Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-06-17


''It certainly viii be strange to have
a course dinner in am elegant furnished
house with nothing to eat and no serv-
ant" replied Mildred.
81 have it! viii be Biddy. In cap
and apron will be perfect; and 1could
not bear to sit down to the table with
the monster, anyway, making us pay
fifty cents for him! Ugh! the fiendl''
'Bess, will you, really? 1t will be a
wonderful help. You are an angel!''
and the clouds lifted slightly from Mil
dred's face as she gave her sister n
kiss on her merry rosebud Of a mouth.
Promptly at six Mildred's husband ar
rived with the much-dreaded guest, DIR.
Arnold. He was man approaching
middle age, intellectual in appearance
rather than handsome, with simple,
engaging manner.
DIR. Arnold was much impressed by
his beautiful young hostess and her
elegant surroundings, but he was quite
unpreparedfo for the elegance Of the APP
pointments when they were ushered in
to dinner. The table was laid with the
finest of damask, while elegant cut
glass sparl1led in the soft light from a
silver candelabrum. The china, too,
even his unframed eyes noted, was ex-
quisitely decorated.
"Surely my young confrere must
have prospered beyond the wont OF
most young men in our profession to
be surrounded by so much luxury" he
unused, as his eyes rested on the ele-
pantly carved oak sideboard with the
massive silver service.
The head Of the house took his seat
at the table, smile of pride and salts
faction upon his handsome face. ~
knew Mildred would manage to get US
something nice. She is n regular witch
about managing on almost nothing. II
she only had not such fanatical notions
about paying as we go!" he was think
ing.
He glanced ut his wife. Her cheeks
were flushed but the rest of her face
unusually pale. They were seated at
the table and Raymond was about to
inquire for Bessie when she appeared.
Her rebellious golden curls, smoothed
and darkened with vaseline, were
tucked under white cap. She wore
a plain dark dress and large white
apron. He endeavored to hide his
amusement. OF course he understood
it now Bridget had been gone about
two months and his wife had insisted
on not filling her place until business,
or rather collections, were better. A
bright idea of Bessie's! He would re-
member it when Chri stmas came.
Bessie carried tray upon which
were three fine china soup plates, in
each of which, in sea of soft sauce,
fioated two dumplings no larger than
peaches. Both of the gentlemen ate
the ''soup," as they saw it was intended
to be, with perplexity mingled with en-
joyment; it tasted suspicously like ap-
pie dumplings-very delightful, but
slightly unusual just at the time. Ray
mond was sure Bessie was getting
mixed.
The beautiful maid removed the
plates and brought in her waiter re-
filed. This time, served on dinner
plates, there were big, fat, luscious ap-
ple-dumplings; none but mother" ever
before attained anything so light and
so delicious Golden butter and the
whitest and lightest of homemade
bread were served with this course.
OF course DIR. Arnold was surprised at
this new form of a meal, but, man-like,
found no fault with what satisfied his
appetite and pleased his palate, and he
caused his dumpling to disappear with
astonishing rapidity. But one other OBJ
iect divided his attention-the waitress
OF course 1t was highly improper to no
tice her, but his eyes would wander.
What rosy mouth!-so saucy; and such
beautiful deep blue eyesl The face
seemed little familiar to him. The
white hand as it passed the bread posi-
lively bewitched him. He made efforts
at conversation, but his attention would
wander, which was indeed fortunate
for poor Mildred, who was by this time
quite crushed beneath Raymond's angry
glances, which had been unintermittent
since the arrival of the second dump
lings.
by the way," remarked DIR. Arnold,
'I sent my surgical case by express to-
day. don't like carrying even n com
paratively light weight previous to an
important operation. 1 imagine II
causes my hand to be trifle unsteady.
If you will kindly tell me the charge,
Mrs. Earle, will settle with your hus-
band"
Fifty cents" replied Mildred-with
nately been unable to secure word
alone with her husband to explain to
him how she had been obliged to use
the money.
"Poor grill that did put her in q
hole" thought DR. Earle, and the cloud
on his face lifted trihe; "but she
should have given up about not having
things charged, rather than mortify
me. I'll not forgive her." And DIR.
Earle looked very savage when his
guests attention was directed to his
plate.
The maid removed DIR. Arnold's we'll
cleared plate. Evidently he and Bessie
were the only ones enjoying the dinner.
Mildred and her husband made but a
pretense of eating. This time diver
sion was made by plate of fiaky bis
cult and dish of preserved fruit. Then
again came the inevitable dumplings;
this time they were square baked dump
ings, of golden brown, haked, ire
sistible. DIR. Arnold was both amused
and delighted Never since the days of
childhood had he enjoyed such a feast.
He looked toward his host. He was
vainly trying to hide unspeakable rage
under smile. His hostess looked dis
tressed, her eyes suspiciously bright,
though she tried bravely to converse
pleasantly.
After the hostess left them, DIR. Ar
mold, who had been pondering long and
deeply over the distrait and uncomfort-
able appearance of his friend, deter
mined to speak.
What is the trouble, doctor? You
seem worried. Anything I can do?"
Nothing - nothing - only" DIR.
Earle hesitated, then continued in a
sharp, irritated tone: 81 am very sorry
to have had nothing better to have Of
fered you for dinner"
Anything better for dinner? Why,
old man, I never enjoyed a dinner SO
much in my lifel"
Why is it that when a man wishes to
soothe or caress another man, he al
ways addresses him as ''old man?"
Don't be sarcastic, please" said
Raymond Earle, bitterly.
believe me, Earle, / am in dead
earnest when l say l enjoyed my din
ner immensely. The only drawback
was l did not dare ask your wife for
another of those last. have not tasted
anything half SO good since / was