Newspapers / The Monroe Journal (Monroe, … / April 24, 1923, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE TWO. f r.n two. TUESDAY, APRIL U, 192,1, The Custard Cup . -Bj- :. Florence Binghamlivingston CHAPTER XV Lettl Attempts Hoepltality. "Oh, I found the most wonderful bargain," announced Mrs. Penfleld, as the put down her old suitcase on the kitchen table and unbuckled the traps. "Look here. Uncle Jerry. Ifs bean splits" They look If" laughed the big man, as he Inspected the beans, which were halved or otherwise disinte grated. ,. , "Yes, it was easy to name 'em," she agreed. "Point Is, they don't cost but half as much as the whole ones, and where's the dirfnmce In nourish ment? The whole bean's there, only not In one place. And I know a way to cook oil Into beans so't the chil dren don't taste It, and I put In a nice dash of Indian meal, and land, they don't need nothing more to a sitting. They get as nourished as they can atand. You know a lot of folks are overfed." : "'Round here?" Inquired Uncle Jerry, with lazy ambiguity. She faced him with a flush on her cheeks. "Uncle Jerry, you don't . mean that the reason you don't don't take meals with us oftener Is Is " "Good Lord, no, Carllne," he ex ploded In amazement. "Ain't anything would suit me better'n to eat with you all the time, but the work I'm trying out Is It means Irregular : hours. That's all, honest. Why, you don't 'pose I'd be such a blame-fool as to Criticize All Is, It kind o' gets me to think what a family you came out of and the bringing up" ' She lifted her hand quickly In a gesture that brushed the past out of existence. "Don't y6u know that's why I can live this waj and be happy doing It? I've come to see that the more possessions you can eliminate, the better you can breathe and the more time you got for other folks and that's the mnln concern, ain't it?" "I'll be running along," said Uncle 'Jerry, with a whimsical smile. "Time I get back you'll have yourself argued out of food and furniture, I expect." "No, I won't," she laughed. "I'll make a stand for a certain amount Of both, but I'm going to remember that enough Is all I want. There's Perennial Prue," she added softly, as he caught a glimpse through the open front door. "Too bad you're going off. You might" "Well, now, I I don't have to go tralght away," admitted Unclt Jerry lowly. Mrs. Penfleld gave him a sly glance, but made no comment It was begin ning to dawn upon her that Uncle Jerry admired Prudence Hapgood that he regarded her as a superior being, worlds removed from the sort of existence which he had known. Before her he was sometimes shy, al ways awkward,'always Belf -conscious-he, the nonchalant, self-possessed Jerry Winston and yet he stayed by I lire. Penfleld wondered. Certainly Prudence was different from anyone else in The Custard Cup. She was like a quiet little rowboat that had strayed from Its moorings and had floated into a group of varie gated craft. Always gentle and friendly, she yet had the slightly aloof manner of one whose thoughts are turned often Inward. So far from being modified by her surround ings, she had brought her own world Into them and kept it intact. Her carefully preserved silk gown; the fine old lace around the neck and edg ing the sleeves; her sweetly sad poise; the calm expression of her eyes these set her apart from her neighbors. Intangibly but undeniably. She had brought a bit of crocheting ; Mrs. Penfleld got out her sewing; Jerry Winston nervously proffered tome reminiscences of the Oregon woods In the Interests of pillow topi; Lettle was quietly cutting pic tures out of an old Weatherstone mag azine. Conditions were Ideal for a congenial confab when like a bolt 'ot of the blue, word came that Mrs, I AMERICAN TOUrtO CO R. L. PAYNE, M. D. Office Over Union Drag Co. Residence Phone 4G6 Oce Phone 4C3 win mi i'i.m.i' in 'i'i'iiii;n,,iii.;i!.;;i;iiy,;i;CT ' ill A1 .,-, ii. i. ,, hi ni.ni.wni., ,fc M Mi i ,,,, l: , i Inslow's baby had bceu taktn 01. Would Mrs. Penfleld come at once? Of course she would. "You entertain Miss Hapgood," she reminded her household, with & part ing wave of her hand. "I'll como back as soon's I can." No one knew upon