Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-09-06
Getting Ready For Dinner

put that into your head7" he in
CURED. cautiously. by the way.
they served - up pretty good dinner
tonight. didn't they2 Usually
come Aome half starved from a swell
dinner Of this sort. but tonight there
was plenty 20 eat and good serving. "
YES" said MrT. Judd. II stopped
for Mrs. Horton on my way down
town and my heart has aehed ever
since for her poor family"
That's the reason you were late,
suppose, In meeting me-" said
Judd
when I rang the door bell" con-
timed Mrs. Judd. little Johnnie
came TO the door and he was all IN
a Autter about something. When !
asked him II his mother was ready.
he said: Nom. but she's getting
ready. You can go and sit down In
the parlor or come up TO her room,
whichever, you want to-" Then he
left me standing in the hall while
he raced upstairs"
Cordial greeting" commented
Judd. winding the clock.
Il sat down in the parlor." Mrs.
Judd resumed. land / heard that
nervous child run up to his mothers
room and tell her that was wait
ing. Well, WELL I could hear her
answer, what IL she is?' What did
you do with her: Run and tell your
brother 10 come here She's in the
parlor, Johnnie answered. I told
her that she could come here II she
wanted to- Then he tore off down
the hall again"
Mrs. Judd rose laboriously and re-
moved her coat.
Presently | heard a voice in an
other room saying: What in thun-
der does she want of me. Can't
you see that I'm studying?' Then
a door slammed and somebody ran
up and down the hall a couple OF
times. Finally I heard Mrs. Hor-
toms voice saying: Ted, come here
and fasten my yoke for me. Hook
the collar and this lace strip over
the shoulder"
ia. hal chuckIed Judd. Then
ola ne swear
WIFI" said Mrs. Judd. severely.
no, he did not swear. However.
heard him mutter: These blamed
cloth eyes, I'm going to hook right
into the lace"
'Self-controlled youth" muir
INJURED Judd. Got on to the proper
system. too"
Mrs. Judd unbuttoned her long
gloves and drew them carefully or.
I'm a moment johnnie came running
down the stairs again. You can 90
upstairs II you'd rather he said.
Needless TO gay. I remained in
the parlor, for IL there is anything
that IS disagreeabie TO my nature II
is a family row. AS I sat there
thanked my fortunate lot for giving
me a family that was peaceable and
for making me a tranquil woman
who was not disturbing element il
her own household"
Judd whistled long and loud.
What are you whistling for2"
asked HIS wife.
"The dog" said Judd.
Hes asleep in the basement at
this time of night, as you very well
know. Now listen TO me. Mr. HOr-
ton came downstairs shortly and
he was very -"
"Hortonl Where had he been all
this timer"
He had come home to dress for
the dinner, for he had no place in
his office TO get ready for anything
of the sort. lie had been upstairs
all the time and had never uttered
a word. Just like a mani As 7
was saying, he was very pleasant
until the door bell rang and then he
rushed out into the hall and began
in unburden his mind in that low,
distinct stage whisper that you men
use when you don't wish to be over
heard.
1T was Dorothy who had just
como in and caught every word OF
their conversation. What do you
mean?' he began, by staying away
so long when you know that your
mother is going out TO dinner? How
do you expect her to get ready with
out your
Now Dorothy is nearly 81 years
old and, of course, she wouldn't
stand for that. Why couldn't you
tell me before I went she said,
coIdly, instead Of jumping on to mo
as soon as / get into the house7 I
hadn't the slightest idea that she
was going anywhere
You go up and look your mother
over said Mr.. Horton, and see n
she's all right
so Dorothy ran upstairs and then
things began to take on a more
fourishing aspect.
For goodness sake, I heard
her cry. Look at your combs.
mother: Every one Of them's IN
crooked. And see your belti Here
IL -, way down under one arm. And
your petticoat shows and here's a
lock OF hair loose and your collar
is hooked up wrong, and this
shoulder strip has the lace torn on II.
What dinner arc you going TO? Here
your collar has to be pinned Ia The
back and this hairDin is coming
out"
Mrs. Judd paused, quite breath
lese, and took Of her hat.
when Mrs Horton came down."
she continued. she was SMILING and
bland as you please. But what q
fuss she had made! That family Is
certainly 20 be plfied"