Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-04-27

since she had had visit from Allie.
Cant you come now" she wrote,
while John is away travelingP
should not at all wonder II he stopped
here on his way home, and what a
pleasant surprise 1t will be to him to
find you hcrel"
Alice's facs frightened. She ran TO
show the letter to Joanna.
Wont IL be nice2" said she, like a
delighted child
at just will" said Joanna.
Mrs John Smith, the elder, was not
In the least like the conventional idea
OF q mother-in-law She was com
Portable, pillowy old lady, with twink
ling gold spcctucles, frill OF real lace
around her neck and black silk dress
that rustlcd softly as sho walked. just
the kind of woman TO confidc in, and
In less than twenty hours she and
Alice had talked the whole matter over.
and Alice had prepared sundry test
dishes in the kitchen.
MY dear" said the old lady, "you
are better cook than ever was"
But, mother, John doc sn't think
so"
John must be made to appreciate
his blessings my dear" said Mrs.
Smith, the elder.
or course Mr.. Smith was pleased to
find Alice there when he stopped for
flying visit on the way home. II was
just ut dinner time when he arrived,
and he ate like n starved wolf.
"Ah.h-hl" said he, helping himself
second time to the flalsy chicken pic
and sending his coffee cup for re-
Punishment This Is something like!
The people out west don't know whit
cooking means. ! sec, mother, you
haven't forgotten your old skill An.
other croquette, please. And pass the
doughnuts Now, look here, Allie
eat these, II you want TO know what
doughnuts really are. Why, used TO
take these TO school in my lunch box
when ! was ten years oldl haven't
eaten such dinner as this since was
Mt homo before. | do wish, mother,
you could give Allie few points in
these matters"
Mrs. John Smith, the elder, looked
across tho table to where Alicc's fair
head dropped over her plate.
Don't mind him, Allie" she snld,
encouragingly. "You may show him
tomorrow what you can do"
At breakfast the flshballs were pro-
nouuced too dry.
Don't you like themp" huttered
Allie. with an apprehenSivo glance nt
her mother-in-law.
"Do like sawdustp What's that
you've got there9 Broiled chickensl
How came you to scorch them SOP Aud
half raw In tho middlei Call these
rollsp Why, they're heavy ns lcudl
Boil me an egg, can't you? Luckily no.
body can spoil boiled egg"
Dinner was no better The roast
grouse was overdone, the oyster Pic
was pronounced "soggy," the pudding
like lead.
mo wonder" groancd Mr.. Smith,
that dyspepsia is the great American
diseased
"Why, John" chirped the CHEEKY old
lady, "what ails you2 You never used
TO grumble so ut what you alto and
drank"
ITS Allies vile coolsingl" groaued
the young man.
mo, 1t isn't" said Mrs. John Smith,
the cider "lt's mine"
"Whatw shouted her son, dropping
his Knife.
1--WE done all the cooking to-day"
said Mrs. John Smith, the elder. "Ex.
actly us used to do IL when you lived
at home, and suited you to r."
"And-and who cooked tho dinner
yesterday" stammcred John.
"Allcc! Everything on the tablet I
always told her that she was better
cook than / was And you will believe
IL now"
John sat for n moment or two In
silence; then he whistled low, long
whistle.
81 give up bcatw said he. "Alice, we
shall have to hand over the first prize
to you. Como around here, my girl,
and kiss me-"
And Alice obcyed, stopping on the
way to give her mother.in-law Low.
ing little hug
Joanna johnson was on the alert TO
catch every word and look when the
young couple returned home, and APP
parcntly the result Of her obser-
vations was satisfactory.
II kind o. thought II would worlt,"
said she TO herself with u grim smile.
"Ihom doughnuts she fried last night,
he said he had never tasted no better.
They was like thistlodowns.
just then Alice came in nil radiant
Joanna" said she, did you hear
what Mr., Smith said about my cook.
ing?"
"Ycs, dear, did" smiled Joanna
Gle likes my cooking now"
He'd be strange person II he
didn't, dear" observed the help"
But Alice kept the story Of the little
stratagcn 10 herself She was too
loyal wife 10 hetray Johns discomGt-
uro even TO faithful Joanna; and on
her side tho lanlS New Highlander never
let Alice know Of tho letter she had
surrcptitiously written to Mira John
Smith, the elder, suggesting this very
plan.
at takes n good deal OF machinery 10
get ahead Of Il man." said Joanna TO
herself, but | guess we did II this
time. "--saturday Night.
"A door has two jnmbs. Write
that on the blackboard, Willie" Aud
Willie wrote, "a layy has two tam hos -