The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-01-03
HER CURE
FOR THE JOY
KILLERS
(G by D. ]. Walsh.l

Y ANET HALL had spent the day IN
making the new living room suite
look homelike. She had had to re-
- arrange many things in order to
Iproduee a well-balanced effect but the
effect was charming. She was so hap
10y, pleased and proud. Mac had pre-
scented her with the new furniture on
her birthday the day before, but 1t
had reached the house too late last
might for her to do more than admire
lit.
, She was tired, of course, for she
had moved everything about half
dozen times. Even yet she was not
fsure that she liked that large chair on
that side of the room. But perhaps
she had best leave it until she had
Thought about it little.
Sinking into the soft cushions of the
davenport she luxuriously rested while
Ishe studied her new possessions. AL
Though they had been married many
years this was the first really nice
furniture she and Mac had ever felt
liable to buy. He had said just the other
day: "Why, we are getting to be old
folks, Janet. It's time we began to
have a few things we want. No sense
lin waiting" She had never dreamed
THAT he was even then contemplating
buying this suite for her. They had
lseen it when it first appeared in Or
tons window and had stopped to ad-
imire it, but she had had not the re-
Emotest idea that it would ever be
jhers.
The back door opened and steps
tSounded on the kitchen linoleum. A
familiar "Hoo-hoo" announced the ap-
Ipearance of a small woman with
!slightly crossed eyes, a pursy mouth
land a stean4ing red complexion. 1t was
Mrs. Keller, Janet's neXt-door neigh
lbor
"My goodness, Mrs. Hall What's the
matter with you? You are as pale as
a ghost" cried the visitor.
Janet tried to smile.
"Why, / am a little tired that's all.
Come here and sit down beside me-"
tShe Hospitality patted the inviting
cushions beside her.
Mrs. Keller stared hard at the
davenport before she SAT- down.
"Oh! This is that suite they had
in Orton's window, isn't it," she said.
"My husband gave it to me for my
birthday" Janet replied.
Oh! Yes! Well, that's nice" Mrs.
Keeler's hand was critically exploring
the texture of the material. Looks
as if it might wear long time"
Hope so," Janet began to feel a
sense of chill.
Mrs X Ter sighed.
1--WE need some new furniture, but
whats the use of getting it? Keller
and l haven't any children, or anybody
I'VE care much about leaving it to. And
I tell him I'm not going to put my
self out buying for somebody that
wouldn't thank you for it. At our
lagos, you never can tell how long
you're going to lie here
Janet swallowed at a growing tight
mess in her throat. 1t was true. She
land Mac had no children. either. The
twins had died at three, and a little
hoy that had followed had never got
out of long dresses. They had nobody,
but some nephews of Macs. She looked
lat her new furniture with darkening
eyes. Who would have it after they
were gone? Why in no time at all
somebody she did not know about
might be sitting as she now was upon
this very davenport.
"You ought to go to the DOCTOR"
Mrs Keller said observing Janet Sc
lriously. 81 think you have a very bad
color. 1t doesn't pay to put these
things off, you know. A bit of muir
muir in the heart, a degree of blood
pressure and-Well, life is a mighty
uncertain proposition-make the best
you can of it,
"That is true" murmured Janet. She
began to feel rather queer and gaspy.
Maybe her heart was "acting up"
again. OF course, she couldn't tell
about the pressure, but people of her
age were apt to suffer from it. Yet
She would be afraid to go to a doctor
Suppose he should tell her that she
had not long to live. Or that Mac
had not long to live? She remembered
something she had heard Mrs. Willard
say yesterday at the woman's club ::
"Just as we get our house of life in
order where we may enjoy it, we die"
With a terrible little curly feeling
along her spine she sank farther into
the delightful cushion to convey pre-
monition of tragedy.
II came over" said Mrs. Keller ito
see if you'd lend me a few slices of
bread for supper. l missed the bake
cart someway. Oh, dear, hum! | get
so tired of this eternal cooking and
baking. What's the use anyway? You
can half kill yourself getting up a
meal, and half an hour after it has
been eaten it is forgotten, lnless, of
course, 1t creates indigestion-Just a
few slices, Mrs. Hall. | presume 1
shan't touch 1t myself. Keller says
don't eat enough to support fly"
Janet cut the bread, wrapped it in
paraffin paper and Mrs. Keeler took
it away. But she bore away more than
the bread; she had stolen, not bor
rowed, Janet's peace of mind.
few minutes later Janet lay in a
heap on the new davenport sobbing
into the dainty apron she had donned
for the supper hour. She ardently