The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-09-02

* ueSh lOOhlllS over the ulOulH .
accounts. She nibbled the top
of her pen reflectively, aware
that she had committed an eXtrava-
gance in buying another rug which
she did not need. She seemed unable
TO resist rug if it had Persian de-
sign and came within the means of
her purse.
Fanny Fry was forty-siX, a slender
woman with a touch of gray in her
black hair, but with a still youthful
sparkle in her black eyes. She was
an old maid, not a bachelor girl or
even a Spinster, just an old maid.
And she was not ashamed of the fact
although she sometimes wished.
Her glance, lifting from the pages of
figures before her to the blue jar,
rested there wistfully. Spring was in
the blue jar, at least so much of
spring as may be expressed by a big
bunch Of catllinS slowly coming to
willow consciousness. Mrs. Halls
little boy had brought them to her
that morning. Now it would take a
lively imagination to invest Harry
with the witchery of a cupid for he
was tcw-haired and minus his front
teeth, yet in presenting the catkins
he had offered Fanny Fry spring,
and something more, a memory and
desire that was teasing her at this
instant.
The door opened and Clementine
North entered. Oementine was a
widow of long standing, plump, san
dy-haired, rosy. For some years now
she and Fanny had lived together in
the old Fry house. Clementine had
been out that afternoon doing a bit
of shopping and she brought breath
of the spicy air in with her.
"Say, FAM" she exclaimed. "What
do you know about that? Lancelot
Otis is here in town."
1"Clem !" Fanny started violently.
She turned a pale face upon her
friend and housemate.
Il met him just now," Clementine
sat down. HE is staying at the Gen.
trail house. 1 asked him up tonight
to dinner. He wanted to see you"
Glen" repeated Fanny in fainter
tones.
There IS plenty of chicken and
cream and fresh cake. I stopped in
at the grocery and got a head Of let
tuce and some tomatoes. Guess We'll
have plenty even for a man who
looks as much like enjoying yictualS
as he does"
"Has-has he changed muchY'
whispered Fanny.
'Who wouldn't change in thirty
years? He has filled out and got a
little bald. But for all that he's the
same Lance" she sighed.
Fanny sighed, too.
How queer-fcr US three to be to-
gether again." she said.
"How nice you mean, how like old
times" Clementine studied her
friend thOughtfully. "Tell me, Fan.
Did you stay single on his account?"
Fanny flushed ''Well-maybe
did," she confessed.
lawfully silly in you. I got mar
ried." Clementine tapped the rug
with her neat foot. "Out of spite. 1
wasn't going to let Lance Otis find
me wearing dust and ashes for him
if he came back"
"He is back now. And he's coming
to dinnerw Fanny sprang up. 81
must set the table. There are
thousand things to do" She rushed
out of the room while Clementine fol-
lowed more slowly, serious look on
her pink face.
Fanny flying from task to task
with nervous .fleetness had but one
thought. Lancelot had returned.
What should she feel at sight Of him?
What would he feel at sight Of her?
Or-her heart sank-perhaps he
would prefer the plump and cozy
Clementine. Widows were always fas-
cinating, especially to bachelors
Lancelot was still bachelor, he had
told Clementine so. Strange that he
had not married But then neither had
she married. Could it be that he re-
membered her as she remembered
him? Love was curious thing. 1t
crept into ones heart, there to lie
until some trivial happening-spring
and a bunch of pussy-willows-
brought it forth.
I'll wear my beige crepe" thought
Fanny. "And I'll put on a lot of
rouge so no matter what happens l
shan't look pale" She called Glenn
entine to look at the table.
Meanwhile Clementine had had
few thoughts of her own while she
was preparing the white sauce for
the chicken and chilling the salad
stuff. She had decided to wear her
black brocade. 1t set off her white
arms and neck.
"The last time Lancelot ever saw
me had on a brown checked ging-
ham and nothing was ever more I'M
becoming to me-" she thought.
Lancelot had promised to arrive at