Middletown transcript., 1904-07-09

clear ho hui
INJURED disconso-
lately. sI had hoped it would be to-
mato. like tomato soup, but ! don't
smell anything that smells like it.
He heard his wife's voice in the lower
hall, and involuntarily Strengthened bis
STOPPING shoulders. 1t was strong, full
voice, suggesting an excellent digestion
and healthy attitude Of mind.
: sRob," said the voice, evenly, go
directly to the bathroom. Your hair as
a sight, and your hands"
Mr.. Graves paused on the stairs and
patted his own sparse locks apprehen'
sively. Rob, a turbulent noisy youth
of fifteen, tumbled by him, with hur'
ried grunt in response to his pleasant
''Good evening, Robbie" MIR. Graves
recalled regretfully that the boy did not
like being called Robbie" !" and deter
mined to use the more forceful "Rob"
when they met again.
ssThe roast is on the table, Robert, "
said his wife, coming from the dining
room. "There is no soup night
hope you don't mind"
'No," he said, YEARLY; 81 don't
mind"
But he did mind. He was tired, very
tired, with painful sensation OF faint
ness that the hot soup might have BAN
ished. Now he must carve for nine per-
sons before he could break his long fast.
He had eaten nothing since morning.
His lunch hour had habit of eluding
him, of slipping by unnoticed, or of being
occupied by conferences with the hurried
heads of the firm.
He took his place at the head OF the
table, standing. He could not carve
seated. He had often planned to have
a carver's high chair, but the money was
always absorbed by some more impera-
tive need. He looked about the table
five vacant places.
"Serve the children, Robert" said
Mrs. Graves, cheerfully, coming in from
the kitchen with the vegetables. Il
can't come Just now. Nora is away ; her
sister is sick. The others will be here
soon. Straighten up, dear-you look q
hundred years old" patting his shoulder
with careless affection as she passed by.
For moment Robert Graves's sensi-
tive mouth quivered. They had been
married twenty-five years. This was
their anniversary. He wondered if Laura
remembered, and he blushed guiltily,
thinking of the paper hidden away in
his breast pocket-an anniversary ode to
Laura, My Wife"
'I'm awfully hungry" piped eight
year-old Kenneth.
"Me, too," chimed in little Jean.
''Hush, Jean," cautioned womanly
Mildred perhaps papa has headache. :"
Mr.. Graves, with a skill gained by long
experience, was deftly carving thin, deli
cate slices from the roast of lamb.
Bess and Gertie, beautiful, blooming
girls of eighteen and twenty, came in,
laughing and talking merrily. Rob
pushed by them in the doorway and fell
heavily into the chair beside his twin,
Rollie.
'I came in before the girls" lie
growled, nudging Rollie with his elbow.
Mr.. Graves frowned. He had already
waited upon Mildred, little Jean and
Kenneth, and was passing plate Of food
to Rollie.
"Ladies first" cried Bess, gayly
"where's mamma?
cpl come soon," said Mrs. Graves,
pleasantly. "Gertie, you may serve the
macaroni."
"Glad to have the chance" answered
Gertie "macaroni is one Of my fayorites,
and I'll help Gertie bountifully. Give
me an extra big piece Of lamb, please,
papa ; Pm starving"
In the meantime, gentlemanly Rollie
had aYerted storm by handing the plate
intended for him to Rob, laying in a
low tone, 'I'd rather wait, papa I'm
not in the least hungry"
Mr.. Graves knew this was only foster
ing undesirable traits in Rob but he was
too tired, and this was no time for argu-
ment or correction, and with a grateful
glance at Rollie he helped the two older
girls.
Mines all gone, papa" announced
Kenneth, with the air Of a conqueror.
"You must have hurried" remarked
his father, impatiently.
"Did," returned Kenneth, not in the
least abashed, "just gobbled, fast as l
could"
Mrs. Graves, coming in, caught the
word "gobbled."
"Rollie, she said, ,serenely, lyon know
! expect you to see that your little brother
eats his food properly"
Kenneth grinned into Rollie's scarlet
face, and put the tip OF his tongue out in
the space once occupied by two front
teeth.
"Why don't you lick that kid ?" NUT
tered Rob, sayagely.
Rollie made no reply. His eyes were
fixed on his fathers pale face and hard
set jaws. He had never before seen him
look like that. Mr.. Graves silently
handed another plate to Rollie, helped
Kenneth a second time, and was about
to sit down. He didn't care much
whether be had anything to eat or not.
But Mildred gently called his attention
to little Jean, who wanted more 'amb",
and Gertie would like another potato,
and Bess small piece of meat and then
their mother came in and took her place,
saying brightly New I'm not Nora any
more, and Mrs. Graves would like her
dinner, Robert"
Laura Graves at forty five was an un-
deniably handsome woman. Her strong,
thick, black hair was as glossy as a girls.
Her gray eyes were clear and calm. With
her satin-smooth skin, and the delicate
rose On her cheeks, she did not suffer by