Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-06-14

THE DINNER II THE COY DINING ROOM
WFET OFF DELIGHTFULLY."-.
gularly eXasperating domestic circum-
stances the consciousness Of her own
inehiciency dismayed her.
Funny" (she crumbled the yellow
slip into bail and aimed it at the
wastebaskeu. let US consider what
we had better do"
Funny, not at all averse to being
cuddled in lace draped, family fragant
arms, promptly lost herself in somno-
lence.
If only Della had not gone to the
funeral of that grandchild that expires
with periodical regularity every three
weeks" Oblivious of the Indifference
OF her auditor, Miss Ray kept muir
4, muring on. "And-if Ellen Jane We're
not in bed with Il jumping toothache-
we might pull through, Funny Dear,
dear. All the years l was learning
Latin. why could | not have learned
how to cook something except fudges2
Gracious. Who's thatT" Funny was
promptly and peremptorily dlspos-
SesSed.
Miss Ray hurried in response to the
| brisk knock ut the back door. ITS
never you, my dear" cried Isola Ray.
She had flung open the door and was
gathering a little sweet faced, apple
checked younuihed woman into the
joyful embrace OF her loving young
arms I'd be glad to see you any
time, Aunt Elyira, but just now-well,
just now your coming seems provi-
dential"'
Aunt Elvira returned cordially the
caress of the gracious arms and lips.
Nov, how does that happen, honey?"
she asked.
She had entered the kitchen-all
shining tiles, enamel and blue and
white Kitchen ware. She put her old
brown. cracked. bulging bag down by
the sink ana with one dexterous twist
had divested herself Of bonnet and
coat.
"Oh. Delia-that's the cook-has gone
to one of her periodical funerals. Her
relatives are legion. and every few
weeks one of them dies. And the 9th
er maid has toothache. And Victor
telegraphed he was bringing his best
friend-who has not before visited this
city-up to dinner tonight You know
how my brother detests any cooking
except what is done at home. And
beyond fudges or a good salad don't
know how to make thing"
Don't you worry. Just YOU do what
! old Aunt Elviry tells you" The small
woman had fished fresh apron, Il
pencil and the back of an envelope out
Of her bag.
You get the things | write down.
never mind the spelling-sent In quick,
dear Then go and get some flowers,
| show me where the linen and silver are
! kept and put on the prettiest dress
! you've got to your back Sure! Go
on, now. Didn't | have you all the
/ time your mother-bless your dear
| heart-was in the north? And It's
even prettier than she was-yOu are.
And they called her the beauty of her
| day"
"Oh. YOU lovabe old flatterer" cried
the girl Then she kissed again the lit
tie red, wrinkled face and fed to the
telephone.
She slipped on a discreet and envel-
oping cloak of dark blue silk and went
off to buy her flowers And coming
home she looked down upon the sheaf
of long stemmed dark red roses lying
against her arm ana the fauciful lines
Of Bessie Chandler rccurTed to her:
Oh the fate Of a man is past discerning
Little did Jacguomiuot suppose
At Austcllitz, or at Moscows burning,
| His fame would rest I'm the heart Of a
rose.
The dinner in the coy dining room,
aglow with the softly tinted lights from
| EuuScan clcctrolcrs went off delight
fully. Victor Ray bcamed his approx.
al He had not imagined that this be
loved young sister of his could attend
50 satisfactorily to things especially
with one maid in ANA the other dere
lict Ana Edward Garden, brown, rug
Eed, keen of glance Il man whose
name was known for scholarship and
brilliance ON two contiueuts-ap appeared
to find i'm his girliSh hostess much
grace and charm
And Isola Ray was charmed by this
stalwart friend of her brothers, He
had seen 50 much of the world. He
had seen 50 many much frequented-
and little frcqucntcd places. Without