The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-01-05
OUT OF
A FROZEN
RUT
20 by D. J. Walsh.l

EShe was healthy, pretty woman, in
ordinately contented with her home,
her husband and herself. Economy
twas the game that absorbed Louise
Potter. Other women played bridge,
mah-jongg, even finch, but she played
fhe game of money with necessary ex-
penditure as her opponent. No mat
ter what occurred she always won
hnd another bit of Toms earnings
land her savings went into the bank.
Tom was a quiet, kindly man who
Flowed his wife, his home, his work
land desired no other interests in life.
He was noted for punctuality. "Tom
Potter's coming home to supper.
Thine 1 went home" Mrs. White would
SAY when she had fingered too long
somewhere for a neighborly chat.
Mrs. Holcomb said she always put her
potatoes on the instant she saw Tom
appear at the end of the street. The
EHolcombs lunched at 1890. "He's
THAT punctual he's better than
CLOCK" Mrs. Holcomb always said.
The Potters had no children. The
pittle son who would have been a
Itall youth now had died Mrs. White
Isaid that Louise Potter had started
lin to save for the boy with the pur-
Epose of providing for his education
land his future and that she had con-
Etracted habit of economy that she
lcould not break.
'She will just go on saving and
Esaving" Mrs. White sighed. cal
Though they have comfortable means
land there's nobody to leave anything
Ito. She has got into a rut and the
rut has frozen. She will have to fol-
How it to the end. There is no es-
cape for her now"
Nobody could say that Mrs. White
had got into rut, frozen or other
Nwise. She was an ample-souled wom-
ian whose presence was benefit to
the whole neighborhood.
Suddenly the peaceful Potters
were intruded upon by misfortune 1t
twas found that Tom had to go 70 the
hospital, had to have an operation.
Some minor ailment long neglected
HAD become serious.
Although the Potters had lived 50
long and so fully for themselves, peo-
Eple forgave them their selfishness and
tried to find something to do for
Louise that would help at least to
console her. But she seemed i'm
penetrable except once when she said
with something like a sob to Mrs.
white:
'I'm doing a lot of thinking"
Tom came back in three weeks a
fiittle pale, little weak, but able to
take up his work again. Soon he was
making punctual appearances on the
Istreet, whistling, stepping brislzIy In
THE old way. He had, in short, made
a complete recovery.
But Louise was changed One day
she was seen driving new car!
Mrs. Holcamb rushed to tell Mrs.
White. Mrs. White could scarcely be
We've it until she herself saw Louise
Potter learning to drive bright new
sedan. Louise's face was red, but she
looked determined over her task
Several days of painful struggle
followed for Louise. Mrs. White, who
had once tried to assist her husband
in driving knew what Louise Potter
was going through. There came an eve
ming when both Mrs. HolcOmb and
Mrs. White went across to speak TO
Tom, who was moving The lawn.
Louise had not come home to supper.
They had watched She had been
gone alone for hours. The worst
might have happened. Strange that
Tom did not seem more concerned.
All he said was: 81 guess Lou knows
what she's about"
At that moment she arrived. She
was pale, perspiring but triumphant.
And the car was without scratch.
II got into a bad detour," Louise
said. But 1 learned to drive. You
needn't be afraid to go with me now"
Next day she filled the sedan with
neighbors. 1t was joyous party.
She gave an inspiring performance of
skill.
After that the Potters' sedan was a
isource Of delight to the whole neigh
[borhood. Louise taught her husband
ito drive. 1t was their joke that she,
ibeing the Drawer, had learned first
Meanwhile the house of the Potters
underwent various repairs and I'M
provements. New paint, new paper
and new furniture made 1t quite an
other place.
The Potters began to entertain
They invited people in for the eve.
ming and for dinner. They even gave
a party and had everybody they
knew.
They were expanding in way that
surprised and mystified everybody.
Tom, the repressed and silent, became
genial and gay. Louise's generosity
began to be talked about. She actual
Ily offered cakes and jelly for sociable
functions! They were excellent cakes,
too. Tom gave ten dollars to the
fresh-air fund.
What had happened to the Potters?
Or to be exact, what had happened
to Louise? For Tom only followed
whittier she led.
No matter what had happened, the
whole neighborho0d suddenly discov-
cred that the Potters were nice peo-
pie to know. They had been tol.