The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-04-03

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stood. Instead of coming over
her shoulder the light from the win
dow now fell directly upon her face.
She had queer jumpy feeling in her
breast. 1t was true she was losing her
looks, such as they were. Mrs. Polk
had told her so just this afternoon
when they met at Mary Graham's.
Mrs. Polk always gave tongue to any
thing that popped into her head. She
herself was marvelously smooth
skinned at eighty and she declared
she had never used anything but soap
and water on her face. 1t was patent
Belle at eighty would be a sight to
behold.
Anyway, wasn't there the Blossom
beauty shoppe? She'd trust to that to
fix her up somehow. She ran down.
stairs to the telephone. A moment
later she had made an appointment
for ten the next morning, rather in
convenient because she ought to be
doing her soliciting for the member
ship drive then. She'd have to tuck
that soliciting in somewhere before
the day ended. Still, nothing mattered
so much as that Edgar Sheldon
shouldn't come back after twelve
years absence and find her looking
lawful"
Belle was punctual to her appoint
ment next morning. She sank into the
chair and let deft-ingered Martha
Blossom do soothing things to her
scalp, her face, her throat. This beauty
doctoring business was certainly rest
full. She drew deep breath and re-
Taxed for the first time since Ella went
to the hospital for an operation and
sent the twins over for Aunt Belle
to look after. Right on the heels Of
that had come Aunt Annie, high blood
pressured and dieting, for long visit.
Then mother had had touch of lum-
bago. The day she had been too busy
to prepare anything but creamed cod
fish on toast for lunch, Nell Appleby
with a motoring party had dropped
in. To top all Edgar Sheldon had writ
ten after years of silence to say that
he was coming back for a few days
and wanted especially to see her. That
might mean anything or nothing. But
it certainly did involve entertaining
all the old crowd for his sake.
Such thoughts as these ran through
her head as Martha Blossoms delicate
finger-tips essayed to smooth out lines,
creases, hollows. Lunch to get after
this treatment and full afternoon to
follow. But, at least. she'd look de-
cent and that always upholds wom-
an. She looked into the mirror. "Oh,
dear I'm twisting my face again. That
undoes all you've accomplished,
doesn't it?" Martha Blossom smiled
encouragingly and patted on more
astringent cream.
By midafternoon Belle realized that
her facial massage hadn't done much
for her after all. Mary Graham had
suggested that she take tonic. That
tooth she should have had filled long
ago was tuning up. But she couldn't
take time to 60 to the dentists. She
simply had to get a pitcher of broth
ready for Elias supper. Ella was
home from the hospital now, in fine
shane. but still in need of little
coddling.
At ten minutes to six Belle snatched
the blue pitcher Of chicken broth and
started on run for her sisters house,
two blocks away. Ella was pleased
with the broth. She was always
pleased with everything, for nature
and life had nodded her in soft,
amiable, charming way. With her
sunny hair and color scarcely impaired
by appendicitis, she was a distinct
contrast to slim, dark, fretted Belle.
"Sit down and catch your BREATH"
suggested Ella.
"Can't. Mother isn't feeling well.
She's sent for Doctor Pratt"
"Why doesn't she try Doctor Sew
erance, as / told herr" asked Ella.
"Dr. Pratt is an old dear, but he lets
mother eat too many things she
shouldn't. You're not looking partic-
ularly well, dear. Why don't you see
Martha Blossom?"
"Good gracious! did, for two
hours, Just this morning.
"Oh, we'll. Maybe you need tonic"
sighed Ella.
That sigh was the last straw. Belle
hurried away.
She hadn't gone block when she
heard a persistent "Mieuw" behind
her. Looking round, she saw that
Elias yellow cat Wuz was following
her. She attempted to drive him
back. He stopped. She went on. Again
"Mieuw!" Wuz again at her heals.
She was near a corner, where traffic
was thick, and she must cross the
street. That cat! Ella thought the
world of him. If she could get hold
!, of him she would carry him back home.
But Wuz was willy. When Bellies hand
. almost touched him he scampered out
upon the crosswalk. Belle took after
him. She heard the grinding Of brakes,
saw a great red truck loom over her.
Then she struck the asphalt with q
slap.
Trafic paused as strong arms lifted
her. From the doorway Of great. vel.
low, square-built house a shrill old
voice was screaming: Bring her to
mel" And that's where they took her,
to Mrs. Folks.
An hour later the excitement had