Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-02-08
JUST A
VILLAGE
WOMAN

t0 by d. j. waish.l

N simple black hat that Kate
l. Y Collins, her longtime mlllIner,
had fashioned for her and
peeped into the glass with a crit.
ical frown upon her gentle brow. Did
she look nice enough? She patted down
her cont collar. brushed a bit Of lint
from her skirt and took up the small
bag purchased few days previous
at Johnson's store. From top to toe
she looked neat, quiet, ladyllke She
loved chat wOrd-ladylike. All her
life she had tried to conform to Its
suggestion as her mother and grand.
mother had done before her In that
wny, as In many others, she was as
old fashioned rs they.
Her husband was waiting for her In
the newest cara black. long nOsed
brute built for climbing the noun.
tain between their village and the
large adjoining town where his bust
ness interests were located. He was
stout elderly man with u square
chin, quick gray eyes, the most force.
full type Of the successful go-getter,
AS she climbed In beside him Nelly
looked back al her home with its
look of plain, practical comfort.
Against the spring green Of grass and
foliage II looked as white as snow.
She admired any white house; she
loved her own, and she sighed at leav-
Ing II because she might be about
to leave Il forever.
From windows and doorways her
neighb0rs waved her farewell. Mrs
Eckert tapped her check apron, Mrs.
COwan fiirted a dust-rag, Lefty Dim
mick slgnaled with a handkerchief
crisp and scented, as Nelly Ward
knew. with rose leaves. A little child
shouted to her and old Tim Green,
IImpIng toward the grocery for news,
swung his battered hat at her She
responded cheerfully. but her lips
trembled.
The great car ate up the road. HO-
sen did not talk much he was re-
viewing the speech he was to make at
the big dinner that was to follow; Mel
ly sat holding the bag. thinking deep,
grave thoughts.
Over the mountain they went and
down the other side into the spar.
king town where Hosea's big factory
belched black smoke. Yet, In spite OF
the smoke, Weston was a beautiful
place with Its fine residences. smooth
streets and glittering business sec.
ton.
There was a flock OF cars before
the Weston house, and Hosea ma.
neuvered the black brute into its place
among them. His manager was there
and his directors. the president Of the
bank. prominent club men and WON
en-, representatives OF all the big
firms In town. all gathered TO do
Hosea hOnOr--an honor In which his
wife was TO share.
Nelly knew only two persons be.
sides her husband, and during the
splendid banquet that followed she
felt lonely and little shy. The
food, too, puzzled her. She liked
simple home cooking. and these ex.
trnvagances Of food aroused In her a
faint dlstrust. Although she was es-
sentlally healthy, she wondered n
such mixture as lobster, alligator
pears and strawberry ice could pos
sibly set well.
The banquet lasted for hours, and
Nelly was heartily glad when II was
over IlOsea's speech had made her
more nervous than II had him. A good
man. Hosea, her husband for thirty.
five years and the father OF sly chill
dren. who were all either married or
AWAY from home with affairs OF their
own.
"WeIl. Nelly Hosea said as he
helped her Into the black car. "Thnts
that. Now I'm going to show you the
house I've picked Out for you"
II was splendid house. vast, tow.
erlng. set In the midst OF beautiful
grounds. A millionaire had built II
and only a millionaire could live In
It. II had garage room for Hosea's
four cars rose pergOIa, a fountain
and n drawing room that could hold
seventy people.
III you want this house it's yours.
Nelly" Hosea snld proudly. "And you
can go the limit In buying stuff for
IT,"
IT'S grand dear" Nelly said "But
what's that building on the rlghtT"
"That's the Weston Memorial n.
brary A bpuuly. ehp"
"And this place on the left--who
owns ~"
Summer people. It's opened for
only two or three months during the
year"
She got into the black car and they
returned hOmeward. HOsen talking
gnyly NIL the way OF his vast new
plans Nelly silent and selfabnega.
tive
smell OF food greeted them as
they entered the house. Sarah, middle.
aged and beamlng, for many years
more OF n hOusemate than a servant
10 Nelly Ward. stuck her head IN at
the d0Or.
"Supper's rendy when you are" she
said
IN the pretty dining room. lighted
with sunset gold. they sat down To
homemade bread, green onions thin
sllrrs ri c"rned beef. sponge cnke and
iau plum preserves In slrmned
glass dish Tulips filled an old fash.
toned blIP howl that had belonged TO
Nrll%'s noiilrr,
IF ddn1 il,Ink could eat any.
iiri.a il"srn remarked ns thci lrn
The GI j" II will say for Snrnl ll,at
s''p a. '- l'" 10 assemble food
Nr IS lHr,d her thrOHi