White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-11-29
CHAPTER III-continued

from the very beginning of their resi-
dence, was Ginger's own. It was diff
cult of approach, for there were no
stairs leading to 1t, and sole admis
sion was BY means OF wabbly old
ladder of six rounds. which, carefully
balanced against the wall at the end
Of the upper hall, led to the trapdoor
which opened upward into the attic.
Ginger loved the attic most of all for
Its tnaccessibility. The trapdoor,
which swung Oh hinged lock and had
to be pushed upward with one hand.
was no obstacle, but an added charm
In her eyes. On the attic side of the
door, she had, with her own hands.
driven big staple, added another hook.
and when she went thither on matters
Of any special moment. she locked II
furtively behind her.
The studio was her sacred retreat,
and on this particular Sunday after.
noon she had definite motive in re.
tirement, for she sought the guidance
of the MUSES.. Ginger had made a
find. Eddy jackson had brought to
the parsonage, as a Saturday gift
from his mother. a jar Of preserved
peaches wrapped in an old page of the
New York World. Helen had crum
pied It lightly into the waste basket.
where the sharp eye OF Ginger Ella
had espied 1t, whence her greedy fin
gers had rescued it. And from It she
Ion rnnh RI frb thot kn
York World would pay five dollars
each for the Bright Sayings of Chill
dren.
One of Ginger's great grievances In
life was the tendency of her sisters
to recall. and repeat. smart sayings
of her own nOne-too-remote childhood
Such repetition reduced her to abject
and helpless fury. But she noted
that the auditors always laughed. am
pie proof of the presence OF humor
She cast about In her memory for the
most amusing of these pseudo laugh
producers, and unable to discover
merit by her own Judgment. she hit
upon the one that had produced the
greafesf gales of merriment. Merely
changing names and relationships
from her own and Helen's to that of
a mother and daughter. she wrote:
"Mrs. lngraham spent an entire
afternoon assisting neighhor to Gu,
out and fit gown. and when the gar
ment was entirely finished she wished
to make payment fol the time con
sumed. oh, no. said Mrs lngraharn
pleasantly, 4 shall not take cent
for 1t. did II entirely out Of friend
ship. The neighbor was lnsistent. bui
Mrs. fngraham remained firm, and
would not take the money At last
she turned to Alice. Mrs. lngraham's
small daughter standing near and
said, Alice. tell me. TOW can make
your mother take this five dollars
which she has fully earned? Alice
considered moment, and then an
nounced gravely, You might give II
to me, and she will borrow II.
Ginger wrote, corrected. and copied
Then she read It. dis asteful'y ITS
dumb thing" she Thought frowningly
But the memory of unfailIng laughter
encouraged her, and she folded II
neatly, tucked II into an envelope and
addressed II in firm large hand.
At six o'clock, the girls came to
getller In the kitchen where they hur
riedly set out light supper in ordel
to be at church again at seven for the
meeting of the Epworfh league. Mr.
Tolliver did not attend this as II was
q service especially calculated TO en-
courage and train the younger mem
bers of the congregation in active par
ticipation. and he inclined to the belief
that they took part with more free
dom In his absence
On Monday afternoon, at one
O'Clock, the anxious little family gath
cred In the living room to say good by
to MIR. Tolliver and Miriam starting
for Chicago Such tremendous issues
were involved In this small Journey
Perhaps he would return withOuf the
hated glasses. perhaps the denr tired
eyes would see once more the iOye
that shOne In theirs Perhaps the
dreaded operation would be declared
Inevitable Perhaps things would lust
drag on and on, month after month az
they had dragged In the past
They went out to the verundM
Miriam leading the VIA. with the ighr
bag. Her father reached for 1t, strug
gled with her playfuIly for possession
OF It. She tucked her hand info his
arm, looking back. rhe girls smiled
at her. she smiled IN return Their
smiles were sad. their father could
not see the smiles Their young eyes
yearned with pain Their father
could not see the yearning He waved
Q hand at them in hIiflle farewell.
"Be good girls Ellen don't lei any
body else go man mad while am
away"
"You must mean Miss jenkins. She
10 the only one left
Light words they were. and gay
voices, for their father heard
But Miss jenkins unnccuuntably
Without d word. detached herself from
he cluster Of girls Hnd ran up to hin
She threw both arms about MS Shout
1ers and kissed him on nfh cheeks
'Re careful. oh. he careful. she
,aid. and her face worked with emo
Ion.
In the dramatic silence which fOi
4..ed this unexrecfed on,burst. Nj !