White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-09-24


their departure, to crumple their care
fully worded notice and throw it on
the floor. Sabra, though she made
short work of the visiting Venuses
and Rebekahs, ran their notice and, If
necessary, carefully rewrote it.
"God Almighty" he would groan at
MONDAY dinner. "The Office was full
of Venuses this morning. Like
swarm Of overstuffed locusts."
Sabra was at the head of many of
these Betterment movements. Also If
there could be said to be anything SO
formal as society in Usage, Sabra
Cravat was the leader of it. She was
the first to electrify the ladies of the
Twentieth Century Culture club by
serving them Waldorf salad-that
abominable mixture of apple cubes,
chopped nuts, whipped cream, and
mayonnaise. The club fell upon 1t
with little cries and murmurs. There
after 1t was served at club meetings
until Usage husbands, returning home
to supper after days work, and be-
ing offered this salvage from the feast,
would push it aside with masculine
contempt for it's contents and roar,
II can't, eat this stuff. Fix me some
bacon and eggs"
From this culinary land social tri-
umph Sabra proceeded to pineapple
and marshmallow salad, the recipe
for which had been sent her by Donna
in the East. Its indirect effects were
fatal.
When 1t again became her turn to
act as hostess to the members Of the
club she made her preparations for the
afternoon meeting, held at the grisly
hour of half-past two. Refreshments
were invariably served at four. With
all arrangements made, she was con-
fronted by Ruby Big Elk with the
astounding statement that this was a
great Indian festival day (September,
and the corn dances were on) and
that she must go to the reservation in
time for the Mescal ceremony.
you can't co." said Sabra, fatty.
Midday dinner was over. Yancey had
returned to the Office. Gin was loung-
ing in the hammock on the porch.
For answer Ruby turned and walked
with her stately, Irritating step into
her own room just off the kitchen and
closed the door. /
"Well," shouted Sabra in the tones
of Felice Venable herself, IF you do
go you needn't come back" She
marched out to the front porch, where
the sight Of the lounging Gin only
aggravated her annoyance.
"This ends It, That girl has got to
leave"
"What girl?"
"Ruby. Twenty women this after
noon, and she says she's going to the
reservation. They'll be here at half
past two" 1t was rather incoherent,
but Gin, surprisingly enough, seemed
to understand.
"But she told you month ago."
"Told me what? How do you
know"
Because she told me she told you,
ever so long ago"
maybe she did. She never men
toned it again. / can't be expected to
remember every time the Indians have
one of the powwows. told her she
couldn't go. She's in there getting
ready. Well, this ends it. She needn't
come back"
She flounced into the kitchen. There
stood a mild-mannered young Indian
girl unknown to her.
"What do you want?"
II am here" the girl answered, COM
posedly, ''to take Ruby Big Elk's place
| this afternoon. I am Cherokee. She
told me to come" She plucked Ruby's
blue and white checked Bingham
| kitchen apron off the hook behind the
| door and tied it around her waist.
"Well!" gasped Sabra, relieved, but
still angry. Through the kitchen win
dow she saw CHM hitching up the two
| pintos to the racy little yellow phaeton
! that Yancey had bought. She must
run out and tell him before he left.
He had seemed disturbed. She was
| glad he was clearing out. She liked
having the men folks out of the way
when afternoon company was due.
Ruby's door opened. The girl came
out. Her appearance was amazing.
| She wore a dress of white doeskin
| hanging straight from shoulders to
| ankles, and as soft and pliable as vel
vet. The hem was fringed. Front,
sleeves, collar were finely beaded in
an intricate pattern that was more
like embroidery than beading. On her
feet were moccasins in ivory white and
as exquisitely beaded as the dress. 1t
was the robe of a princess. Her dark
Indian eyes were alive. Her skin
seemed to glow in contrast with the
garment. The girl was, for the mo-
ment, almost beautiful.
/! Hello, Theresa Jump. This
is Theresa Jump. She will do my
work this day. have told her.
will be back tomorrow morning."
She walked slowly out of the house
by way of the kitchen door, across the