Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-07-02
WAKING UP WILLIAM
His Willy Wifr Finally Got What
She Vas After. -
IT wAs'A WELL PLAYED GAME
William Was Little Slow, but When
the lady's Trump Card Was Played
He Said Just What She Wanted Him
TO Say From the Very Start.


the lady's Trump Card Was Played
He Said Just What sh. Wanted Him
TO Say From the Very Start.
William" said Mrs. Gilmartin, bend
Ing over the sewing IN her lap, what
do you think wed better have Thurs
day night when the Pritchards come? pc
Mr.. Gilmartin lowered his paper an
instant and stared across the table ut
her. 81.
"HaveT" he said. "Why. L suppose
we'll have a couple OF games OF cineh
and lot Of foolish talk, as usual"
Il mean what Will We have to eat
stupid!" explained his wife. "You
know they always have little lunch
when we go over to their place"
"Oh, TO eat" echoed Gilmsrtin. re-
Stunning his newspaper. why, have
whatever you like. l don't care"
Mrs. Gilmartin sighed and patted the
sewing ON her knee after taking a fur
tive glance ut her engrossed husband,
That's easy enough to say" she OBJ
served. "bSt I want to talk to you
about Il. This Is important. Do help
me out. WILL" she added. I've
thought until I'm dizzy, and nothing
seems quite the thing"
''Hm-mp' said Gilmartin, frowning
at the wall paper and trying to think.
"Why, I should -er-almost any
thing would do that's-er-nice-w
ever they usually have. you know" he
added rather helplessly. 'sGo ahead
and get up a nice little supper. You
know how" And he calmly resumed
his newspaper.
'But this is different, dear" persist
ed Mrs. Gilmartin, pickering her
brows and her sewing in her agitation.
"Thfs Is Mrs. Pritchard's birthday,
and we Invited them to celebrate II
with US weeks and weeks ago. You
know she's such n stickler for having
everything just right. I'm worried
sick"
What is there to worry aboutT' de.
manded her husband, looking over the
top Of the paper In surprise. ~ sup
pose the Pritchards eat about the same
sort OF things the rest OF US do. /
never saw much difference the few
times we had bite with them. They
aren't any better than we are, as far
as ! can see. guess what's good
enough for us is good enough for Al
Pritchard and HIS wife" Is
Mrs, Gilmartin heaved another rath,
er pathetic sigh and said: ut isn't the
actual food I'm worrying about and
whether II will be. as you say, good
enough for them. That's silly. But it's
the selection OF a little menu for q
birthday party and the table decora-
lions and the lights and-and every
thing" she added. Mrs. Pritchard
says It's the little things that show the
clever housekeeper."
There was silence for few mo-
ments. and then Mrs. Gilmartin ven
tured suggestions:
Dreamed oysters are nice" she said.
"Um-hum," breathed the head of the
house absently. what was that?" he
demanded, turning suddt My III didn't
hear"
II said creamed oysters are Hice." re-
peated Mrs. Gilmartin.
Sure! OF course they arer' he de-
clared with enthusiasm. "Ail right.
Let's have creamed oysters" and he
dived into the stock market reports.
well, you don't imagine we can
make n whole birthday supper OFF
creamed oysters, do your" demanded
Mrs. