The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-04-10
fNCINERATFNG
III p PIE
BY GLADYS

hitCllSH WlnuOW OF the lower
apartment at 305 Winter street would
a Y beer amazed. Not at the window,
lor It's glass was crystal clear-it had
Deeh polished only the day before. Not
at the room, for neither it nor it's fur
hilure was remarkable in any way.
lie may have felt some surprise that
the tiny, dropping geranium in the
bracket or the wall could look so de-
Jectedly sick and yet persist in living.
II he had known Theresa better he
would have known that it was because
the corner was gloomy she had most
carefully selected the brightest red
geranium old Florist Dixon had, and
had hung it there to tighten the sur
rounding gloom. H~ard-hearted indeed
he would have been if he had expert
enceG no surprise, 40 flood of sympa-
thetlc concern, at the sight of Theresa
sobbing in abandonment of grief.
She was kneeling before the gas
stove, in the corner, her head buried
in her arms on a kitchen chair, Der
shoulders shaking. From the open
oven door came smoke and the I'M
pleasant odor Of burned foodstuff. On
the projecting rack of the stove sat
a black, charred circular object.
The close connection between Their
esa's grief and the reeking ruin on the
stove shelf would have been instantly
apparent to anyone who had looked
into the little kitchen a few hours ear
lier-old Mrs. Plummer, for instance,
Theresa's landlady, who had the fiat
above.
OF the brides who had in succession
occupied Mrs. Plummer's lower flat
until their finances permitted larger
quarters, or their increasing family
made it necessary for them to transfer
to larger quarters, Theresa was easily
her favorite. Intrigued at first by her
beauty, almost spectacular in its per-
lection, by the ebb and tide of the rich
color in her cheeks, by the sweep of
her feathery dark lashes, by the dim
pies that played in her cheeks, Mrs.
Plummer was held in the thrall Of
friendship by the younger woman's 10y
atty, her sincerity, her courage
whatever on earth are you doing.
child?" she had asked, as she came in
about noon. And Theresa had gayly
led her into the befloured pantry.
Il am literally immersed in making
1 pie, as you see and the high color
Of her joyous excitement showed
through the daub of -four on her cheek.
This is my pattern" she explained,
gayly. 81 bought it at the church food
sale yesterday. l had all sorts of trou-
bic hiding it from Walter when we
were coming home. Tell me, don't you
think he'll be surprised tonight? Can't
YOU just hear him smack his lips? Oh,
I'm so glad l thought to get a really
successful one to tear up and study. (.
This one is really a masterpiece, and :
trying hard to equal it.
apple pie is Walters favorite. l did
not realize until night before last how {
much he really liked pie. We were
having supper at his mothers and l
couldn't help envying her a little when Z
he complimented her pie.
"T'm almost afraid one pie is not
to be enough. l started to make +,
-wo, but decided it was better for the .
first time to concentrate on one. Don't
think 500" And Mrs. Plummer
so. {
Having watched the pathetically IN
movements for a few minutes,
he kind old soul had offered to finish
he pie for her.
"No, thank you, lear Mrs. Plum !
r. -, ,,,ito datarroionI RI raa1YH
t entirely alone. Thank you just the +;
And the old lady had gone &
lway, saying to her self as she climbed !
stairs, TOO much excitement amt
rood for nobody, and her expecting an |
edition to the family" e
Later she could hear the piano be- (
stairs and concluded from the joy
ms note in the music that the pie must q
e cooking satisfactorily. When a 6
ody can make music like the very !
ngels' own, she can well be excused {
rom making pies, she thought. For &
lnately for her quick sympathies, she &
ould not see the tragic denoument in
he fiat below. She could not see q
'hereSa WELD to the temptation of Z
tretching her tired body out just for S
minute and return to consciousness !
My when the fumes of the burning Z
lie had awakened her. {
Coming home later, Walter found the 8
partment strangely quiet and unusu- s
lily m%alodorous. Hurrying through \
le living room and dining room, he z
lshed apprehensively into the kitchen d.
nd found Theresa fast asleep on the Y
DOR before the stove. She reused her y
If drowsily at the sound of his en- 7
ance, then consciousness of her g
vollen eyes and tousled appearance 3
over her, together with a vivid I
collection Of the pies %treachery. Z
'lYhy, dearest, are you sick-whats g
e matter?" solicitously. I
81 made a wonderful pie for your /
upper and then fell asleep and incin- 4
ated it. Behold!' and the voice q
very close to the tear zone !
ooh, ho!" rang cut Walters big I
1oh which as she had so many \