The Glenwood post., 1923-07-12

ing on how we could help you. I
can see one thing we'd better do-that
ID, look out that you don't take cold,
entertaining us in a room that don't
get any sun. Here, let me put this
little shawl round your shoulders.
You mustn't take any chances. you
know"
Without waiting for assent, she
snatched the crocheted shawl from the
table and proffered 1t to her hostess.
And Mrs. Percy. the spoiled. the
waited-on, was instantly Modified.
She accepted the service with muir
INJURED gratitude
No sooner had Mrs. Penf1eld re-
sumed her seat, however, than 1t was
Mrs. Percy who did the springing.
She came to her feet with a ponder
GUS agility very different from her
previous manner.
ugh! Ugh! The nasty thingl"
she screamed. "Ohl Obi Take 1t
off! Obi There's two Of It'll Take
it"
Mrs. Sanders plunged to the rescue.
With careless gesture, Mrs. Penfield
swung in ahead Of her. ''Ill do It,"
she announced in tone Of renuncia-
ton with which one takes the inttta-
tive in perilous enterprise.
Help mel" cried Mrs. Percy. "They
stick. Take the shawl"
With her left hand she was trying
to disengage from the fuzzy shawl
first one and then the other of two
small caterpillars.
"Well. I declare to goodnessr' ex-
claimed Mrs. Penfield safely. Her
hands were busy with the shawl, but
in some way. not explained, 1t had
become entangled in the buttons Of
the green sweater, and it was not
steadily grew.
aThey must have come in the win
dow. can't stand the nasty little
things. Oh-oh. take 1t of. Tear it
anything! Oh-oh. good heavens
look, lookl"
Her shaking finger pointed at Mrs.
Penfield herself. and two curious
things at once became evident. One
was that Mrs. Percy was using her
right hand; the other. that an active
caterpillar was excursioning up the
front of Mrs. Penfelds dress.
"Wen, did you everl' interjected
Mrs. Penfeld.
But at this point Mrs. Percy de-
cided that caterpillars were after her;
and her nerves gave way. With
shrek, she wrenched and tore at the
shawl. using both hands indiscrimi-
nately. Fairly beside herself, she
stormed about the room, forgetful Of
feet that dragged, Of legs that refused
to be supple. She shivered and
screamed and fought the air with
nervous lashing of both arms. Her
dark eyes shot mad glances in every
direction, searching for more cater
pillars
II know what 'tis." she howled.
"It's pest. We're going to be over
run. They'll come in the doors and
windows. And I hate the crawling
things. Oh, what shall we do7 What
shall we"
Suddenly she stopped. Her arms
dropped. She had become conscious
OF the interested, Significant gaze of
her guests-a gaze that reminded her
Of many things.
"Ugh" she cried. "Ain't this aw-
full? I'll suffer for it later"
Mrs. Sanders clasped her hands fer
vently. "Oh. I'm so glad 1t happened
There amt no more caterpillars
here; I've looked. And they-they've
brought you out Of It."
Mrs. Percy gasped. 1T vast was
only superhuman-"
mo, Mrs Percy" broke in Mrs
Penfleld brightly. II been watching
how you did 1t, and 1t was just as
natural as could be. You'll find It'll
be permanent-mark my words. It's
plain as can be that the whole trouble
was nerves getting wound up, on ac-
count Of worrying, mebbe; and they've
unwound now. Any doctor'd tell you
that you've limbered up to stay. Why,
don't you b'lieve it7 Well, then, TIL
tell you what: we'll have doctor in
to tell you himself We amt going to
have you fretting over something
that don't really all you"
Mrs. Percy looked at her helplessly,
with moldering fire In her black
eyes, Much you know about It. I
expect It'll come back
mo. 1t won't" said Mrs. Penfield
firmly. 'f 1t does, we'll have the
doctor, cause The Custard Cup amt
going to see you suffer 'thout helping
you out. We're your friends"
"Oh-oh, yes, r."
A bright look flashed across Mrs.
Penfield's face. "Oh, won't Lorene be
happy? 1 can't wait to tell her. And
now there amt nothing standing in
her way. Doesn't 1t seem like a provi-
dence that you said you wouldn't OBJ
| ject any more ifI'
Il didn't say interposed Mrs.
Percy hotly.
Mrs. Sanders' eyes were very wide.
"oh. yes, you did, Mrs Percy. /
| heard yOu"