RURAL ENTERPRISE B Y ETHEL "A P R E S E N T " S Y N O P S IS — P A R T O N E — At * m erry p a r ty In th e s tu d io a p a r t ­ m e n t o f C a r te r B la k e , N e w Y o rk , J e rr y (G e r a ld in e ) H a r m e r , P r u ­ d e n c e 's d a u g h te r , m e e ts D u a n e A lle r to n , w e a lt h y Idler. He ad ­ m ir e s h er tr e m e n d o u s ly , a n d s h e lik e s him . B u t A lle r to n g e t* a b it e x h ila r a te d , w ith u n fo r tu n a t e r e s u lt s J e r r y , r e s e n tin g h is a s ­ s u m p tio n o f f a m ilia r ity , le a v e s th e p a r ty a b r u p tly T h e s to r y tu r n s to J e r r y 's c h ild h o o d and y o u th a t h er h o m e In D e s M oines. O n ly c h ild o f a w e a lth y fa th e r , w h e n sh e Is tw e n t y s h e f e e ls th o c a ll o f A rt a n d a s k s h e r p a r e n ts to le t h e r g o to N ew Y ork fo r s tu d y . W ith s o m e m is g iv in g , th e y a g r e e to h er g o in g . In N e w Y ork J e r r y m a k e s h e r h o m e w ith a M rs D e la n e y ("M tntl">, an a c t ­ r e s s , w h o , w ith T h e r e s a , a p a in t­ er, o c c u p ie s th e h o u se Jerry t a k e s a n I m m e d ia te lik in g to T h e r e s a , w h o Is ta le n t e d an d e c c e n tr ic , a n d th e tw o b e co m e fa s t fr ie n d s J e r r y n o w d e v o te s h e r s e lf to T h e r e s a , w h o r e tu r n s h e r lik in g J e r r y p o s e s fo r T h e r ­ e s a ’s m a s te r p ie c e , “T h e O cean E ld e r .” A lle r to n c a lls on J e rr y . T h e g ir l r e f u s e s to s e e h im . A t a h o te l d in n e r J e r r y s e e s D u a n e a n d is c o n s c io u s o f h is a d m ir a ­ tio n , h u t r e f u s e s to c h a n g e h e r a tt itu d e to w a r d him . Jerry b e­ c o m e s c o n v in c e d s h e h a s n o t th e a b ilit y to b e c o m e an a r t is t an d g iv e s h er e x p e n s iv e p a in tin g e q u ip m e n t to an a lm o s t p e n n ile s s g ir l s tu d e n t, G r e ta V al. w h o c a n ­ n o t u n d e r s ta n d h e r g e n e r o s ity . i tuhle, but he retained her one Inatant longer. “T hen you really «refer the violent R ussian method to iny more plebeian style?” “ Yes, very much." They abandoned bridge, then, and played penny ante, the seven of them, gambling furiously for pennies. Jerry was very quiet, her hands like Ice, hut she kept a steady eye upon her cards, and a fte r two hours was a winner by 42 cents. She said she knew It was playing a wicked poker to win and leave, hut she had an appointm ent with T heresa at eleven, she must really go. Leonid also Insisted he had an engagem ent uptown and would walk by Reilly’s alley with her on his way for s bus. And they went out quickly, the others barely pausing In th eir play to say good-by, although Duane's eyes followed her to th e door. She did not look back. "Oh. I »hall love anything you give me. Theresa, you so seldom do things like t h a t B ut I hope It Is Just a little teeny scratch of yours—a »plash of paint on an Inch of canvas If no more. I should love som ething of , yours. I’ve been w anting one bo aw­ fully much and—” “You're very Inquisitive.” said The­ resa. "B ut I sh an 't tell you a thing. It will be here when you come back." “I've a big notion not to go at all." declared Jerry. “I don't care for the old show—I w ant to see my present.” “You go along.” T heresa tossed her w rap from the chair across her shoul­ ders. She followed her out Into the hall and leaned over the banister as Jerry stood on the second step below, smiling up at her. “Jerry , you wished once th a t I might have been your sis­ ter. Do you still?” •'Yes, more than ever." “I wish so, too,” T heresa acknow l­ edged soberly. "B ut of course It couldn't possibly be. not by any man­ ner of m eans.” She hesitated a little. "T he things th at go Into making a Jerry, and those th at go Into a The­ resa— Oh, no, not by the wildest stretch of Im agination.” She laughed l a little, ruefully, and, leaning over, kissed Jerry suddenly on the top of her head. "R un along now, and be a good girl.” CHAPTER VII And Jerry Saw Prudence Jerry left Almee a t the entrance to Reilly’s alley, hurriedly let herself Into th j