Evening star., 1927-04-26

NNE AAGbilAN signed as SHe
" read Aunt Mary's letter. Aunt
"A Mary wrote that she was going
4 j ON journey that would last
some SIX weeks and that while
she was gone she SHOULD sublet her
apartment TO "A personal friend who
had her own maid and did not, there
fore. need Martha $50 as Martha
has nowhere else TO go ] am sending
her to stay with you. You VIII enjoy
Martha, ] am sure. just let her make
herself useful. That is the best way
to keep her happy
Anne Warren had been married
less than q year and she and Neil
We're econornizing in order TO pay Tor
their new home. 1t was small house
and Anne did all the work herself.
She really did not see what Martha.
would find to do. Indeed, she was
extremely doubtful about Martha.
who had been with Aunt Mary for
years and managed things pretty
nearly to suit herself For Aunt Mary
had interests of her own which kept
her 80 fully occupied that she paid
very little attention TO the housekeep-
ing. Besides, Aunt Mary had money.
and any extravaganza ON the part OF
Martha vas OF no consequences what
ever.
Neil thought it would be fun TO
have Martha to run the place for a
few weeks. He remembered Martha's
wafhes, Marthas q pies, Martha
steamed pudding. IT was true Anne
had much yet to learn about home
making. for she had been an Garner
up to the time Of her marriage. living
at home with a healthy mother who
saw to everything.
Martha came. She was a plain
elderly woman OF large stature, with
| blue eyes set between thick pink lids
| fringed with black lashes. Anne had
| never liked Martha's eyes. AS a mat
| ter Of fact, she did not like Martha,
| for she was afraid OF her. She de-
eided at once that she had best give
| Martha all the liberty possible under
| the circumstances.
For few days all went very we'll
| Neil rejoiced over the excellence of
| Martha's cooking. That pleased
| Martha more than II pleased Anne.
| Maybe her cake wasn't just as good
| as Martha g. but. considering the fact
| that she had only 10 months expert
| ence as compared with Martha's 2g
| years she thought she did pretty wen.
Resolved, however. to make the best
| Of the matter, she did as Neil
| wished-left Martha TO attend TO the
1
| tiest clothes, visited her friends and
went about with her husband. After
all. it did seem good to be relieved of
| all responsibility again.
Saturday morning came. Anne sat
| at her desk making up the weekly
| accounts when Martha laid a stack Of
| bills before her.
what are these for?" Anne asked
| with a queer sinking OF the heart as
| she saw the sums demanded.
| 1T is my custom always to hand
| Mrs. Dean the bills on Saturday morn
ing. She settles for them them" re-
piled Martha calmly.
| But, Martha" Anne lifted her per-
picked dark eyes to the cool blue ones.
Neil and make it a practice never
to run bills unless 1t is positively
necessary. I thought I gave you
money for all you needed Monday
morning."
Martha smiled family. "You didn't
expect me TO buy chicken and grape.
| fruit on that?" she returned.
Anne WINGED. Maybe il was
| rather small amount" she sighed.
We'll, III pay these bills this time.
Martha, but please don't let it happen
again.
But it did happen again-the very
next Week. And then Anne spoke
piece-at least Neil called il that.
The result was that Martha was hurt
and insd1tesf1 CBtft there was no more
trouble about bills.
Next morning Neil complained that
everything he had for breakfast
tasted salty. Anne noticed it, too.
But she did not dare mention the fact
10 Martha. Lunch and dinner were
so thoroughly salted that the young
couple scarcely ate any of the food
The following morning Neil cleared
his throat twice to speak to Martha.
but piteous look from Anne stopped
him. They pushed the brown waffies
aside, left the coffee untasted. Then
Neil fastened away, leaving Anne TO
solve the puzzle.
Lunch was ready. Nell had tele-
phoned that he was not coming home.
Anne knew why. 1t was a deter
mined girl that sought Martha In the
kitchen.
Now, Martha" she began. when
Martha raised a warning hand. Then
Anne saw that Martha was not alone
A thin man with a red necktie under
his strong chin sat in one OF the
gray-painted chairs. Anne fed and
Martha followed her.
Its Henry" Martha whispered,
her face flushed and glistening with
rapture. Henry Cole. He's come
all the way from Nebraska TO see me.
We were girls together-I mean-oh,
don't know what I'm saying. I'm SO
glad to see Henry. I've asked him
to stay to lunch Just to show him how
can cook" She paused inquir-
ingiy.
There was queer spark in Anne's
m "a
said You can have it all to your
self. I'm going downtown to, lunch
with Neil"
It was o'clock when Anne re-
turned home. She had had delight
ful lunch and had paid a call after.
waro. Martha was nowhere round.
But from Martha's room came sounds
of weeping. Anne entered and found
the sorriest creature she had ever
seen, sitting upon the floor beside the
bed crying into the counterpane.
Martha! What's the natter" she
demanded.
Martha lifted wretched counte.
nance. Henry" she sobbed. THE
doctor won't let him touch salt and
Ia salted-everything!" Anne was
silent. She had known just how that
lunch was going to taste. 1T served
me right, went on Martha. 'I did
it TO get even with you. I alwava
got even with Mrs. Dean that wav.
| salted her up good and she'd always
come across. I'd forgot all about salt.
ing the cheese souffie, and Henry
Another burst Of weeping. 'T shall
never see him again."
For an instant Anne stood obd,,ra4a
then laughter seized her. But after
the laughter came YifIy for ft,A e,.n-.