Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-02
Two Letters.

TIME Ionia post Office was a gossip
ing place, everybody said, and
Lisa Shaw greeted Clara Eggles-
1 ton with a smile as she turned
from dropping letter into the
mailing slot.
You've been wasting ink, too. have
YOU. LiSa?" said Clara. Il had conf
plctely forgotten to answer that letter
from Celia Kenton, so l hurried ana
did 1t this morning. No use letting
her set wrong idea of what / think.
HIM!
You remember Celia? OF course
YOU do-she was sort Of relation TO
YOU. too. My own cousin, but I never
held with her ways. and now she wants
TO come back for visit. So just said,
no. 1t wouldn't be convenient-I'd PLAN
ned to so away for month to the
Springs, anyway. Celia never thought
Of us when she was flying around in
| high company, and now that she's down
and out. we're good enough. No. thank
you. ! says to myself And then If
didn't forget all about giving her the
piece of my mind until this morning
A wonder she didn't walk in on me-"
Lisa's face burned by that time.
She had risen betimes. too. to an
swcr letter--one she had received
only last night from Celia Kenton.
Celia was Ill. and had thought of Ionia
as home. She hadn't heard from Clara
who must be away. so If Lisa wouldn't
mind. she would love Ia come for
visit. Sorry she couldn't pay her way.
but investments had gone wrong. etc.
Lisa hadn't bothered about that last
part. Poor. sick Celia. Of course she
could come. She shouldn't have written
Clara-Clara had SO many interests.
Yes. Celia must come at once. and let
Lisa make her fat and sassy again with
rich milk from Granny Prouty's COW
remember Granny Prouty and her COW
that gave pound of butter day?"
And Lisa had the finest broilers in her
back yard. and the grapes daddy loved
SO were grand this year,
No wonder the last of the week
brought Celia to Ionia, after that letter
had reached her Though there were
plenty Of neighborS TO say that Liza was
being silly again. Taking in every
stray cat that "praowed" at her door.
Lisa needed guardian. the post Office
coterie asserted. Anybody could see
that Celia Kenton was quite down and
out. Shabby! And not long for this
world, either. If Lisa got stuck with q
big doctor bill and funeral expenses
And Clara Eggleston talked loudest in
criticism Of Lisa and her new burden.
Not that she did it behind Lisas back,
She told her right to her face when she
went TO call on Celia and tell her how
she was leaving for the Springs the
next day.
We Woodworking home folks need
some relaxation. too. Celia. The Springs
would be very dull to you. though.
You've been used to such fashionable
places-Newport and Paris. eh?
Yes. I've arranged for jeff Bevens to
look after my garden and chickens, Lisa.
Hes to have the fruit and eggs to sell
Tor his trouble. Ought to make him a
nice sum. but I believe in giving steady
people a chance. My peaches are mar
velous this year. If I'd thought I'd have
brought you one to taste. Well, pick
up some flesh on your bones. Celia.
Z You look terrible But Lisa is a good
cook. She'll enjoy doing for you"
Other neighbors called with about the
same line of condolence-and help.
Some of them were distant relatives of
Celia, too But these were harsher than
any other. Lisa was a fool, they all
agreed
Meanwhile she and Celia were hap-
pier than they had any right to be.
Lisa had a cheap radio, but it brought
in the early morning health exercises
from a nearby city. In boomers and
sneakers she and Celia one-twoed and
three-foured each Z am Then every
other day Lisa coaxed her guest into
walk that gradually turned into a hike
far out among the neighboring farms.
Remember the night you and and
Will Andrews and Sam McCully drove
10 Hankins' Grove. Lisa? And Sans
| buggy broke down-way, 1t was right
by the culverth Nndasan,~ swofe! ID