Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-27
THE CLUBS LAST LUNCHEON

Its an awful responsibility" said Evelyn
distractedly. I'm sure 1 don't know which
| way to turn. Fancy coming at the tail end
| of the Cooking Club There's so much ex-
| pected at the last spread; and the girls
| have all done so well I'm positively afraid"
She ran her hands through her pretty hair
as she spoke, and looked the picture Of
woe.
why. thought you were an expert
chef?" said her mother, and had nothing to
| fear
I've done pretty well. ma'am. and 1t
! isn't the cooking that bothers me. It's the
general effect which Is hard to produce
without beautiful flowers and other expen-
sive table decorations which, of course, are
not to be thought of-and the worst of il is,
no one can help me. If everything l do for
| the luncheon Is not entirely my own idea,
I'll be out of the race for the prize. I'm
with girls who never have to consider ex-
pense; they all have such big houses, too"
and Evelyn glanced disapprovngly around
their own cramped little dining ROOM
There's absolutely no material to start
with
Evelyn spoke with some truth. for the
Carols lived In very small apartment,
where entertainments were naturally not
attempted very often; but in that one
glance her spirits rose. She was strong
wholesome girl, and her encounters with
difficulties only served to sharpen her wits
Before the week over her plans were
made, her menu prepared, and her spare
moments were spent in the manufacture of
certain mysterious articles, which she kept
in the privacy of her own tiny room.
The rules of the club were very strict;
the luncheon given by each member was
not only to be planned and arranged and
cooked by her, but the other members were
called upon to criticise and suggest quite
openly, and were pledged to give an nom
est opinion on every occasion, These girls,
EVELYN said ALL rich. and the many
little defects Of the cooking were forgotten
in the glitter Of silver and glass, and the
soft luster Of beautiful damask. But Eve,
Ign had very little to dazzle the eyes and
her limited pocketbook cramped her. She
looked into its cavernous depths more than
once in her perplexity, but she wisely con-
Guided that her own fertile brain was more
to be trusted. So she baked and brewed
behind closed doors, Grd when the eventful
Saturday arrived flushed and tired niue
hostess surveyed her work with folded
hands and sigh of satisfaction, before she
went away to dress for the party.
Mrs. Carol had many misgivings as she
ushered the smiling Cooking Cltpo into
their little par;or. She !onged, with the m
the usual finishing touches; but Evelyn had
laughingly slipped the key Of the door into
her pocket, and her mother could only fold
her hands and wait
The girls in the parlor seemed quits IN
keeping witk the beautiful spring day, SO
fresh and dainty were their dresses and so
bubbiing their rpirits. In the heart OF
each was the secret longing for the
prize, a beautiful Columbia bicycle, offered
the club by Mr.. Duncan. Mr.. Duncan was
a dear, crusty Old bachelor, who said he had
never married because he could not find
wife who was good cook and dainty
housekeeper and he did not wish the com
ing generation to have such a pitiful ex-
cuse. The only conditions no made were
IN character and that he should be invited
to every banquet. Hitherto he had been
an enthusiastic guest, and each young
hostess in turn saw no reason why why she
t to be the a0t decisive es ia day. INC '''
Promptly at half-past l Mr.. Duncan ar
rived, and Evelyn, in her simple white
dress. received him at the door.
We'll, wel!' he said, in his brisk way,
today settles it; come on, girls; come Mrs.
Carol. I'm dreadfuly hungry; don't know
how l will ever be able to break myself of
this Saturday luncheon habit. Lead
Evelyn, it's your funeral, or should l say
picnic.
There's no telling" said Evelyn. with a
nervous little laugh. as they followed her
to the dinnd room. and a weil-tTained.
perfectly dressed little maid stood aside to
let them pass-as it seemed-into fairylaad
The room was quite dark, save Cor the
light shed by innu,nerab!e yellow shaded
candles which sent peculiarly soft glow
over everything. Ire centerpiece was
large candelabrum, made OF good sized
carrots. arranged with branchlike effect and
JOlUeu Will "OcuSl NStsse3, tlic upi iSitt
carrots were sccoped out az the top leaving
space to hold a candle, and these-six in all
were crowned with dainty little shades
made of crepe paper the same color. The
table center upon which this artistic
triumph rested was piece Of red checked
cup toweiing, arranged with billowy effect
around the candelabrurn; this was edged
with a thick border o. beautiful parsley,
dotted with radishes. while scattered about
on the snowy cloth were solitaire shaded
candlestcks of carrots, the bare effect
entirely lost by the dainty lettuce leaves at
the bases. There were little open dishes,
cleverly made. Of great scooped-out Bcr-
muda potatoes, lined with watercresses and
filled with olives or radishes; the half ce a
grape fruit held the golden butter balls,
and sprays OF asparagus and parsnip tops.
sprnkled with cranbcrr!es. completed the
decorations with wonderful effect.
For Il moment they Were ell speeches.