing that she had bee
f. too outspOken. sprang up brfskly. wit
d the thought Of breaking the tension.