The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-13
CHAPTER FIFTEEN


COON after Penny's return from
- town the groceries arrived.
Ruth helped her put them away on
the pantry shelves. Studying the
ample outlay, Ruth suggested: Sup
pose I make you cake, Penny? A
day-late birthday cake!"
"Myl" exclaimed Penny in sur
prise. That would be grand. 1
can't recall when 1 had a cake
but can you cook, Miss Elaine?"
I can cook better than I can
play golf" replied Ruth impressive
" and with secret humor, I
learned it at school"
L can't hardly believe it," Penny
marveled. You cookin' a cakel 1t
looks like there's no end to the
ways you surprise me"
Ruth was collecting materials
eggs, flour, sugar, baking powder
and was locating a mixing bowl.
Wen put beaten egg whites in
the icing" she said, since you've
got plenty of fresh eggs"
Penny ventured timidly, Gould
you somehow make the icing pink,
Miss Elaine? 1 always thought 1t
would be elegant to have a cake
with pink icing"
Why, yes" Ruth answered, after
thinking over the pathetic request.
I can color it with a little OF the
water you're cooking the beets in.
At least III rio nv hest"
In an hour the cake was cooling
and waiting for its decoration. Ruth
contrived to color the icing by boil
ing the sugar in beet water. The
result was such a delicate pink
froth as to gladden. Penney's heart.
Tears of pride came to the old
woman'S eyes as she surveyed The
beautiful, three-story structure
which had been made for her with
such infinite pains. L never
thought to have the likel" she ex-
claimed.
Wen cut it tonight after sup
per-" Ruth said. While it's still
soft and fresh"
Later, after Penny had served
Ruth and had cleared the supper
table of the simple one-coUrse meal,
the cake was brought on. Since it
was Penny's cake, Ruth felt it was
ridiculous that it should be served
by Penny rather than shared with
Penny. She thought: Il know
Elaine would never do it, but I'm
going to ask her to sit down at the
table with me, SO we can eat it to-
gether."
She did The old woman, after
a bit of demurring, drew up chair
to the big walnut table and eagerly
held out her plate for one of the
SOFT, thick slices.
She had just begun to eat, wear
ing a blissfully happy expression on
her face, when there came echoing
through the house the sound of a
knocker striking a door Her jaws
stopped in mid-air, as it we're while
she hunched forward to listen. The
knocking came again.
Old Bertha laid down her cake
and got up. I'll go see who It's"
she said. Its likely peddler. You
wait here" She lighted an extra
candle and went out into the hall,
closing the heavy door behind her.
Ruth tasted the cake. 1t was
light and fine textured and utterly
delicious. She ate a second slice,
glowing with innocent pride in her
culinary accomplishments. Sh e
thought, IT wonder if John Mcneil
likes Cake?"
She pictured herself stirring up
one for him, standing in big green
and white kitchen with Bingham
curtains at the windows and gera-
NUNS blooming on the window stills.
In the fancied kitchen she wore
white linen house dress; a red rib
bon was tied about her head.
There was a stretch of smooth
lawn visible through the windows,
and an old-faShiOned flower gar
den. Like the one next door. Ruth
imagined John Mcneil coming into
the driveway in his car. and jump
ing out and dashing into the kitch-
en- ana TAKING Il6I III HIS al Ills anu
saying, What! Baking another
cake?" And her answer, But
you know you like cake. Johnl"
When she realized that she was
day dreaming in this sentimental
fashion she blushed furiously and
jumped to her feet. I wont!" she
told herself sharply. III like him
and will enjoy him while I'm here,
but I won't fall so hard I'll have a
broken heart 10 carry away with
mel"
She began to collect the dishes
and to take them to the kitchen.
She forced herself to stop thinking
of John. Instead, she disciplined
her mind by recalling the most alb
sorbing book she had ever read.
The book was a fairly old one
Beau GeSte"-and if one of the at
tractive young men who faced peril
in the Foreign Legion had John
McNeillS face, she let it pass. AT
least there was no heroine in the
III.