The L'Anse sentinel., 1924-01-25
: In Matters of
Choice
By MARTHA WILLIAMS


so Isss. By Mcclure Newspaper syndicsf~,
willy-Ann was an everyday person
upon everydays, but when she set aDout
primping she sure gave her whole mind
to II First. she scrubbed as clean as
yellow soap, a knitted wash cloth and
plenty of water could make her. then
rubbed dry with hard crash towel.
till she glowed plnken statue. then
busted herself literally with starch
into which she had extravagantiy
dropped cologne. letting 1t stand to
dry. Clean garments, beautifully iaun-
derea and smelling of green grass dry
iag and rose leaves In the drawer. went
wen with all this.
At the end who shall blame Willy
Ann " she almost purred In the JOY
q her own purity7 Over the purity
she wore garments Of state-a heredi-
fary blue velvet bought fifty years
back by her godmother, or the black
nofre that dated her mothers half
mourning. or the pale green cashmere
she herself had chosen In the conf
denee Of seventeen. Each and several
me garments had been SO well kept
they might have seemed new but for
hetraying lines.
The volumInous velvet was In itself
q History Of the Bustle; the black
noire's sweeping train told Of the day
when to show ones feet, not to name
legs, was held disreputable-ande even
the cashmere, looped and swathed and
side-plaited, proclaimed Its vintage as
Of many yester-years. Willy-Ann sur
yeyed II rather wistfully. saying men
tally: "That $25 put at intrust would
a-bought me the frock / need so bad
right now. And this n never done
me cent o. good. Pap had his stroke
the week after finished it-and lived
on and on, till just a month back.
Didn't wear it when could, cause
ma always said: Save new clothes as
long as you've got good old ones But
] do wish / had ha' one wear Of 1t
when 1t was the fashion, 1t looked
UnBnIy pretty.
The mental sollloquy about summed
her history. The late-born daughter
of rather thriftless pair, her youth
had borne burdens weighty even for
mature age. They had the farm free
and clear, a smatter Of live stock and
poultry, also good neighbors to lend
helping hand. Thus it was Willy-Ann
had got through-kept things going
without help from anybody, and even
laid by enough to give her parents the
burial their simple souls had so craved
caskets, silver handles and
everything the hearse from town, and
rhe prayer at the grave-a full $40
worth-S10 cash.
Willy-Ann ran over all this, divided
between pride and regret. By skimp-
ing she could have saved enough to |
buy herself a whole new outfit. Glossy |
saw herself In it-with /
Grape on her hat and maybe even a
few bugles to Tighten it-and a store |
collar to sit up high around her neck.
she had never owned a complete new
rostume-hat frock. shoes, gloves, all
70 match. But the thing she craved
most and worst was-silk stockings.
Her surviving vanity centered In her
feet, still small, slender and pretty.
despite the many steps they had taken.
"And maybe I can have them," she
said aloud presently. "And when I
get 'em I'll put on granny's linen petit
coat with the lace ruffle and her we'd
n shoes-they ft me to a T. And I'll
feel fine inside, no matter what out
side"
When her ancient flnery had been
refolded, with rolls Of tissue
paper to break the folds, and laid
sway In the rose-scented drawers she
slipped into the faded calico frock and
went down to see after household af-
fairs. Rising as early as usual, she
Mad got through the common morning
round before afterbath vanity had laid
Mold upon her. She missed her bur-
den horribly; nobody to care what she
did or didn't, nobody to complain even
whimpering of neglect. She was glad
IN a way that her dead were out of all
frouble-many a time she had shud-
fered at thought Of them lacking her.
But II was dreary. desperately dreary,
10 be alone In the world. Not a soul |
closer than third cousin. and not one |
Of them she cared to have for friend.
"What'd happen If I went to preach
m in my green frock7 wonder, now,
] do" she said half aloud. "Pd 20 In
minute II had decent dress. Now
folks weuld stare at me in this old
eaiiker. And haven't got anything
1hat looks much better"
She was at the stairs foot as she
said It under breath. And right there
came firm. positive knock upon the
1font door--one that bespoke stran-
ger, since neighbors and croppers knew
enough to come round back. F1inging
wide the door. willy-Ann faced a tall
man, graying at the temples, with a
neavy frown, and general air Of dis
content. he had a worn travelling
bag. q creel and rifle Of dunnage
piled about his feet. without pre-
Hminary he said: ''rm John Britton-
T'want to stay, here month--ostens,.
KVw IN Az o<x,.Iyx~