The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-01-20

she reminded her conscience
eve hoped that you would have
dinner with us. Won't you come
in and meet my husband?"
She left them in the living
room with the radio turned on
and sought Andy to acquaint him
with the startling news that they
had four guests for dinner.
"What in time are we going to
feed them?" He opened the
oven door and peered in at the
roasting pork. ''It smells sweet,
but there isn't enough for four
hungry men-those sailors prob
ably eat like prize fighters"
All he need do, Candace said
TRANQUILITY, was to 60 inland talk
to the men. eve couldn't tell
them point-blank that Mrs, Fits
had changed her mind, could we?
Evidently her message didn't
reach the right person at least
no one broke the news to those
poor trusting souls. You 60 in
and be host, Andy. Build up a
fresh fire and don't mix the
drinks too strong. I'm going
across the hall to ask old Mrs.
Peppercorn's advice"
Although young Mrs. Thane
and old Mrs. Peppercorn had
hitherto met only on the stairs
and in the halls, they had already
discovered that they liked each
other and Candace's instinct in
turning to the old lady was bas-
ed on mutual trust. Mrs. Pep
percorn solved the problem neat
ly and with an enthusiasm that
added radiance to her practical
kindness.
"Of course you haven't enough
for four extra. No couple plans a
dinner for six, unless they've in
vited company" The old lady
thought for a moment, then
beamed. "What we can do, is to
pool our dinners. What kind of
meat are you having?"
Roast pork, Candace disclosed
'We're having roast lamb. Put
your pork at one end of the ia
BILE and have your husband carve
it. Father can carve our lamb
at the other end. Two kinds of
meat always look lavish"
The combined dinner provided
a gratifying abundance and sec
ond, even third helpings testified
to the appreciation of the guests
They ate and talked and laughed
until one of them remembered
the dishes had to be washed. He
was a curly-haired lad under
twenty and during most of the
meal the Peppercorn's affection
ate poodle had slumbered on his
lap. The boy, his companions
asserted, mothered all the ships
mascots.
well clear away and wash up
You just sit and rest" chorus
ed the four, waving huge paws
vaguely toward their hostesses.
Candace saw old Mrs. Pepper
corn's face and signaled Andy.
you're heading for the movies
all you men, the girl directed,
smiling upon them from her
place behind the percolator that
had been a wedding gift. Women
liked to take their time, she told
them, and she and Mrs. PEPPER
corn would enjoy the dishes
while they talked.
In the great quiet that filled
the living room after the six
men had gone, the old lady and
the young wife looked at each
other across the disordered ia
BILE. 'You are so good!" Candace
snuffed the blue candles and the
thin, acrid smoke blended with
the odor of smoked cigarettes.
Old Mrs. Peppercorn absently
stroked the head of Doggie who
rested against her, his forepaws
on her knee. 'They were nice
men. And they enjoyed their
dinner. Only suppose, if they
had come here and found no one
and had gone away again. On
Easterw
When Toni Fits heard what
had happened, she said that
someone at headquarters had
been inexcusably stupid. Most
of the volunteer help wasn't
worth the telephone bills they
ran up. Still, the situation could
have been explained to the sail
ors and she would have tried to
make it up to them some other
time. Not, she admitted kindly,
that she didn't appreciate the
generosity of her neighbors. She
added that she could count on
them for steady concerted effort.