house, and started up the stairs on a light run. She was Im patient to see the present T heresa had left for her. She noticed no unnatural quiet in th e house. And yet when she saw Mlnil w alling for her nt the top of the stulrs, a lovely picture In her bright • • • • • • e gown with trailing tinseled fringes, T heresa surprised h er one morning she felt a sudden chilling of her eager­ ness. by asking a b ru p tly : “Oh, hello,” she said. "You startled “When are you going home, Je rry ? ” Jerry blushed and marveled th a t she me a little. You look like a solemn did so. She would have said she had ghost In silk and fringe." “Come Into my room a while, will never thought of going home. “I don’t know—perhaps not nt all,” you?" Mlnil asked, und th ere w as t. she said confusedly. “I am not th in k ­ hollowness In her usually lilting voice. ing of It—yet. Theresa, w hat do girls "Everybody’s out. You’re the flrst one do when—there Is nothing to do—and home. I don’t w ant to be alone." Jerry , with her usual willingness n i reason for doing It ?’’ to please, followed along Into her “God knows. I’ve often wondered," sittin g room In th e re a r of the narrow said Theresa tersely. hall, an effective room, which T heresa She hud tried to help Je rry coine found unbearably stuffy, but Into Into her own, had offered countless which Miinl fitted to nice perteetlon, CHAPTER VI—Continued suggestions In th at Impersonal way c.f all shaded lights, with great bronze “Jealous I Not a hit of It. I'm Just hers which kept her Interest free from burners of pungent Incense, oriental tired of supporting husbands, th a t's all Intrusiveness. But to every sug­ bangings, silken cushions. gestion Jerry had hut th e one answ er: all." “Sit here, dearie, in th is light. It "But why, T heresa? Why?" “Well, the last two were—a little— Just suits you,” Mimi said absently, For Jerry , still passionately In uh—" from force of habit, tucking a cushion "I should say they were. One stole search of a raison d’etre, saw no en­ against Je rry ’s shoulder as she bad half the fu rn itu re to hook for hoor.e, ticement In a hard manual work which done a hundred tim es before. “I’m and the other made love to everybody would w ear her out mentally, pnys- frightfully upset. You don't mind my In the house— Including me—so you lcally—for the sake of earning a few troubling you, do you? You a re so know he was ‘crtizy—and neither one soothing.” of them earned a cent during th eir— “Not a bit. I like It,” Je rry spoke th eir Incumbency, ns you might say. with truth. She loved being wanted. Well, suppose you go on down now, “But I hope It Isn't a real trouble. Mimi, you make me wild. 1 w ant to Just a little attack of moods." work." Miinl lit a cigarette and sun!: among "Isn't she. polite. Jerry ? I don't see the rushlons on the chaise longue, how you cun stand her. It m akes me puffing a cloud of smoke about her. furious. Just to look at her.” With the light on her face, Jerry could Mlml trailed out, lu a tine hauteur, see th at she w as ghastly pale beneath and closed the door upon the two th e cream y layers of rouge ami pow­ Kiris. der. "If you ever get m arried, Jerry ,” " It's T heresa.” H er voice sounded T heresa said, "don't let Mltnl have alm ost Irritable. anything to do with picking Idin out. "She works too hnrd,” Je rry nssent- She lias the rotten est luck with hus­ ed. “We must tak e her in hand, and bands.” mnke h er spare herself a little. I Jerry professed her entire disincli­ w anted her to go to the th e a te r with nation for a hushund of uny picking, us. but she would qot hear of It.” liu t her eyes were cloudy. “In a way I suppose she could hard­ ly go tonight,” Mimi spoke apologet­ A few nights Inter she saw Dunne ' ically, th e tone In which she alw ays Allerton again. It was a studio din | tried to excuse T heresa's abruptness. ncr at Almee Glorlnn's. While the "Don’t inind her, Jerry . She doesn't other four of the little party played mean to tie rude.” bridge, Jerry anil Leonid Kuraev, one "I don’t mind her. I think she’s of the new school of Russian actors, w onderful.” w ith whom New York abounds, w aslud Miinl tw isted her lingers Into a