Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-12-30
IN THE
E.ARTHEN
BOWL

H. bowl of baked custard. The bowl
was earthen, cheap and common,
but the custard was the best OF its
kind. Rich, brown and smelling Of
nutmeg, 1t was fit to set before an cpl
cure With very simple material Ellen
had achieved masterpiece.
A small woman was Ellen, with
bright blue violet eyes, gay color,
humorous mouth. There were lines in
her face, gray hairs showing at her
temples, but her girlishness persisted.
Even now, when most women would
have looked fretted and nervous, FL
len went coolly on with her prepare
tlons for supper. 1t was four o'clock.
too ANY moment this distinguished
guest might arrive.
The deep note Of a klaxon. the purr
of motor stopping at her door, and
she ran out, forgetting to remove her
kitchen apron, to welcome the visitor.
Mrs. J. B. Gridley, who had been
Luella Pell when Ellen King was e.
len Sampson, stepped through the door
the liveried chauffeur held open. From
the beautifully clad foot which first
appeared to the most becoming OF
French hats, she was so charming AZ
to make one forget she was middle
aged. Gray, the shimmerlng gray Of
the moonstone, enveloped her. She
breathed of violet, she cleaned with
diamonds and platinum. Her kiss fell
like a snowflake on Ellen's flushed
warm face Ellen's clasp left hint
of flour on the silken sleeve. They
went into the house together.
AS Ellen beheld Luella sitting in
the old morris chair in the midst Of
the shabby living room a strange feel
ing came over her. 1t was as II she
had put on a pair Of glasses which
revealed everything-the cracked wall
paper, the thread-bare rug, the sag
ging chairs, the pln-holed shades.
These things had been there before
but she had never seen them. Now
she did see them In all their ugliness,
with all their meaning Of poverty and
narrow living. And in the midst Of
them sat Mrs. ]. B. Gridley in French
gray smelling of Partisan perfume,
an exquisite figure Of wealth, culture,
all the choicest things of life. With
a murmured excuse she hurried back
to her kitchen.
Luella's letter had come as sur
prise few days before. She had
written that she was motoring with
party of friends and must Of neces.
sity pass near her old home town
She would steal away for few hours
and come to see her old friend and
schoolmate, Ellen. who was the only
person there with whom she still kept
up friendship. Her swift car driv-
en- by her Belgian chauffeur could
whlsk her there and back before her
absence would be scarcely noticed by
her companions. And she would still
have time for a little visit.
With the happiest heart Ellen had
prepared for Luella. And n0w-she
stood looking at the custard In the
earthen bowl. What would Luella
say to the bowl? It might even spoil
the custard for her.
II took all Ellen's courage to set
the earthen bowl of custard upon the
table. The rest Of the supper was
correspondIngly plain and homely. yet
dellciously cooked and favored. She
babe her friend come to the meal.
1--WE are alone because Tom and
the boys have gone fishing, ELLEN
explained, as she poured the tea.
"They always go fishing Saturday
help yourself to the omelette, dear"
Her spirits rose as she saw the abun-
dnnt portion Luella took upon her
plate.
At last II was time to dish the Gus
tard. Ellen saw Luella thOughtfully
regarding the earthen bowl. The col
or rose higher in her cheeks, but she
chatted bravely.
without doubt Luella liked the Gus
tard. In fact, she asked for little
more.
Afterward the two friends sat on
the small porch and watched the eve
ming shadows gather over the town
In the grass below a ring OF golden
daffodils shone and the air was scent.
ed from the boughs Of the old spruce.
They talked of the old days, mention
ing this one and that one. Ellen could
finish all the little histories whose be-
ginnIngs Luella had observed.
"And Rollln MeekT she asked at
length.
ooh, Rolln IL a fine man He mar
ried Emily Lewis. They have four
children-two boys and two girls.
They are great home.lovers, all OF
them. Rollin has printing Office,
small, but he gets good living"
Suddenly she remembered that ROllln
Meek had gone with Luella Pell. She
looked at LuelIa. Strange that she
should remember Rollln Meek
"Would-would you like to see him,
LuelIa," she asked. II could call him
up and he'd run over for a moment
perhaps he may go by presently on
his way DOWNTOWN declarel He's
coming now!"
A big man swung up the street
whistling. Ellen called and he came
up TO the porch. A word Of EXPLAIN
ton and he and Luella were shaking
hands. He stayed a moment, chat.
ting. then he uttered some word about
being in hurry, clipped off one Of
Ellen's daffOdlls and FASTENED away.
There was silence while Luella
locked after him and Ellen looked at
Luella.
"He didn't know me-" Luclla snih.