whom the mantle of hospitality had fallen. Uncle Jerry became more communicative about trees and out-of-doors, strangely easier now that his niece was gone. Lettle, however, understood that the honors were hers. When Penzie was away, surely she was the next hostess in line. She put aside her pictures and directed her mental energy to the question of hospitality. "Talking ain't much good," she said to herself, watching Uncle Jerry, who was expatiating on the value of Ore gon pine. "We'd oughter feed her. Folks don't think they've had a good i. time to your house 'less they've ct." I This decision, was cemented by the J fact that Miss Hapgood had treated I Crlnk and Lettle to cake a few days before. "I gotta feed her somep n. I Just gotta." She sprang to her feet and stole Into the kitchen. She stood for some time, thinking. Without looking, she knew there were no treats available In the cupboard; neither was It permissible to take self help liberties between meals. She would have to begin at the beginning. Crink waa on the back steps, whit tling pieces of wood which . would some time, with a slight Infusion of , imagination, be put together as a with utmost ingratlatlon. "Got any money, Crlnk r she In quired gently. ; "Well er why you wanter know?" He looked up in shrewd caution. The fact was that he had money; and al though individuals have had : more, none aver felt greater responsibility. Since he had been paid In cash by Mr. Drake, Mrs. Penfleld had presented him with an old purse and had allowed him to carry in It a sum never ex ceeding twenty cents, usually in as small change ns provided by the f United States treasury. The very loosest of this loose change he could I spend without supervision up to and Including ten cents a week ; larger j Investments were subject to decision , in conference. Crink's pride had ! reached dangerous proportions. '.. He was even glad that the purse was old; It looted more as though his financial experience reached gratifylngly Into the past. Moreover, by keeping the Inside pocket of the purse stuffed . with chips from the kitchen woodpile. 1 he was able to give the Impression of ! abundant resources beyond the j amount which he chose to spend at the moment. "Let me have some money, Crlnk," Lettle begged. "I need It awful, and I know you're 'most a rl$h man." He was flattered, but not wholly Overcome, "What do you want it for?" She told him. "And we've gotta be horspltle, Crink. Penzie said to be, and It's a good chance to make her happy." After considerable persuasion, Crink's will became enfeebled, and he handed over two cents, to match the ; two which Lettle had already ad mitted she possessed. "Glory be!" triumphed Lettle. "Crlnk, you're all to the good. Now "Glory Bel" Triumphed Lettle. you Just run down to the store and get four cents' worth of their best popping corn, and I'll " CHnk took up his knife again. "Aw I Nothing doing, Lettle. What do yon take me for?" he scoffed.' "Me, buy ing four, cents' worth of stuff to Mr. Drake's t I couldn't hold up ray head. No man ever passes out less'n a nlckeL" . " ' "All right, emarty. Put np another penny, and you'U have the nlcke) that's eating you." ; "Can't.. Them two cents are- the end for the week." "It's the end of the week, too," flareel Lettle. "Fork over a penny on next week. Itll do your Boul good. This whole thing's going to please Penzie better'n anything." .'. , Crink demurred. Lettle Insisted. Cririk captulated. i '.' "Now you're talking, Crlnk. And hurry hurry hurry I" She rvas consumed with Impatience. She ws afraid that the guest might depart' before the refreshments would be ready. Sho stuck her head through the dr Into the living-room. "How Ula guinea pics, fur in- stance,'' Cade jerry wa. sayli-g, with an easy gesture. "Guinea pigs would be a pretty healthy lot if the medical schools would let 'em alona. The whole point is" "How're you getting on?" toqulred Lettle brightly. This remark was Intended to be en couraging, but it had a rathe-- para lyzing effect upon conversation, which had been In full swing. Miss Hapgood dipped her hook into - her work with unusual Jerkiness. Uncle Jerry glared glared as If he didn't appre