Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-08-03
CHAPTER XIV
LettIe At.empts Hosni..l...

VI.
she put down her old suitcase on ~,
kitchen table and unbuckled fl.
straps. Look here, Uncle jerry. II,
bean splits"
They look IT." laughed the bic
man, as he inspected the beans which
were halved or otherwise disinte
| grated.
Yes, 1t was easy to name EN-. >
she agreed. Point IS, they don't cost
but half as much as the whole ones
and where's the dif'runce in nourisb.
ment? The whole beans there. only
not In one place. And I know way
to cook oil into beans so't the chill
dren don't taste II. and put In a nice
dash Of Indian neal and land. they
don't need nothing more to a sitting.
They get as nourished as they can
stand. You know q lot Of folks are
overfed."
Round hereY inquired Uncle
Jerry, with lazy ambiguity.
She faced him with flush on her
cheeks. Uncle Jerry, you don't
mean that the reason you don't-don't
take meals with US oftener isis"
Good Lord, no, Car'line." he ex-
ploded In amazement. "Ain't anything
would suit me better'n TO eat with you
all the time. but the work I'm trying
out is-it means irregular hours.
That's all, honest. Why, you don't
s'pose I'd be such a blsme-fool as to
criticize All is, II kind o. gets me
TO think what family you came out
Of and the bringing up"
She lifted her hand quickly In a
gesture that brushed the past out Of
existence. Don't you know that's
why I can live this way and be happy
doing it? I've come to see that the
more possessions you can eliminate,
the better you can breathe and the
more time you got for other folks
and that's the main concern. amt it7'
"PIl be running along" said Uncle
Jerry. with a whimsical smile. Time
I get back you'll have yourself argued
out Of food and furniture. I expect"
mo, 1 won't" she laughed. 'T'n
make a stand for a certain amount
Of both, but I'm going to remember
that enough is all I want There's |
Perennial Prue," she added softly, as
she caught glimpse through the |
open front door, TOO bad you're
going of. You might"
"Well, now, II don't have to go
straight away admitted Uncle Jerry |
slowly.
Mrs. Penield gave him a sly glance, !
,ut made no comment 1t was begin /
hing to dawn upon her that Uncle
Terry admired Prudence Hapgood-
hat he regarded her as a superior
,eing. worlds removed from the sort
# existence which he had known.
Before her he was sometimes shy. al
rays awkward, always self-cOnscious-
le, the nonchalant, self-possessed
-erry Winston-and yet he stayed by
IRIS. Penfeld wondered.
Certainly Prudence was different
rom anyone else in The CuStard Cup.
he was like a quiet little rowboat
hat had strayed from its moOrings
nd had fioated into group Of varie-
ated craft. Always gentle and
friendly, she yet had the slightly
loot manner of one whose thoughts
re turned often inward. So far
rom being modified by her surround
,gs. she had brought her own world
ITO them and kept it intact. Her
arefully preserved silk gown: the
ne old lace around the neck and edg-
70 the sleeves; her sweetly sad
Disc: the calm expression OF her
res-these set her apart from her
aighbors. intangibly but undeniabiy-
She had brought a bit of crocheting:
RS Penfeld got out her sewing;
srry Winston neryOuSly protfered
me "reminiscences of the Oregon
oods-in the interests of pillow
ms: Lettie was quietly cutting pic I
res out of an old Weatherstone mag
inc Conditions were ideal for ,
cOnfab-when like a bolt
N OF the uiue. NoiN NdAAS NHsAt 49,
nslows baby had been taken ILL., q
ould Mrs. Penfeld come at once: b
course she would. :
you entertain Miss Hapgood. she y
minded her household. with a part
2 wave Of her hand. III come back L
soon's / can"
No one knew upon whom the mantie e
hospitality had fallen. Uncle Jerry y
came more communicative about D.
,es and out-of-doors strangely easier d
W that his niece was gone. Letie' o.
viewer understood that the honors q
re hers. When Penzie was away q
rely she was the next hostess ID
3 She put aside her pictures ana =
ected her mental energy 10 the
.stiop OF hospitality. 10
alnt much good she sai' ".
herself watching uncls Jerry, VINO pa
! e1pati,tlng on the value o. one -
|, pins. "We'd oughter feed h'' 90
Is don't think they''v bad t''p 81
u 10 your house 'icss they've a.. en
= decision nas eemeuied py "s N
49,. tla...r.aI had ITTHIIH HI