Mexico Missouri message., 1909-06-17

the greatest advantage, and the ferns
made a pretty center piece. Mother,
In her black satin and point lace, was
a credit to any daughter. The children
were up in the nursery, said mother.
Whipple looked forward to showing
on his house TO Sterling. who was un.
married.
Nothing like t." he was often
heard TO remark. "a man can live so
much better and have so many more
comforts in a home OF his own than
when knocking around in hotels by
himself" and he invariably added, 1T
doesn't cost so much"
Whipple. like many others, desired
TO make a good appearance and enjoy
every comfort while begrudging the
money II took to pay for Il.
The comforts that he talked Of were
due 10 Lily's ingenuity, thrift and self.
sacrifice. and not TO his iiberality. as
no so fondly imagined.
"Sit here, Mr.. Sterling" said Lily,
when dinner was announced.
As Sterling seated himself he felt
the chair sway under him. Some.
thing was evidently wrong with its
underplnning. BY slyly experimenting.
he discovered that the chair was liable
TO collapse with any sudden move
ment. so he sat stiff and erect. scarce
ly daring TO reach for his napkin.
The napkin had a hole IN II, through
which he put his hand and regarded II
contemplAtively. whipple had ono in
as bad condition. II not worse; so had
mother and Lily. They quickly
dropped them from sight and began
to talk with embarrassed haste. all
except mother; she was as serene as
a day In June.
Mary brought on the soup. whipple
passed the crackers. and discovered
that the cracker Jar concealed a large
patch on the tablecloth.
Tho cut-giass carafe stood over n
hole. and whipple dared not move the
butter dish for fear Of what he might
expose.
Mary removed the soup plates and
brought In the covered vegetable
dishes.
Il tell you. Sterling, nothing like
homo cooking" said whipple In his
boantful voice, pleasantly anticipating
the piece de resistance for which Mary
had gone TO the kitchen.
The corners Of mothers mouth
twitched. and Sterling remarked 20.
litely that he supposed not"
Mary came In bearing a platter upon
which rolled. like so many marbles,
six hard balls OF chopped meat. the
soup meat In disguise.
whats this we havei" inquired
Whipple blankly.
Meat balls" replied mother In her
sweetest and Ruavest tones.
Sterling pinched himself under the
table TO keep back the hendish desire
he had to yell when whipple. after
pursuing one OF the little hard balls
around and around the platter with a
spoon, finally captured Il on the side
and tried TO mash II, Il few from
under the spoon like quicksilver, and
another exciting chase ensued before
he finally got II on Sterling's plate.
In the covered dishes were boiled
turnips. onions and potatoes.
The conversation during the meal
was forced, except by mother. Il was
hard TO be gay on turnips, but mother
bubbled over with good humor. and
Whipple's silent prayer was that the
meat bail would choke her to death.
Every time Sterling thought OF the
comforts OF home" he had a at OF
coughing that made his chair sway 70
and fro till the chills crept up and
down his spine.
Pass the coffee, Mary" said Lily
with a sigh Of relief that the end was
IN sight A hectic flush had risen on
Whipple's cheek bones. Az he raised
the after-dinner cup 20 his lips. looking
fearfuily about. as II wondering II
there was anything moro that could
happen, the cup dropped OF the han
die. Lily gave cry and Whippie exc
cuted q war-dance al the scaIdins cot
fee burned him. Sterling started VIC
lently az he heard the crash. His
chair collapsed ana he fell IN a heap
striking his head against the side
board with force that made him see
stars.
/ AA0eAANa hN1A~a aASah4 ~ wv - ~
had hurt his spine" while LILY wiped
coffee from the wrathfm whipplo'i
walstcoat.
why. that must have been the cuI
that noticed had the handle gluet
on" said mother innocsntiy, and
whippls siared At her with dark suHpi
; cioa.
: That night, while Sterling wal
vending his way 20 his hotel. ponder
ing upon the Wilderness Of the what
ness" Of some people, and OF whippl'
In particular. that person WAS search
ing hIs pockets for groenhaeks, whiel
he turned over to Lily with an air o
righteous indignation and the en-
phatio remark that II she didn't opel
an account with the butcher and bake
! and buy some new tableAinen. dishes
/. and chairs, and whatever she needed
/ 1 a. "a .h..k - 2Na anhrIa uahnrsffrtn