Evening star., 1928-05-15
THE EVENING STORY

ached to peel potatoes and great rough;
fragrant turnips; they ached to knead
dough and crimp the edges OF thick,
juicy pies and cut out spicy ginger
cookies. OF course, In her sons i1ouse
there was nothing for her to do. Her
sons wife, Irene, kept a competent
maid. Both George and Irene wanted
mother to take her ease. Well, she had
sat around idle" for nine whole months
and she hated 1t.
I'm no believer in signs" Abigail said.
But certainly heard Cora Bates CALI
ing me plain as day. And II means
something. 1 haven't heard from her
in two months, so I'm going where She
Is. And shan't tell Hilda. If d0.
she'll make fuss. I'll just get ready
and stroll out"
Excitement brought color to AbigsIs
cheeks, light to her dark eyes. without
stopping to smooth her gray hair or
change her dress, she stuffed some
things into bag. put on coat ard hat,
took her umbrella and left the house.
Irene and George had gone on a Today
motoring trip, so there was no need OF
fussing about them.
Abigail walked TO the station, min
away, chuckling at the thought Of what
Irene would say If she saw aer. Irene
feared 1t taxed mothers strength too
much to walk as far as the mail box :.
the corner. When she had bought her
ticket and boarded the train she sank
in her seat with sigh Of satisfaction.
For the first time IN ninc months she
was doirl, something she really wanted
to do.
At she reached the small town
where she had lived all her life previous
TO the death Of her husband, when
(xanroa M n tot -
TO his own house. Again she walked
from the station. The way led past her
old home. II hurt her to see different
curtains at the windows, a different
nameplate on the door. George had
sold the house and put the money in
the bank for her
Hurrying on, she came TO the tiny
gray house with crimson rambler over
the door. which was almost as familiar
TO her as her own former dwelling ana
far more hospitable. For here lived her
old friend and neighbor. Cora Bates.
She entered without knocking. Her
call, Cora, where are you?" brought
from the next room a tall. handsome
woman OF he- own age. who for an i1t-
slant stared unoelievably. :.
For mercy's sake, Abby! It isn't
you!" cried Cora Bates. Take OF your
things. And come right out and have
bite. I haven't cleared away yet''
Nothing had ever looked so good 70
Abigail as the brown betty teapot, and
nothing had ever tasted so good as the
beverage Cora poured from It. There
was besides rusk and gingerbread and
green applesauce.
I've gone into the bake business"
Cora said as she refilled AbigaiI's cup.
There's great demand for my stun.
for there's no bakery nearer than Ham.
den. only just what you can get at VIII
Evans grocery. This afternoon about
4 o'clock ! was hunting up nv old
recipe for pork cake. I couldn't ind i
you know how careless / am about
nlslaying things-so I said right out
loud. 'Abbyl Abbyl Ahbyp Seemed
like just had TO run up 70 your house
and get peek at that old recipe bock
of yours, where I knew I'd md what 1
wanted. I've missed you like fun. Don't
know when nine months ever went 50
slow-but we were neighbors good
many years"
'I often think Of when you and
Thomas moved into this neighbcrhood.
Abigail said merrily. Reuben says 70
me. Abby. don't want ou to have
living soul diSpise it's old Tom Bates
And. SIR. the very next day / stole away
and went to see you. 7 had to. I vas
curiouser than Eve. expect told
my husband enough lies on that sub
ject," went on Abigail calmly. TO sink
q ship. Neither he nor your husband
ever found out we were friends. We
managed so cute. They lived and died
enemies. Wen. here I am, Cora. Set
me TO work at something. Ny hands
itch to be useful" l"-...s......,.-.-s.,-~.s
That evening, the tvgq women seeded
Taisfns eisrons studied recipes
Next manning hsR rose early. For Cora
had promised a. batch -nf rolls and
It was not until the day following
that Abigail learned her old friend had
lost the investment that had given heZ
an income and was obliged 20 earn III
order 60 save her little home From
that moment Aeigails head worked as
fast as her hands.
A week later q big blue car tore down
the quiet street and stopped at Ms.
Bates door. Out sprang . red-facsd
young man, who knocked thunderous','
Abigail. clad in new checked ginghaEl,
her cheeks pink. opened the door. :
so you're back, George!" she said.
See here, mother. what do you near
by running away as soon as my back IS
turneda"
II like to have my own way yet. you
know. George"
We'll. you've had it. And thaen co
for the present" George waS quietly
furious Get your things on. You've
got TO so back with me. and I'm 10
hurry"
Lands sakes." cried Abigail. ~
can't so. We've got TO set fiys doaan
cup cakes out for En- Potter's pAfes
tonight. And Mary Horton Is Just hovss
ing for lemon snaps Were rushed
Whats the ideal" demanded Geong@e
Then he saw for the first time the neat
poster in the window. Bates & Mcre--1
Home Baking SgS
Mother" he gaSped. Does thsS
we've gone into partnership = ncd6sd
Abigail proudly. II furnish capital and
some work and Cora does the res1< vs.
divide the profits. And were making
good" she patted her sens shcnf6kSS
Run alonog home without NE. GecEES
Soon as can I'll make you = v.SsS