rigid, and dried the dishes, and then tu rn e l knotted gnarl. on the phonograph, and tngoed gayly "She w as wonderful,, but, but—she about the table In the center of the killed herself,” she said hollowly. room w here the others were playing. Jerry cried out, struggled to her Leonid was obviously enchanted, ,ierry feet, und then sank back w hite a rd gay and not deterring. He held her horrified among the cushions. close In his arms, draw ing her ardently "M iin l— uo—oh. don't," she cried. closer a t frequent Intervals. Jerry "Oh, H ello,” She Said. “You Startled "You—m ustn’t say such things—you— laughed, th ru st a hare white elbo- frighten me.” Me a L ittle .” b et« ccn them, crooking It Impudently Miinl Inhaled a great gulp of ciga­ alm ost In Ids very face, holdln„ him a dollars she did not need—depriving re tte smoke. some other glr who did need It of Just little away, l.eonld kissed her arm. "They have tak en her to M iettn's at Jerry was looking up, directly Into thut sam e amount. It seemed to Jerry th e corner—you know, the one with Ids eyes, teasing, laughing, us they It would he little more thun u rub­ flowers In th e windows. I'm fright­ bery. danced slowly about. fully u p s e t I t—It m akes a wreck of T heresa watched h er moodily during one.” lie shifted Ills arm suddenly, crush­ Je rry ’s hot young blood ran cold, ing her elbow away, holding her so those days, wondering w hat would close th at she wns obliged to (lit hack come of It, knowing th a t eventually a great blackness yawned before her her heud to avoid Ids face touching Jerry would go home, "W hen you go eyes. home,” she would say —not "If," and “Thia terrible woman Is m aking a hers. "I shall bite your chin If yon do Jerry alw ays Hushed and answ ered fool of me." she stam m ered aloud. In­ coherently. th at ngain.” she warned him merrily. stu b b o rn ly : “She shot herself. Right In the "But I do not know yet If I shall.” T hat was when she saw Punne, who • • • • • • • h eart. T here Is blood all over the hail come In quietly and was standing In the disdow of a tow ering highboy T heresa cam e to her door one night. floor. She slashed her p ictures—every In the comer. Jerry strove in vain to Jerry was Just ready to leave, going one— with th at little bronze dagger I throw off the chill of depression, to uptown to a th eater with Almee Glo­ brought her from Rome. H er room Is a perfect mess. You—you don't mind smile with the sam e assiduous warmth rian. "Theresa, you go to bed.” said Jerry my talking about It. do you. Jerry ? upon Leonid. She could not. The others at the table, quarreling crossly. "You look so tired, I Just I can 't help It. I'm a wrec'-g" "N no, of course not." Je rry statu fiercely over a hand, did not even stop w Ish my Prudence could get .told of to welcome Duane when he Joined yon for a few days. She'd make you I tnertsl. “O f course not." A fter a mo ment. when she could speak, she asked them When Jerry s l i d Leonid paused step a ro u n d !" ”1 step around too much as It la," i In such a soft and pitiful voice: "W in to hear the argum ent Duane hurriedly wound the phonograt h and asked her said T heresa, laughing faintly. "T h at's ' did she, Mlnil? She was so clever. the trouble with me. But I am tired. W asn't s..e happy?" to dance. Jerry shook her head. "I don't know why. Of com se she “ No, thanks. Not now. I'm tired." Jerry . I am really going to rest." "I'U believe th at when I see It.” w as happy. Everyone said bow br.i- She even smiled a little, to deceive the said Jerry . "Y ou're flesh may he llant she was, w hat a genius. She hod others In the room. a lover—she gave hhu up. She s I Duane turned his hack upon them, tired but It won't rest.” “You'll see. one of these days. Jerry. she couldn't serve two m asters, se e farcing her to w ithdraw from them a was right. 