Evening star., 1928-05-08

the question which mad
4 brought her to Laura We'll
den's and which she had been
deferring from reasons of diplomacy
until this very moment,
Il suppose you will not try to keep
your houSe?"
Laura welden smiled into the eyes
of her old acquaintance. She would
have smiled into the face of death it
self. such was her courage.
why, don't know why YOU think
shouldn't keep my house, Alice" she
returned
You could get a good price for 1t,
that's all, ! know whom YOU could
sell 1t 10. Mrs. Applehy---"
A faint red mounted to Lauras pale
face.
We'll, Just the same. am not going
10 SELL l don't have TO. Mr. Welden
left me very comfortable"
Mrs. Shawl stared. She had heard
something quite different
I'm glad If he did" she said, We'll,
goodbye. Laura. Come and see mt.
Laura made an appropriate answer
and then turned her back on the
rustiing. gray. abundant figure. she
went into her house and closed the door.
AS she did so a mirror caught her fun
reflection. She gazed into her own eyes
reproachfully.
IF / ever told a lie in my life II was
when said Israel left me very COM
Portable. He started out to. but his
sickness took a lot of money. All have
got in this whole world is my mouse,
my furniture and the land about 1t
and Just about $1,000 i'll money. can't
live on that very long. anyway"
The enormity of her denial combated
q sturdy pride in keeping the conoltlon
of affairs TO herself She was g. years
old and not particularly Strong--that
is her body was too light for the vigor-
Gus engine that propelled it, And she
knew human nataure. People like to be
shocked, even though it be a mShap
to a friend If she sold her mousse
and moved out into rooms everybody
would sympathize first and AID a'oer-
ward;
Well. Laura Welden has always held
her head high. She can't expect to keep
ii there forever"
Now. realizing these any many other
things Laura Welden sat down TO try
conclusions with a destiny so obvious
that at first there seemed no sense IN
wrestling with it. She concluded pres
entity that she would not sell her f1cuse,
Her beloved housei She looked about
ii with yearning eyes She had been
and protection and the first home she
had ever known. Perhaps home meant
more to her than to most women. She
had always thought so.
She ran over ways and means
Boarders? Roomers? Then her mouse
would cease to be home in the u dest
sense. She had no children, no Lear
relatives to aid her She had nothing
but her two hands and her head.
Suddenly thought and apprehension
overpowered her and she sprang to her
feet seeking relief in action. Gong to
her immaculate kitchen. she wh'3ped
up her fire, got out mixing bowl and
naolding board. Within 10 minutes her
spirits were rising IN the pleasant occu-
patton Of making cookies. She cut them
neatly in oak and clover leaf designs
and sprinkled them with caraway seeds.
As they came hot from the oven she
sifted sugar over them. They smelled
and looked most tempting.
Filling a plate with the cookies she
went across to Miss Fields. Miss Field
lay in her porch hammock. still frail
after long illness.
i've brought you plateful Of my
cookies. Miss Field" Laura said. Il
thought maybe they would tempt your
appetite" She whiSked OF the napkin
and presented her Offering
Miss Field looked, tasted-tasted
again Her face frightened With pleas
ure
why. Mrs weldenl These are woi-
derful,'' she exclaimed. Il never tasted
anything so delicious or saw ANYTHING
so attractive Do you know" she
laughed. If possessed an accomplish
ment Of this kind ! would make my
fortune"
what do YOU mean?" breathed
Laura.
why. I'd bake these cakes and pack
them in pretty boxes and sell them 10
city people for so cents a dozen. l."
Miss Fields imagination bounded-"I
would call them the Laura Seed
Cookies, and I'd advertise them SO
highly that soon all the world would be
knocking at my door"
Now you are joking" said Laura.
But all the same you have given me
an idea" Her lips trernbled. And If
you only knew how I've needed an
idea"
She went back home and set to work
again. this time actuated by something
more than neighborly kindness Her
color few, her fingers treinbled. but her
heart was high with hope. II seemed
a great arguTdity. this trusting 20 a