The Democratic advocate., 1908-11-13
The
Rehearsal.
By Martha Cobb Sanford.
Copyrighted. 1905, by Associated
Literary Press.

habit of initiating were too formal, toe
elaborate. They lacked the personal,
intimate charm of hospitality in a
domestic sitting.
He decided to do something quite
different from the conventional thea
,or restaurant dinners or automobile
narties upon which his reputation had
been built.
After some little meS" ,tion he decid-
pd to entertain a very few guests at
dinner IN his bachelor quarters. The
frst thing. of course, was to gravely
consider those to be invited. For some
time Madeline Gaylord's name headed
IN imaginary list in complimentary
isolation. Gradually, however, other
names to the number Of five were add
cd The date was next arranged for
and the invitations to "a most in
formal dinner issued.
The most important feature being
thus dismissed, Brabrook turned his
attention to the minor details incident
70 simple house dinner party. The
inventory of his household assets prov
ed appallingly negative:
No dining room table.
No table linen.
No dishes
Plenty Of wineglasses.
No silver.
Two candlesticks.
Well, he could hire the table linen,
the dishes and the silver from q cater
er. but be preferred to buy it. 1t was
Il pity he had not allowed himself
little more time for preparations A
week furnished a narrow margin.
Realizing that no time must be lost,
Gerald first purchased a mahogany
dinner table, round and large enough
to seat six coZily. Elated over it's ac-
quisition and congratulating himself
upon having had the remarkable fore
sight to invite just the right number
to surround it, Brabrook attacked the
next item on the list with a vim bor-
dering upon enthusiasm
I'll ask Madeline Gaylord to help me
out" he said to himself confidently
and then Immediately retracted the
decision. No; he must do this thing all
himself. Simple as the affair was to be,
no woman should have the credit of
having engineered it.
With the help of a very affable clerk
Gerald selected a dinner cloth, napkins
and appropriate centerpiece. 1t quite
astOnished him to find out how really
expensive such everyday essentials
were. He appreciated now for the
first time why brides were supplied
with "linen chests" as we'll as trous-
seaux.
1t must be great help to a young
husband not to have to buy lot of
such things all at once. The purchase
of the silver Gerald thoroughly enjoy
ed, and with very conscious pride he
ordered his initials engraved upon each
piece.
Gradually everything upon the list
was checked off, and he was free to
give his attention to the menu. This
being quite in his line, all arrange
ments were soon concluded and left
In charge of an expert chef.
As master stroke of informaiity,
however, Gerald decided to serve the
dinner himself. To this end he consid-
cred a rehearsal necessary Accord
ingly on the night preceding that for
which the dinner was scheduled he
rolled the new mahogany dining table
into the middle Of his not oyerspacious
living room and reluctantly hid it's
polished surface under the damask
cloth.
cut glass cigar holder, punctilious-
iy placed on the center, represented
aoral decorations. (He should have
American Beauties for the dinner it
self. Madeline liked them.(
In the midst Of sorting out the shin
Ing silver into sets Of six Gerald was
called to the telephone.
"Hell0" he answered. "Who? Miss
Gaylord? Well, send her right up"
There was no time for trying to un-
oerstand this most extraordinary hap
penlng. Gerald could only conclude
that Madeline in an impulse of gener-
osity had come over to offer her as
Slstance. But Madeline unchaperoned!
This Is awfully good Of you, Made
hne' he said, with warm cordiality,
usherlng her in. II am really in hole
over the arrangement of the silver.
DO the spoons go here at the right or
at the top orr
Just wait till get my things off,
eerald, and I'll help you," Madeline
interrupted gayly. "Oh, isn't it going
10 be funf"
Herald In a bewilderment of admira-
uon watched the long coat fall from
"auellne's graceful shoulders.
"A dream" he murmured sotto voce.
Madeline blushed becomingly.
Well, you certainly act as If you
were IN one, Gerald" she commented
ngntly. Come, let's set the table.
on' she broke off, laughing. chow
a"iuily funny that cigar holder looks
III 'ne center of the table! You certain
= aren't going to have it there. This
Sn I stag dinner, you know"
oh' that's just a dummy" Gerald
answered condescendingly "There are
oe American Beauties"
where are they?' demanded the
distress of ceremonies.
IN, ol, let's not put them on now.
.aeyd witt" said Gerald whfmsical1y.
Ana' a anyway, they haven't come"
lhen for the time being I'm going