1 tried It. and mad» a I have a present for yon!" little and stand alone with him. Jerry was girlishly excited. "A pres­ m uddle o ' both. She was quite rig. •. “Will you—a fte r a little when you ent for me. T heresa? W here la It? She didn't mind much -g iving bln: up. are re ste d ?” She w orshiped her pictures." She shistk her head again, smiling. W hat " Jerry brooded over It bitterly ”1 "Leave your door unlocked It will qot balking at him. "1 fancy I »hall he In your room when you come back. could have loved her much more " she l e tired all evening," she said. said. “But she never seemed to want "You are more beautiful than ever I hope you are going to like It." “Oh, T heresa, I know I shall love It. —too much.” fe rry ." B enutlful, unfathom able Th. resa. “T hank you." She did not even I can't Imagina w hat—oh, T heresa. I w hat tragedies had underlain that Bnsh beneath th e w arm th of his - ea hope— " tense alertness I Jerry cried a iltUo. "You hope—w hat?“ She would have retu rn s I to the | “She might have left the pictures, Miinl chattered nervously, with cold lips. "Some of them were fine. 1 could have sold them for a great deal of money.” •’M lnil. did she owe you money— T heresa?" Jerry 's voice was eager. j She should love to do th at parting <(Cj. W e s te r n N e w s p a p e r U n io n .) kindness to the memory of strange T h e bent p o r tio n o f a r o o d m a n ’s Ttieresa—to pay her final debts. lif e — hln lit t le , n a m e le s s , u n rem en x - Mimi stared at her, shook her head. b e r e d a c t s o f k in d n e s s . “O f cours.' not. She ow e! nobody any­ S E A S O N A B L E GOOD T H IN G S thing. We took this house together, but she has alw ays borne the expense T he refreshing, cool cucumber, al­ of it, from the very flrst.” IN W A SH IN G TO N "Um, she would," w hispered Jerry, though having little nourishm ent, he- , ing 90 per cent disappointed th at she was denied that w ater. Is espe- Megaphone Man on Rubberneck final happiness, but understanding d a lly adapted for Wagon—In front of you Is the National Theresa with the cold but kindl.v hand. warm w e a t h e r i Capitol. "Oh. that is why she said good-by. Sweet Young Thing—Oh, Isn’t It an­ food. We like Its and kissed me," Je rry whispered. crisp freshness, j gelic? "T h at’s why she said she would—give and t h e r e are ! Mr. Grouch— Angelic? Why, young me a present—’’ many methods of woman, how can you speak of it as bo- Mlml caught upon the words hope­ serving It which Ing angelic? fully. “A present! T heresa said It? will be enjoyed by the en tire fam ily I Sweet Young T hing—Well, It has Come, quickly." Stewed Cucumbers.—Peel, qu arter wings, h asn ’t It?—F lorida Times- They run feverishly down the hall to Je rry ’s room and reached for the and seed the cucumbers. Ery a little Union. button. Mimi's hand ahead of Jerry's, onion In butter, add the cucumbers, M A R K OF H E R E D ITY flooding the room with light. They turning until brown on both sides. Re­ saw it Instantly, standing out vivid move und add a tablespoonful of flour and bright In the smull room, propped to the fut In the pun and when brown upon the piano ugaiyist the wall, The­ udd a cupful of veal or chicken stock. resa’s parting gift to the one who had Seuson with pepper und suit, replace most desired her—the "Ocean R ider.” the cucum bers In the pan, cover and simm er a h alf hour. Serve hot. a tum ult of green and white. Stuffed Baked Cucumbers. — T ake Jerry stood before It, sobbing pite­ the largest sized cucum bers for this ously, tw isting her hands together. "Oh, T heresa, how could you?" she dish. Cut them Into halves and re­ wept. And then, rem em bering Mlml, move the seeds, leaving a smooth ca­ she tried to stifle her emotion, to be vity for the stuffing. Drop these shells quiet, self-possessed. “She—she w asn’t Into boiling w ater und cook for five unhappy about It," she »tarnniered minutes, then chill In Ice w ater, drain, weakly. “She was quite gay. She fill with a m ixture of cold meat, m ush­ Bobble—Gimme h alf your cookie. laughed at me and kissed me—” Her rooms, hard cooked eggs, or leftover Mine’s all et up. seasoned, adding voice broke on ihe pitiful words. “P er­ vegetables well E thel—I never saw such a greedy haps—she Is really getting—rested, as crum bs to m ake the filling of the right boy. I don’t believe you were brought consistency. T ie th e halves together, she said." by a stork, a t all. An ostrich must "Come on back,” said Mlml. “It basting occasionally with gravy or have brought you. b u tter while baking. B ake about an makes me nervous. I never liked th at picture. T here Is som ething so— hour. Couldn’t Joke Adam Japanese Method.