Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-03-18

Shuhbe5 WHcEc WUHleu WOTh is sOlu
but 1t required money to buy mate.
fials, so she took the train for home
Her mother, glad beyond expression
to see her, could not, however, conceal
the fact that finances were at very
low ebb. But Jennie, In the club and
her tour of the exchanges, had
learned few things which she meant
to put to practical use. There was
still some fruit on the place, the
plums were looking well, and wild
blackberries in plenty were to be had
for the picking. Jennie had arranged
with two OF the exchanges to try her
Jellles and jams, and while she did not
know much about making them, she
knew her mother did. and she could
learn, so she set to work. The first
consignment sold a bit slowly, but
there was an encouraging call for
more.
The next unheard-of thing she at
tempted was the forming of girls
club for mutual Improvement and so
cial enjoyment She had obtained per-
mission to use the schoolroom for the
first meeting Either through a mis-
understanding, overmastering curios-
ity, or sheer devlltry, several Of the
girls brothers and sweethearts drift
ed In and sat together in the back
seats. The girls were up in front,
curious and expectant. Jennie beheld
the male contingency with Just
touch Of dismay. She also discovered
Joe Banks among them. When she
rose on the little platform the noise
faded OFF into silence,
~ believe" she said, I'VE can get
together for study and social evenings
and have some very good times. In
a small place like this, although we
are thrown together q good deal, we
never really know each other very
we'll. II Is not knowing each other
that makes the miserable, fool
ish gossip makes us say and do I'M
kind things we never would II we
knew. Where I've been I've seen what
It did for the girls. Oh, you don't know
how wonderful IL was to me TO see
how the unselfishness, the kindness
seemed to wipe out criticism and
spiteful words among those girls, just
from getting together and knowing
each other In the right way"
The young men, who had come to
have some fun, looked at the floor, or
up at the lights, but remained quiet.
30 .wVNlatR tho hnai-
ness Of forming the club, and added:
1--WE had not thought Of having gen
tleman members, but II may be a great
advantage to have them" Here audi
BILE smokers came from the back of
the room. They subsided when Joe
Banks rose to his six feet Of height
and said:
81 think II would be greatly to our
advantage II the boys were allowed to
Join, and hope the ladies will amend
their constitution"
Jennie promised that this would be
considered at the next meeting. But
II was all in such o formal, imper-
sonal manner that Joe wondered II
she had forgotten his existence After
the meeting he hung around to speak
TO her. He wondered how II was the
great city had not spoiled her, but
instead had opened into bloom a ma.
ture quite wonderful to him. In
stammering ineffective way he tried
to tell her this, but she stopped him
with some buslnesslike questions rela-
tive to the preparation Of the ground
for spring planting. She meant to
have garden, and especially wanted
to start small fruits. He asked her II
he might come and give her any help
full service he could She assented in
a dignlhed manner more behtting the
new president Of 1.-THE Helpers" than
the little Jennie Ames he used to
know. Yes, decidedly, relations be
tween them had changed. Jennie now
knew that time and new experiences
had made Joe less Of the altogether
essential factor to her happiness he
was when she went away.
1t was surprising the number Of
new facts that sprang up regarding
the culture Of small fruits, which
made II necessary for Joe to call at
the Ames cottage. The jellIes and
Jams we're selling well. and Jennie
was much absorbed and happy In her
work Banks, Sr, had found hls OBJ
jectlons to his sons visits at Jennie's
home 40 Intellectual he said no more.
Joe was taking on masterful ways,
but the decided efficiency that went
with them had begun to convince the
old man that he could no longer die
tate.
One day when the autumn began TO
turn the greenery into gold and scar
let, Jennie asked Joe where she could
find blttersweet. She remembered
where there was some, but she want
ed a great deal She knew Of an ex-
change that would take all she could
send. OF course Joe knew, or at least
he was pretty sure, and he arranged
to show her.
Promptly to the minute a car drove
up to the door. Jennie was somewhat
surprised. but he assured her It was
too far to walk He had Just bought
the car, but didn't know how to run
II yet, so kept the chauffeur.
II was wonderful ride through the
beautiful country roads, and Joe, not
being entirely sure as to the location,
they had to go long way but they
found II at last.
"BIttersweet :" said Joe, holding up
one OF the flaming sprays, as they
gathered them away from the road.
"It's like my being with you. II might
be Just sweet to me II the bitter
wasn't there-if could think YOU"
He did not finish. The look In her
eyes made hun take her In his arms.