Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-08-10

silently oIer the calamity, No more
mann d- now.
lie s,u,m passed The sun came
0Ui Ntld an innocent smile at the
"re,Edg,' II found The sisters piled
their c,ochet.hOoks And somebody
ran" the door hell.
Nirl whipped oil her apron and
opened The door. She looked up into
the llcc of n yuuugish man, thin, sup
pie, sallow, somewhat gray, with
shrewd eyes He was well-dressed,
polite of manner. He asked If he
might come in
lie didn't state his errand. He
merely leaned back In the sagging
black walnut chair and talked He
talked delightfully."-. The sisters forgot
10 he mystified They were charmed.
II see your apple tree has blown
down" he said. M you have an AK
handy m cut II up for you"
They demurred He insisted. He
got the AK For an hour he worked
vigorously, chopplng the tree into neat
lengths, clearing away the debris.
After that they had to ask him to
stay to tea, What should they feed
him? A man who had worked as hard
as that couldn't eat just toast and
tea. lie solved the problem himself
81 know" he said, In his genial way,
"thal an unexpected guest often finds
4
will gladly sup with you IL you will
permit me to contribute little some
thing toward the meal" Then he left
the house.
While they set the table with the
best linen and china, the worn silver
and despolled their geranlum for
bloom to decorate the board, they
talked In low voices. Who was this
man? Had they ever seen him be
fore? What had he come for? II
didn't matter, Belle said, he was love
ly, and weren't they having good
timel
He returned presently bearing a
huge covered tray. He had been to
the restaurant. The sisters gasped ut
sight of his little" contribution.
Chicken and gravy, steamlng hot,
three kinds Of vegetables, salad, rolls
crlsped over with poppy seed, cream.
lump sugar, coffee In a thermos bottle.
And lastly carton of Ice cream with
plate of angel food cake.
Good food, the guests Incompatible
wit and cajolery brought color to the
gentle old faces. They were having
real party.
When at last he was about TO leave,
Belle laid her delicate blue-veined
hand on his gray coat sleeve.
81 don't know who you are or why
you've so honored us" she said. But
come again, won't YOU?
"You may be sure shall come
again" With exquisite gallantry he
lifted Bellies hand and kissed 1t.
few days later Mrs. Warren ran
into the sisters house waving news.
paper In her hand, Up to this mo.
ment Mrs. Warren had scarcely no
tlced her two old neighbors Now she
cried familiarity: "LOokltw
Belle gazed where she pointed
Headlines trailed across the page.
The mysterious absence Of Fred NJ.
Hickey was explained. On the eve OF
his election as governor Of a nelghbOr-
Ing state he had stolen away for bit
Of privacy to visit his old friends, the
Misses Belle and VIra Cooper of West
more. His picture sufficiently clear.
further ornamented the page.
''Why didn't you let folks know
you'd entertained the GOVERNOR" cried
Mrs Warren. Why, indeed2 The sis.
tiers were overwhelmed.
That same day came great box
delivered by the expressman, box
that held evry conceivable article of
delicate food. fruit sweet and bev-
erage
OF course, they were beselged Re
pOrters both male and female, sought
them. The town folks did them unex
pected homage. Suddenly these old
ladies became very Interesting and
worthwhile.
Fred himself came driving up In II
big car with single number on tho
plate to laugh fer moment over the
adventure they had had together. 81
got to thinking about you" he ex-
planned Even In the hustle and bus
tie Of an active political career I've
never forgotten those sugar cookies
anu all that went with them. You
two women gave me my real start In
life. What I am ! owe In II great
measure to YOU. And so | stole away
to see you. For, and here the gov.
errors brown eyes mlsted. 81 needed
just that close reminder Of my child.
hood to keep me humble aud prayer
fnl In my new office"