—Cook the cucum­ defiant—about it.” W h a te v er tro u b lee Adam had. They sat down opposite each other, bers whole, slit them and serve them No m an co u ld m a k e him sore stiffly, Jerry In the g reat chair, Mlml with b u tte r and salt, or boll th e peeled By sa y in g , w h en he told a Joke, cucum bers in a m ixture of milk and lighting another cigarette as she lay "I've heard th a t o n e before." tense and rigid on the chaise longue. w ater, then dip In egg and crum bs Looking at her suddenly Je rry realized and fry brown, or dip In fritte r b a tte r , According to Plan th at the painted woman In the trnlllng and serve cooked as any other fritter. , H arold—W hen I asked Dorothy If Cream of Cucumber Soup,—Use two | she would be mine, she fell on my silken gown w as broken-hearted, suf­ fering things Indescribable th a t her or more cupfuls of chopped cucum ber breast and gobbed like a child, but cooked la a sm all am ount of w ater finally she put her arm s around my very thoughts w ere bleeding. "Mlml, you loved T heresa, didn’t and the w ater and the cucum ber put neck and— through a sieve, adding to rich milk a you?" Ethel—Oh, yes, I know all about IL T h at curious, clinging friendship be­ binding of a tablespoonful each of but­ I rehearsed It with her. te r and flour cooked together. Onion tween the young girl with her terrific energy, and the frivolous, light-hearted may be added If desired. T his Is a The Test woman was the greatest m ystery Jerry , delicious soup If you like cucumber. “W hen I put th e coat on for the flrst Tom ato lea.—Cook a q u art of tom a­ had touched upon In the great city. Miinl smoked passionately, tw isting toes seasoned w ith sugar, paprika, tim e and buttoned It up, I burst the the cigarette between her lips. Sud- j nutm eg and a little grated lemon peel. seam down the b a c k !” enly she tossed It Into the fireplace, ! S train through a sieve and freeze, j “Yes, th a t will show you bow well j Use an Ice cream dipper to serve 't, out buttons a re sewed o n !” lit another. H er fingers were blue. "You didn't know th a t I am T here­ adding a cone of the tom ato to a nest j Beat Him to It sa's m other, did you, Jerry ? I don’t of head lettuce. Cover with mayon I nalse and serve with toaste I crackers. ' H is W ife— I hear Mrs. Trlpplewed suppose she told you.” Belgian H ash.—Soak one-half cup- was led to the a lta r for the third time. T h at w as m ore than Jerry could Mr. P ester—Led to the altar? I hear. She broke into high, hysterical ; ful of prunes, a h alf cupful of cur- I rants over night, add two finely h ear she w as th ere flrs t laughter. ' chopped and well-cooked hocks, a half "Mlml I Don’t !" Mlml nodded ngnln. ‘‘She wns my cupful of sugar, three-fourths of a cup­ SPEEDING P A R T IN G GUEST daughter." She began to explain with ful of vinegar, and one-fourth of a nervous Intensity. “She called me j cupful of w ater, half of a grated n u t­ Mudder when she was a little baby, meg anil salt to taste, l’ut In the but she grew up Into such a funny, oven and cook until th e liquid is ab­ long-legged m onster of n c h ild ! And sorbed. More sugar may be liked; I had—my adm irers, my career. In often a cupful Is not too m u ch ; hut to the profession they w ant you always the uninitiated half thut quantity Is to rem ain young, unm arried and free. a great plenty. Everyday Good Things. It w as absurd to lny claim to youth Plenty of good vegetables should be with n great girl like T heresa b ran ­ dishing my past In my face. So we served during the season when tbey ure so plentiful. fell Into the way of using Mlnil and V irg in ia Creamed T heresa. Lots of them do, on the Beets.