Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-02-01

on the back porch.
"Never mind" Amelia said. II can't
stay any longer now. I'll stop and see
Sarah next time I'm driving out this
way" She walked nimbly away to
big blue car that was parked under
the elm She got In, shifted gears
nolselessly and rolled away.
When Clifford returned to the gar
den Sarah crept home. Back in her
Kitchen she visualized Amelia's pres
ence and interpreted Amelia's impress
sion The smoked wallpaper, the worn
out linoleum, the broken stove. She
shlvered as II she we're cold
"Amella Scott, she's Amelia wills
now, stopped on her way through the
town." Clifford said at supper. "She
wanted to see you. looked all over
for you but guess you'd stepped out
some place. Amelia was looking fine.
She had one of those new sedans
She said she would stop again. She
said you'd hear from her In day or
So"
Next morning Clifford went away on
some mysterious errand. Not long
after the doorbell rang. There stood
messenger with a hatbox unmis
takably for Sarah. She took It, she
opened It. Within was such a hat as
Sarah had never owned; an alluring
thing of charm and color. Sarah's
clear plump cheeks grew violently
pink. Cllfford's words came to her
"She said you'd hear from her In
day or So" Amelia had sent this hat.
1t was her way Of teaching Sarah
lesson. Sarahs first impulse was to
stun the hat In the stove; her next
to try 1t on. It was every bit as good
looking as the one Amelia had worn
herself. And, good land Sarah
looked Just as good in It as had
Amelia In hers II covered her gray
hair. Her soul hankered for It.
"Sarahl" she whlrled round. Gilt
ford had come in at the back door and
stood regarding her with a pleased
look on his face. "Thank goodness
you've got decent hat at last No
don't remove It. Let me look at you.
Why, Sarah, girl, you're not old; we're
not old. I'm only sixty-one, Great
books have been written, empires
built, worlds won by men older than
that, ought to be enjoying every
minute, earning good money, pursuing
a hobby-Sarah | went down town
and tackled Kilmer for job. And ]
got It DO you hearf ! got me
Job No letting myself slump from
now on. Zip and stamina is my slogan
Can you keep up with me, Sarah?"
She looked straight In his eyes. The
corners of her mouth twltched
"Oh, III keep up with you, don't you
worry. Clifford Cobb" she said grimly.
Sarah did keep up with her hus-
band Indeed, she sometimes Outdls
tHnCed him In the race he had set for
himself Suppose they did sacrifice a
few bonds? Clifford was now getting
pay envelope and they could afford
to let themselves go bit. The house
began to look trim and tidy within
and without. Sarah sang at her work.
The neighbors came to see what was
going on, were interested and con
tlnued to be friendly. Miss Calkins
the dressmaker, was gayly busy with
new wardrobe for Sarah. Sarah be.
gan TO appear In skirts almost as short
as Helen Merrithew's and in the same
style shoes and silk stockings And
she wore Amela's hat Yes, she wore
Amellas hat because after all she was
grateful to Amelia for starting some
thing.
She was tripping about her remOd-
eled kitchen one morning when some
body knocked at the back door. II
was Amelia
MAYBE Clifford told you 1 intended
to come back and see you" Amelia
said She glanced admlrlngly about
the room, nt Sarah isn't this finer
Aren't you fine"
"Whnts the use Of getting limp and
witty around middle llfeT retorted
Sarah brightly. "All the Faulkners
had that failing I'm Faulkner.
But won't own to the failing. No,
indeed. Zip and stamina Is my sl0'
gan" She paused for Amelia was
eyelnR her sharply. recognizing her
own words, doubtless. "Amelia, how
did you ever come to send me that
cherry col0red hat ?" she demanded.
Amelia looked nstonished. Il sent
you no hat | was going to write to
you but didn't get around TO do that
even. Probably Cllf got you the hat,
Sarah lie said you'd been married 40
years that day ! was here md ! told