The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-05-27
BIZ KArYA THAUN

paused a moment before plung-
ing into the swirling wall OF wind.
driven snow that rushed in upon
him. He hhnched his shoulders
against the icy blast and pulled his
sheepskin collar higher around his
singing cheeks.
Oily ducked and bracing him
self against the fury Of the blizzard
took several long strides before,
blinded by the snow, he fioundered
in a deep drift against a fence.
Beating one numbed hand against
his side and holding to the fence
with the other, he made his way
slowly toward the squat farmhouse
whose outline he could barely see
through the flying cloud of snow.
Dilly stamped his feet to rid them
of the caked snow, and flung open
the kitchen door, or so 1t seemed.
In truth, he only turned the round
white knob, and the wind did the
rest.
Mrs Mansfield was mixing bis
cult dough in a yellow bowl, and
she looked at Oily with her
watery eyes as he leaned against
the door to close 1t.
Dilly wiped away the flakes Of
snow clustered on his eyeglasses.
Some weather, Mrs. Mansfield"
he suggested. "Ain't it,"
YES" she agreed, wiping her
fioury hands on her blue apron and
looking toward a window darkened
by cedar trees weighted down with
their loads of snow"
billy walked across the room to
where row OF nails in the wall
held coats and caps with overshoes
and mittens piled underneath. His
feet left dirty-white tracks all the
way.
Mrs. Mansfield opened the oven
door and stopped over to probe
something baking inside. A hot,
spicy aroma filled the kitchen.
billy shifted.
Mimi" he said with relish.
Suddenly his thoughts leaped
back across the years to an autumn
With a bouquet Of brilliant col
ored sumach and grape leaves and
unopened bitter-sweet barely turn
ing yellow, he approached Amy
Winslow's kitchen, from which is
sued the most savory smells
spices, hot raisins, steamed bread.
He tapped shyly on the screen
door and entered, presenting the
bouquet to Amy.
Nom sent you these"
Wasn't that sweet of heri" Amy
was enthusiastic. Tell your MON
thanks for me-"
She hurried into another room
for a vase and he waited, steal
ing glances at Wanda seated on a
high stool and stirring something
with her eyes downcast and a blush
on her cheeks.
Amy reappeared.
You wait Bit" she invited.
"Wanda's making raisin loaf. My
mother taught me and now I'm
teaching her. It's an old family re-
cipe from Lord
"That so?" he asked politely, sit
ting on a green chair. His thoughts
were filled with raisin loaf and
sweet milk, and the half-smile on
Wanda's lips.
"All right, Wanda" Amy's voice
broke into his reverie. "That's
ready for the oven. You can 20
out and play"
He and Wanda walked down the
rocky path under the yellow elm
trees. The dry leaves rustled under
their feet. A late blackbird perch
ed above their heads, scraping
away. Suddenly he threw his arms
around her in a fierce bear-hug.
Wanda, you're my grill"
Wanda struggled furiously. az
am mott" she cried, in hot convic-
ton.
Wanda and her mother had fol-
lowed gold spanning father to the
coast. billy had drifted around in
the middle west working on farms.
But in his thoughts, Wanda was
still his girl. =.
Mrs Mansfield closed the oven
door and the small orient created
by the smell of spices was only
memory pale by the solid practical
ity of the steam from kettle of
hot beef soup.
did the new cook get here" he
asked in low voice.
Eyes, she came last night after
you'd gone to bed. Just beat the