The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-06-15
CHAPTER xxI-centinued.

Mrs. Wopple turned to 10. swell
I'll run In just as soon's you get your
apple boxes moved I'll want to see
how you're gettin' on. And say, Mis-
Penfeld, even II yeur stock goes up,
you won't never forget what close
neighbors we been, will youT"
mo. Mrs. Wopple, never promised
Mrs. Penfield warmly.
Amusedly she admitted to herself
that Mrs. Wopple had not been FAR
wrong about the apple boxes. which
had served the family for multifarious
purposes during the months that were
past. 1t was different now-or would
be tomorrow. Mrs. Penfeld had de-
cided to purchase few pieces Of fur
niture, to be paid for In installments
and to form the nucleus OF a real
home, real In appearance rs well as
In spirit.
She was about to set forth on this
errand when man In livery turned
the crank in the erstwhile barn-door
at Number AZ and delivered letter
to Mrs. Penfield. She opened the
letter wonderingly and read 1t twice
before she could comprehend Its mean
ing. 1t was written on heavy white
paper, with Mrs. Weatherstone's ad-
dress engraved
Dear Mrs. Penfield:" 1t ran. "Will
you do me the honor to accept a few
articles which l have gathered up
around the house in the course OF our
refurnishing and shall send to you to-
morrow? Think of them, please, as
the cooperation Of one mother with |
another for those who have no mother. |
If at any time you should hear Of any |
one else who is doing for forlorn chill
dren a service similar to your own,
will you kindly let me know?
Sincerely yours,
ANNETTE WEATHERSTONE."
Mrs. Penfeld dropped the letter ard
sat for a long time, thinking. Mrs.
Wealth stones got real feelings" was
the thought uppermost in her mind.
"She knows l wouldn't accept any
thing for myself, and she knows can't
refuse things for children that amt
my own. Between the two, l don't
sees | can do anything except to
thank her best / know how
Mrs. Penfield would never forget
the lean days between Christmas and
New Years. AS never before she had
realized by how frail shield she was
protecting three children from want
and suffering. A slight disturbance In
the established routine could reduce
them to immediate distress, and as
rapidly as feasible she must accumu-
late an emergency fund which would
possible.
She was realizing too, that with
,very year now, the children would le-
require a greater outlay,
they were to have the equipment
o which they were entitled-the ordl-
lary advantages, the training for some
'articular work, the clothing which
ould not always be homemade. Both
d her own home and here In The Gus
ard Cup she had dealt with young
she had not by experience J
truggled with the Increasing demands
It'll Increases In years.
Mrs Penfeld gave up her shopping
Ian and took off her hat. She must :
ait till the nature of the few arti-
es" was disclosed before she could Z
,iecr the things which would BIO most
seded. Z
she had, however, taken tbs letter
literally that she was wholly IN
Of
IN the following morning. II was evil
mt that Mrs. Weatherstone's courte-
Is eve had taken In the outfit of Z
,ple boxes as thoroughly as had the .
ore critical gaze Of Mrs. Wopple. 1t u
as also evident that she had made
.r selections with more discrimina- II
nm than had occurred with the as r
gnments previously bestowed upon
umber AZ. III
The four beds and the bedding OF
SO the four mattresses, so comfort CT
de that they logically necessitated o.
e alarm clock which was found tick u
o. In a small box-were suspiciously .
sw. but everything else bore evidence OF
having been used, fact which made n
e gift the pleasanter. III
II was astonishing how quickly and
these furnishings were n
ted into the fat which had been Mrs. Ju
,nders'. The two large plain rugs
the living-room and dlning-room, m
q small rugs in the bedrooms, the nj
IDS, small dining table, plain Sc
airs, rocking chairs, to say nothing
set of blue dishes and box OF ~
ated silver There were curtains tn
at could be changed to mt; dresses SO
ID coats that could be remade, There W
ere four pictures In plain frames.
hen Mrs. Penfeld had unwrapped lu
EN-. she stood back with her nnger al
essIng out the smile on her lips. b
.AIl right" she acknowledged I'M DC
r her breath. 'As Lettie would say,
ret you, Mrs. Weath'stone." M
The pictures went up. and the tin Sc
n labels went down together with
q lifeiike bananas and the vigorous IL
man who advocated cigarettes. de
The installation of Bonnie Gerald &c
e was one of the first ceremonies TO Or
FIsI