—Boll the beets stage. She liked It—T heresa liked It." until tender In unsalted Je rry snld nothing, could say noth­ w ater. Rub off the skins, ing. Poor T heresa ! She thought of slice and arrange In a the terrible, tragic loneliness of the deep dish. Make a H ostess—Going so soon, Mr. brilliant young a rtist. H er mother sauce, using two table­ Pstunge? she had sacrificed to youth and beauty, spoonfuls of butter, and Mr. P stunge— No, I'm not going for her love she had given up for Art. when bubbling hot add at least an hour, but I have to begin Now she w as dead, glad of her free­ two tablespoonfuls of flour, a little to sta rt the engine of my second-hand dom from a life which had only tired her. Je rry shuddered. She sat mo­ salt and red pepper, a spoonful of car. sugar Hnd a cupful of hot cream. H eat tionless. shocked beyond words. “Oh, you nre blam ing m e!” Mlml well and pour when smooth over the Left W ith Thorn cried suddenly. “You do not under­ prepared beets. Serve hot. T a lk s ab ou t th e ro ses Hindu Salad.—Shred some crisp ten­ W here th e lig h t Is born. stand ! I tell you It Is often done In W hen th e d a r k n e ss clo se s. th e profession. We think nothing of der lettuce and arrange on salad L ea v es u s w ith th e thorn. It. You have never understood me, plates. On these lay four slices of ripe tom ato, cover tw o with chopped nor T heresa—none of us! You were Extra Urn Suggestive celery and onion, the other two with never one of us I" P our j K rlss—So you felt uncanny while "No. I was never really one of finely minced w ater cress. French dressing over all. courting th a t little widow? you.” Je rry did not resent It. She Serve lettuce daily, and use the fol- ' Kross—You het. She kept th e ashes w as glad. lowing for salad dressing for a change, | of her late husband right on the piano. "T heresa didn't mind. She liked It. K rlss—Oh, th a t Isn't so terrible. Anothe- Thousand Island Dressing. From the tim e she was a baby she K ross—Maybe n o t B ut I didn't like w anted to he free, to he left alone. —T ake one cupful of thick mayon­ naise. six tahlespoonfuls of chill sauce, j the looks of the ex tra urn. She didn't like a fu s t made over her.” Je rry shook her head, not grasping two chopped red peppers, half a table- Might Have Been Worse It. “Children they never know what spoonful of chopped chives. Serve on I Dobbs—The man In the next ap art­ they w ant. But you. Mlml, didn't you wax beans or cooked peas. Baked Kidney Beane.—Soak three ment Isn't such a bad chap, a fte r alL w ant people to know? You should j cupfuls of kidney beans over n ig h t; In Hobs— Is th a t so? have been so proud of Theresa. My Dobbs— Yes. A fter he had aw ak­ m other—why, she Is even proud of the morning parboil them with four m e! She—when she m eets people I large onions. Put them Into a bean ened our baby last night w ith his saxo­ pot with a p!nt of stewed tomatoes, phone he kept right on playing so I have known she likes to Introduce her­ one-third of a teaspoonful of pepper, self th a t way—Just. ’I am Je rry ’a a tahlespoonful each of salt an.i sugar couldn't h ear It crying. m other.’ " and one-half pound of salt pork. Bury "I w as proud of T heresa." Insisted the pork In the beans and add Just ; Why She Made Him Promise Mlml. “I know how wonderful she enough w ater to cover the beans. Bake ' Mabel—1 let Jack klas me on con­ was. B ut—a woman can't stop being five hours In a m oderate oven. Mus­ dition th a t he w ouldn't m ention 1L a woman Just because she has a baby, tard may be added In place of the M arie—I suppose you w anted to can she? I had my life, my work, my onions, or both will be liked If th* break the new s yourself, eh, dear? lovers. Oh. everyone will blame me I salt pork Is not relished add a cupful But T heresa liked her freedom ! She of olive oil. Seasonal should have thought of me before she Dutch Stuffed Doughnuts. — Take din this thing -she never thought of three cupfuls of bread dough, add ' T raveling M an—Do you have hot ine—A rt, always, before everything.” one-fourth of a cupful of butter, on* and cold w ater In th is room? Bellhop—Y ep; hot In summer, cold "But, Mlml,” Jerry Interrupted her. cupful of sugar, with nutm eg to sea- stam m ering. “If you are her mother, son. Add two well beaten eggs, mix in winter. you must know why !" well and roll out ra th e r thin, cut Into Kindly Judge rounds the size of a tea cup, put a “T hirty dollars fine for colliding. spoonful of Jelly or Jam