Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-02-07

NMILY BOOKER did for people in
II, the village OF Little Dole Keynes.
- Sometimes she did for Amardis. the
little girl who lived with her grand
mother in the cottage called "Cooden.'
Emily Booker did uncommonly we'll for
people. leaving behind her a wake of
brightness where she had scrubbed and
rubbed and polished. Amardis declared
that the cottage was never nicer than
after one of Emily Booker's visits. She
was n rare cleaner and a good. kind soul
Shit could cook, too-paStries and Sussex
Wollops and many a savory dish, the
recipes for which existed in the days of
the conqueror.
But despite the virtue and variety of
her gifts Emily Booker in no way reflect
ed the brightness that followed in her
wake. Indeed, it would be no lie to say
that she cut a sad figure in village So
ciety. Her clothes of rusty black would
have been appropriate to the character
OF Hamlet's aunt-her manner of carry
ing herself vas limp and ~lifeless and the
expression on her face was one of per
petual melancholy.
The rustic mind is not retrospective,
neither LOT it bother itself. to any prac-
tical extent. over neighborly troubles and
peculiarities. 1t accepts the human race
on its face value without delving into the
mysterious causes that shape that outer
mask into the keness of comedy or
pathos. Thus, while accepting Emily
Booker's fine quality as a cleaner. as a
person of moral rectitude and as one to
whom children could safely be entrusted,
they were not slow to express the opinion
that in moods of gayety she was a sorry
companion.
Any Il who has already made ac-
quaintance Wit Amardis will have gath
cred that although young in years she
was wise in experience. Amardis was not
content to form her estimates from the
slender evidence of external things. So
far as in her lay the power Amardis liked
TO probe a mystery to its foundations. In
her were deep wells of compassion and
the spectacle of sadness in Others induced
a similar state in herself. She could not
bear to see Emily Booker dragging around
sorry and woebegone.
The inhabitants Of the village of Little
Wole Keynes had their troubles like
other people, but these they swiftly over
came and returned to their cheerful
selves. Now and again there would be
quarrelings. chickering's and beer inspired
fights, but thanks 10 a benign alchemy
OF earth and sun and good fellowship.
these were soon forgotten and forgiven.
NO other villager had ever gone about as
Emily Booker went about continuously
exhibiting an aura of sombre melancholy.
The cheerful spirit of that little com.
munity had passed her by. Ii was very
strange that this should be so for rumor.
which is the village historian. had 1t
that before the war, a more high spirited
girl than Emily Booker had never danced
upon the green.
During the war an Unsuitable Industry
had rapt Emily Booker away from the
gentle surroundings of her birthplace to
the din and clangor Of a munition works
out Portsmouth way. On the signing Of
the Armistice she had returned. a bux-
ON. not III looking woman of twenty-six.
with tired eyes n fingers stained yell
low with picric acid.
Being an uncommunicative soul she
spoke no word of her experiences as a
munition worker, and as her n%eighbors
were more interested in hearing them
selves talk than in listening to other
people, they did not bother to ask for
details.
she rented two decent rooms in a cot
tage on the Lewes road, and earned a
modest wage helping and cleaning for
the better to do residents.
Meanwhile, from all quarters the
younger gentry. farmers lads, trades
mems sons n the rest who had been
nghtlng IN the war, were returning to
their native village to pick up the
threads OF civilian life and plunge hot
headed into matrimony. Never in the
history of Little Dole Keynes were there
SO many eager lovers. The narrow lanes,
the cinder tracks and footpaths thread
ing devious ways through wood and
copse were thronged with clinginp
couples. Under the stars the rustic o.
thelr Whisperings and their kisses was
constant. Scarcely a day passed without
clamorous chimes from church belfrv TO
tell OF a wedding.
But IN all that great enthusiasm for
mating no man came forward m spoke
lor Emily Booker. 1t may have been the
somber d in her eyes, the want of
a Knot of ribbon or patch of color in her
gown discouraged them. After the grim
years OF war they looked to find their
reward in laughing lips and changing
arms.
IL occurred to 10 one that Emily
booker had fought her war, tom the
acrld laboratories Of munition works. II
occurred to no one that she. too. might
be seeking a reward
Emily is a proper spinster,' thev said
a proper splnster is Emily Booker"
Inc phrase became a fashion and with
the unconscious savagery of the print
1--WE, they did not forbear to use it In
her presence.
Come to look back, my dear. YOU
never nave had a beau" said one observ-
- NAlNLl Chilly BOOKER WAS
performing some small service at the
wash tub.
Emily said nothing. since that was her
haplt, but unbeknown to any one she bit
her Up and bowed her head over the suds
Inc theme tool hold of local imap-
NATION and was developed. Women Cos
slpeo on door steps and men, with guf-
laws, TESTED rudely about it in bar par
lors. p~
In the upper stratas of the community
the popularity of a jest is Of short dura-
tlon, put among simple folks, tests being
scarce are not readily ~relinquished. For
example old Farmer Trant had once re
pleo 10 the offer OF a cigaret that he did
noo smoke Statlonery-a flight of wit
mat captured public favor so completely
CiaI rarely a day passed for years that he
uia not repeat 1t. Nor did it lose anv-
Iiilng from repetition. Once funny. al
ways funny. 1t Will be easily appreciated
therefore, that If a mere turn of a phrase
y trlck OF speech, could survive SO long
humor which sprang from a living fact"
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