ciate hospitality at all. "Bun long, Lettle,'' he said briefly. "I got a story to finish." Feeling cuffed, Lettle went back into the kitchen. But at least there was no danger : of immediate de parture, since a story was In progress. She got out the popper, a large dish, the salt' Crlnk did not come. She grew more and more Impatient Pres ently she softly opened the door Into the living-room again and peeked in with great caution. "Miss Hapgood wasn't crocheting now. Her work had fallen in her lap. She was looking at Uncle Jerry with an expression ot absorbed interest and there was a lovely shell pink In her cheeks. Lettle had never seen her look like that Uncle Jerry was talking, but Lettle paid no attention. She was thinking about Miss Hapgood. She edged into the room. "Are you having a good time?" she began con versationally. . ' . Perennial Prue Jumped, fairly ' clutched at her work. Uncle Jerry frowned heavily. Lettle, clinging to the role of hostess, smiled genially. "You look awful lnt'rusted in each other. I guess you" "Lettle, didn't I tell you" , It was Uncle Jerry's voice a severe voice, too, but Lettle scarcely listened. She stepped In front of Prudence. "Miss Hapgood," she said confiden tially, "ain't it a funny thing, the way your cheeks get all colored up when you talk to Uncle Jerry ? Penzle's don't Sometimes she talks to him a long time, and she don't ever" "Oh," gasped Prudence In pitiable confusion) "It's only because because be was telling about" Her delicate hands fluttered In distress. " 'Shaw I Don't get so nervous," ad vised Lettle briskly. "Ain't nothing to make you nervous. Just make yourself to home." . . She was very sure of the correct ness of this phrase, it being much thought of In The Custard Cup, and she was therefore hugely astonished when she felt a firm hand on her shoulder, a hand with compelling force that switched her about and marched her toward the kitchen. To think of you, talking to a lady that way !" spluttered Uncle Jerry. "You'd better stay in the kltched till you learn manners." "My landy gpodnessl" gasped Let tle, nursing her thin shoulder and. gazing wrathfully at the closed doof Into the living-room. "I'd like to know what made him so cross. And me being extra pleasant tool Well, by Jlmlnyl" Bhe snapped. "IH bet I can feed a lady if he dont think I can talk to one." Crlnk came In with the corn,' and Lettle prodded the fire till the top of the stove was hot Gradually she for got her rebuff In watching the corn m the popper. ' , ; "Fil Caesar," she remarked, casting a reflective eye on the small, eager dog, who was gazing at her with vi brating hope, "you may's well get out. I don't scurcely b'lleve you'll get a bit of this here corn 'less you divide the old maids with Bonnie Ger aldine. , Crink.take this popper and I'll get the dishes. What say let's I'll bet Penzle'd like to have us use them little glass dishes that come with the cowpons. It's gotta be somep'n small, 'cause land knows there won't no feller get many kernels." j 1 She passed the popper to Crlnk and dragged a stool In front of the apple- ' box cupboard beside the stove. , The glass dishes, being very choice, were J . In one of the upper boxes, behind the splcea Lettic began moving , the SQce, boxes to another shelf. r "Oh oh !" she shrieked. "I dropped one. Pick it up, quick! Oh! Qulckl" But neither child could be quicker than the spice box had been. It bad fallen on the stove. When It struck, the cover flew off. A liberal quantity of cayenne pepper spread over the hot stove, and Instantly a spiral of black smoke arose, like diabolic in cense. An acrid odor filled tha kitchen: a Btlnging permeation, as sailed nostrils and throats. "Oh, ain't that the darndeat Oh! Murder I Help I Help I Gomel Coma along! Quick! Oh!" F1I Caesar roughed madly, leaped Into the air; then dashed into the open. Crlnk dropped the popper, pilling the predoitg corn over tha stove and floor. Coughing and snees Ing. he and Lettle made frantic daba at the stove with spoons and shovel, trying to remove the pepper, but their efforts only spread It mora thoroughly. With every breath they drew m biting fire. . .; ; Dncle Jerry and Prodence, fright ened by the uproar, burst Into the kitchen, and with .lightning response to the all-pervading stimulus, Joined in the general sneezing. At the same HAW ill v.i - tu-a, : m (un VOIUW 111 I11K tk iA a v upon her distracted family with ener getic command. "Get out of the house, everybody," ,' she cried. ."' '- ;.'