Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-08-29

Like 10 see some Photographs?
He pushed them into her hand; to
save trouble Miss Croy looked at them.
And really the cottage was quite
charming, small and white, with tiny
terrace above a steep garden; the in
teriors looked airy and rather elegant.
most of the furniture seemed to be
built in. and the pattern Of the cur
tains was good.
Completely blacked-out," chanted
Mr.. Brocard, every modern convent
ence. going for song. Ill take three
hundred pounds down for it.
There's a patch for vegetables. And
you could keep hens. Even a pig
You'd be practically self-supporting"
Listen" said Miss Croy. rousing
herself Its all perfectly delightful
But I don't want a cottage"
why not?"
Because I have a quite adequate
flat already"
How do you know you have? How
dyou know one of those bombs we've
been hearing hasn't blown it to
smithereensH"
"But-but that's fantastic!" said
Miss Croy.
Only the really fantastic part was
that it wasn't. 1t wasn't fantastic at
all. 1t was perfectly possible.
And think how grand it would be. "
continued Mr.. Brocard. watching her
face, If when you go home in the
morning and find heap of smoking
ruins, you can just say to yourself.
Dear me! I'll just go down to my
cottage! My cottage in its safe area.
with every modern convenience"
Have you ever" asked Miss Crov
suddenly. sold vacuum cleaners?"
AS matter of fact, I haven't. But
1 dare say I could
I've no doubt of it," said Miss
Croy. But she looked at the pho
tographs more attentively; her sleepi-
ness was wearing off. If the photo
graphs were anything like the truth
That cottage was a bargain. But the
running of it! For the last 10 wears
she had been accustomed to the ir-
responsible luxury of service flat: the
thought OF wrestling with houseworl,
with cooking and shopping-to saw
nothlng OF the pig and the hens-ey
hauSted her in advance. And Won
couldnt get maids now for love or
money. They were all on war-work
Listen, she said. Its CHARMING
It's a bargain, but I couldn't TACKLE
IL. I'M not" she hesitated. il was
tile first time in many years that She
mad made the admission aloud. u am
not said Miss Croy, particularly
strong" ''-''--S
And then up spoke Mrs. Bride
MRS. Birdie nervously twisting her
hands in the gray wool, her Scottish
accent more pronounced than ever.
II there's ane thing I ken aboot."
SAID Mrs. Bride, Its hens"
They had completely forgotten her
she went on quickly, before either had
time to speak.
Hens and pigs, and beasts of a.
sorts. my Teddy, for was bred a farm
ers daughter in FifeShire! And DON
aid here should lend me a hand wi
the green stuff, and wee Elspeth,s no
50 sma, but she can wipe the dishes"
Really, I don't know what you're
talking about" said Miss Croy.
Mrs. Bride stood up and folded her
hands before her.
I'm applying. my Teddy. for the DO
section of housekeeper. I've been
housekeeper before in many a good
place, and there's my testimonials. in
Guiding twa frae Meenister O. the Kirk.
in the lef'-hand dresser drawer"
But don't want houSekeeper!"
"Ye just said yourself, my Teddy.
that you couldna manage alone"
That Is, if were to go to tie coun-
try"
Maybe you're thinking I'm too old?"
continued Mrs. Bride, unheeding. Il
may be old, but I'm fine and stringy.