The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1941-01-03
Soap Wrappers
@o@
By LUCE A. O'BRIEN
Mcclure syndicate-wNU service.)

| ENNIE slumped in the rickety
kitchen rocker, her work-rough-
ened hands nervelessly clasping
sodden handkerchief. Her tear
swollen eyes no longer reflected des-
perate courage. They were dull with
hopelessness.
For three hours the village chief,
his assistant and Mrs. Hard, the
mistress of Birch Clump, had tried
by every means to make the girl ad-
NIT taking Mrs. Jerome's expensive
compact. The vanity case was on
the dresser. Jennie had tidied up.
The case was gone.
That's the thanks I get. took
you from an institution and for two
years ] treated you, grand. You re-
pay me by stealing from guest.
My tourist trade will be ruined"
At first Jennie replied mildly:
why, no, l didn't take Mrs. Je-
rome's compact" I'll be sent to.
Jail, thought Jennie. What of it?
JailS no worse than the institution,
or here.
Suddenly remembrance stabbed
Jennie. Hef secret! She sebbed:
Don't send me away"
She just couldn't leave Mrs.
Haard'S. Mrs. Hard was hard
And it was no cinch being the only,
maid in a tourist home.
The past summer Jennie had
stopped wondering for life had
smiled upon her. She was in love
with a bronzed god who drove. a
truck.
Their first meeting occurred the
day before the Fourth. HE was buy
ing gasoline at the general store adj
joining Birch Clump. Jennie was
atop the stone wall, shipping ram
bier roses. Her foot slipped =.
HE reached the wall in one bound
and caught Jennie in his strong
arms. watch your step, kid. Scis-
Sors jab you? Yep. Here" HE pro-
duced an unfolded, green-bordered
handkerchief and bound up the
bleeding scratch.
"Th-thanks," gasped Jennie.
A week Jagged. Then Jennie saw
the truck numbering up the hill. She
waved frantically, jumped from the
wall-and sprawled fiat on her face.
Brakes grated. Jennie was lifted
up, oh, so gently! HE inquired
laughingly: you practicing tum-
bling acts?"
Jennie, obliviouS to scraped palms
and scratched nose, held out care
fully Numbered handkerchief.
HE grinned. TOO bad nice la
dee washee hankie" HE told Jen-
ME to moisten the handkerchief and
then he applied the dampened cor
ner to her bruises. Wild joy pos
sesSed Jennie. She seized the hand
kerchief, stammered: Next time
you go by" and, fed.
Two weeks dragged by. No more
roses. Jennie'S- heart siokened, then
sang, for one glorious morning up
the hill flashed the fairy coach. That
night, Jennie daringly sneaked out
to her first date with Curly.
The memory of succeeding rap
turous- evenings, kept Jennie singing
at her tasks Now Jennie sat crum-
pied In a, broken rocker. Life
Knocked hen.
Just a. few days before, four tour
ing stenographers had summoned
Jennie tor AID IN their departure.
She was fascinated by their lovely
clothes and lovelier compilations.
'-Sit here, Jennie" ordered one,
indicating the vanity dresser bench.
The speaker removed pads from
an open, pink-enameled case. Sub
shutting cotton, she busted Jennie
heart-shaped face with scented pow
der; snoothed dabs of orange paste
into . rosy flush; outlined Cupid's
bow mouth.
''Th-thanks," Stammered Jennie.
How could she keep beautiful-for
him-without q compact? Wait.
Where had she seen one? A shining
black case trimmed with sparkling
stones, Haunting a brilliant j.
Jennie remembered
Questions and accusations: accur
sations and questions The mercS
less grilling was interrupted by q
humping knock and Curly burst IN
saying: Jennie, here's your doc
dad. You forgot" He held oAt q
black disk edged with stones, q
rampant J holding the center.
"I'u take that. You stay rs is"
the chief ordered, flashing his badge
Mrs. Jerome twittered from the
threshold: Found my compact. Sc
careless. So sorry, Jennie" She
placed q soiled white bag on Jen.
MES icy knees. "To pay for your
inconvenience" She huttered out
immensely pleased with her Rener.
osity.
.Where did you get this case?''
Mrs. Hazard demanded suspiciously
with soap wrappers" whispered
Jennie. I'D been saving them since
! came, to Get warm sweater"
'.You took my soap Wrappers
began Mrs. Hard.
II took them from the waste bas.
ket, after you threw them away"
sighed Jennie.
4 en- ~1.k:-.>l ~