.' Jerry Winston sprang forward and transferred the hot griddles to the end of the stove. Mrs. Penfleld snatched a towel," wet It under the faucet tind h43 it to her nose while she dealened the fire and opened tot wlndowa. - Tlie tortnred family and the' tor tured guest iled to the back yard, fighting tlft red-hot misery that clung in their throats, breathfng in great breaths of the cool air that aoothed and Inflamed at the same time. "0 Penzie," walled Lettle, dancing about In agony, "I honest to good ness, I was was trying to entertain Miss Hap She sneezed. "It's it's all right." choked the guest "I waa never more more cheheezel" Uncle Jerry coughed violently. "Ifs a blooming schweezel" "Honest Penzie," protested Lettle, with streaming eyes, "I was trying to to please you. It It was an ac cident" Mrs. Penfleld shook her head sadly. "I never saw anything like the way you're always around if there's an ac cident ready to happen. I wish I knew how to keep you out. ef the way of 'em." ' V TO BE CONTINUED Big Production of Magic and Mystery Chautauqua Feature Magic and mystery extraordinary will be presented by the Great Lau rent and Company at the coming Bed path Chautauqua here. With the aid of his capable assist ants and lavish and spectacular stage THE GREAT LAURANT. equipment, Laurant presents a aeries of mysteries which thoroughly sur prise and astound hla audiences. The arts of the Chinese and Hindu con jurers and thu fun and cleverness of the American magician are all drawn upon for his great magic production. The Laurant entertainment at tha Chautauqua here Is sure to be long re membered. KeepYout Complexion w of Rose-Petal Texture Ifadine Face Powder WH1 keep the roaes in your cheeks. It will make your skin soft, smooth and velvety. It will lend an irresistable charm, and the fragrance of the VP flower garden. 1 Nadine adheres and If AJV protects the akin V tZvw rom aun wind and ssf oust, contains no ingredient that can harm the kin or the eyes. Money re funded if not pleased. 50c t your toilet counter. Mia hturc box by mail 4c. NATIONAL TOILET CO. . rvis, Tnn TM; WhUt, FU.h, Pink, Mruntttm ' . r l uooa assortment ox iiorses ana wuws, &nrrrrt anri Wairnnfl am nan1 tkf .II times. Agents for Kelly Springfield Tires and Tucs. Terms Easy. THE SIKES COMPANY. Dr. S. A Alexander Veterinarian ' . i .. Office Thone 113. Res. 55-J. r i I I V I I YOU OWE IT TO YOUR CHILDREN - TO YOUR FAMILY TO SEE THAT THEY GET THE MOST NUTRITIOUS WHOLE SOME BAKINGS. Don't take, the chance of sac rificing quality, economy and food value by using self-rising flour mixtures. They are only substitutes for good plain flour and good baking powder. The best baking results are ohr tained from good baking pow , der and plain flour. The results are far better than from self-rising flour. There is no substitute, for good baking powder and plain flour. Economy does not necessarily mean cheapness of price, nor does it mean the easiest way. In these times the greatest care should be used in determining between true economy and the sham of mere cheapness be cause there are so many preparations and substitutes in the way of leaven ing agents on the market. For best results use Calumet Baking Powder and a good plain flour. 1 1 WM Elsie::;Baker 51 America's Great Contralto An artist who has won admirers everywhere for her heart songs and sacred selections. IN RECITAL , With Assisting Artists) ' ; Kr -' : ; ' : ;; : : THIRD NIGHT ... Redpath Chautauqua Seven Big Days 20 Splendid Attractions SEASON TICKETS ONLY $2.75 WTOMH CHAUTAUQUA -WEEK HERE MAY 9 TO 16 Send Tne Journal to that far-away son, daughter, cr friend. Each issue will be lik$ a letter from home to thens. t CHAUTAUQUA'
The Monroe Journal (Monroe, N.C.)
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April 24, 1923, edition 1
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