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Show page 62 Bessie came out an hour later, dressed for the street. She chatted with Mrs. Henson a few minutes before departing, revealing that she and her husband had come from Knoxville and that she planned to open a tearoom. Mrs. Henson liked neither of them, but ten dollars a week into Elizabeth's saving account was helpful. And both seemingly were going to be out of the house all day. Mrs. Henson took no action to get rid of them. A few days later Elizabeth came to the back porch where her mother was sorting some clothes. She finished eating a chocolate eclair and licked her fingers. "Where did you get the candy, hon?" "Mr. Hardcastle gave it to me," Elizabeth answered. Viola frowned, "But he left this morning before you were up." "He was in a few minutes," Elizabeth said. "Oh," said Viola, and she froxvned again. Bessie Hardcastle leased a vacant store and made preparations to open her tearoom. She was an industrious vroman, John Henson told his wife; he had happened to pass and to see her at work. "She cleaned all the junk out of that place and washed the windows," he said. "She works like a beaver." "The husband doesn't," Viola said. The observation was valid. Ralph Hardcastle spent his days and portions of his nights shooting pool or playing cards. He and Bessie argued heatedly about money. "How can I score with you begrudging me every lousy buck," he said. "I blow setups every day because I know if I miss I'll |
