The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-06-06
DOORMATS
VERY MUCH
OUT OF
FASHION
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TENNIE TURNER finished ironing
the eleventh pair of rOmpers and
hung them carefully on the clothes
v bars along with the others. The
small Kitchen was suffHcatingly hot
and the steam rising from the damp
ened garments had mnisiened Jennie's
fine gray hair and plaSfpred the fabric
of her blouse close to her thin arms
and shoulders. Her upper lip showed
the pallOr of OvereXertun. II was
four in the afternoon and she had
been up since five.
Her daughter called from the cool
veranda where she sat sewing and
watching Junior take his afternoon
nap in the porch swing. "Alother"
Jennie obeyed. She appeared, futter.
ing, in the doorway.
A woman sat on the steps with a
basket beside her, She was small and
stC.t and her attitude had the slump
Of fatigue and disbursement.
"Why. Imogene !" Jennie said
SIN going up on the hill for a pic
mic supper and | want you 10 go, too"
Mrs Wilcox said
"Why-" Jennie fluttered still more
She glanced al the downcast face of
her large healthily cnlored daughter.
what do you think. JuIia?" she
pleaded
"Have you got the ironing done?"
"All done. And there's potato and
meat TO warm up for supper"
swell, go along if you want to-
"You needn't do thing. I've got
everything here in the basket" Mrs.
Wilcox said.
A look of pleasure had arisen TO
Jennie's gentle face She slipped off
her apron and soon was ready.
Silently the two women tOiled up
the hill road until they came to a lit
tie grove and rock much frequented
by picnickers. Ii was already Occu-
pied. woman sat with her back TO
them gazing at the view.
"Why!" Jennie gave little cry, 81
believe IFS Miss Packer"
The woman heard and turned TO
look at them. Surprise invested her
large dark face.
you're welcome" she said. Il don't
want only enough ground to sit on.
I'm dead tired"
You look it" Jennie sank down
upon stone.
$50 do you" Miss Packer retOrted.
"As for you. lmogene. you look not
only done out but sick"
ITS that pain in my shoulder
again." Mrs. Wilcox sighed. finding a
seat herself. "But | shouldn't be here
If Angeine and Robert and the kids
hadn't gone TO Riverdale for the day.
After got the work done up de-
cided I'd come up here and bring my
supper. | haven't been here before in
Il don't know when"
"NOr l." Miss Packer said. THAT'S
why I'm here now. The whole crew
at my house is going TO the church
supper. Ny niece has cOmpany-a
couple of girls from RiverdaIe.
didn't want anything TO eat. but did
want a little rest and Quiet-that
view is beautiful. isn't it?"
Grand" Jennie gazed wistfuIly at
the array of blue mountains in the
distance. Imogene's eyes. dwelling
upon the same expanse. were greedy.
She devOured il as one possessed of
a great hunger who didn't expect soon
TO be filled again.
Some time passed while the three
women sat there. their tired faces
turned TO the blossomng west.
Jennie Turner lived with her daugh.
ter, for whom she did the work of
servant, although without any pay but
her food and shelter. ImOgene Wilcox
lived with her sons family and sim
ilarly paid her way by working all
that she was able. Miss Packer was
independent, for she had means of her
own. but she lived with her married
sister and was no better off than the
other two.
"Well," Imogene said, suddenly turn
ing to her basket, 81 guess we'll have
a bit of supper. You're invited. Miss
Packer. There's plenty for the three
of u.s."
The food and the quiet heartened
the three women.
at has just occurred to me-" Miss
Packer said, that doormats have gone
out of fashion"
'Doormats !" Jennie laughed a lit
tle what do you mean?"
81 mean that we are doormats, the
three of us, and we are behind the
times" Miss Packers dark face was
grim. "Here am so tired l can't
breathe waiting on my sisters COM
pany. while I've got money enough TO
take care Of me anywhere Alice is
perfectly able TO hire somebody to do
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