The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-04-22

explained He found Lucre1a just mn
ishing her evening meal, grim and det
termined. Everything was cold. He
seated himself at the table with MI
cawber-like cheerfulness, and tackled
the cold and soggy victuals. all the time
talking affably. Lucretia was dignified
and uncompromising.
Il am sorry that you were detained.
Samuel" she said, because We had such
good supper"
"Oh, the supper's all right" he re-
piled. But I'm sorry on your account
was detained. I'm afraid it makes you
more trouble"
81 can stand it If you can" she re-
piled. grimly, as she poured him some
lukewarm coffee.
But Samuel refused to be an object Of
sympathy or to permit an atmosphere
of embarrassment to gather. He rat
tied on in most interesting manner.
telling Lucretia interesting bits of Cos
sip he had heard during the day. and
equally interesting things that had hap
pened lat the Office. She had never seen
Samuel in such high spirits and found
herself responding to his conversation.
Once she was betrayed into a hearty
laugh.
Fishing a second mutton chop from
the CONCEALED white gravy surrounding
1t, the young husband tackled 1t with
apparent Zest.
Where in the world do you buy such
fine mutton chops. Lucretia?" he said
Mother never had such fine ones at
, homeland she had reputation as
marketer. Or. is it the cooking? Some
how there Is flavor to them that is SIM
ply great"
Lucretia gazed at him intently. but
there was no suggestion Of sarcasm In
his voice or looks. and he was consum-
ing the chops with a relish that defied
suspicion.
AS he concluded hearty meal of cold
and soggy things and wound up with
second cupful Of the luFewarm coffee.
he smacked his lips and said:
'If matters should go wrong and
should die and leave you unprovided
for, Lucretia. you just go to some swell
caterer or restaurant and ask for the
privilege Of making one batch of cof-
fee for them. Make 'em let you do 1t
I've been a coffee drinker all my life. but
I never found any like you make"
That evening Lucretia's mother came
over and Samuel did nothing but sing
the praises of his wife's chops and cof-
fee. He was too enthusiastic and persis-
tent to suspect.
For some days he was promptly on
time to supper. Then one day he was
half hour late again. Lucretia was
little cross. but the chops and coffee
were piping hot. In fact. Lucretia made
both fresh after Samuel came. This
happened several times. Sometimes
Samuel was more than half hour late,
One night he arrived an hour late and
found that Lucretia had not yet had
supper. She explained, with symptoms
of sulkiness. that she had had a hard
day. and felt too tired to cook two sup
pers. Samuel was all sympathy. ard
roundly cursed the necessity that made
him late. He was delighted. however, at
his good fortune in having her company
in partaEing the meal. After this she
generally waited for him. once in awhile
letting him sup alone in order to dem
onstrate that she had not given in.
One day he brought friend home to
supper without warning. The atmos-
phere in the house went down nine de-
grees lower than the Thermometer would
register. Lucretia declined point-blank
J to make any change in her plans. and
certainly it was skimpy meal. and Luz
cretia sat like stone imaPe at the feast
The friend was embarrassed, but Sam
la1; -1k f,,1l
} the trouble and fairly dubbed with wit
and small talk. After supper he pro-
duced cigars. and with his friend sal
for good two hours at the table chat
ting and telling stories. while Lucretia
! fairly frothed at the mouth waiting tc
l clear the table.
The atmosphere continued pretty
chilly for some days. but it never touched
Samuel.
"You have found another admirer, Lu.
: cretia," he said. next evening. TON
says 1t was the contest and most delight.
full little supper he ever attenGed-wants
. to come again. He's particularly crazy
e about your tea biscuit. By Jove! the,
were good last night. But particularly
3 he's stuck on the splendid homelike feel
ing here. Says If he could find CIR
I who had good sense like you who knew
, enough to leave men folks alone ant
. still maintain her dignity and place a:
: the real mistress Of the house. he't
q maryland that's great compliment
D because Tom is a confirmed old bach
elor, you know"
e And for days wherever they went
o Samuel would talk of scarcely any
thing but the delightful little sup
n per. and Lucretia's grace as hostess
. when. by Jove. she didn't even know
@ was going to bring him"
d 81 didn't know how she managed 4
e without any notice." he said to he
| mother "huf she couIdn'f hova h,S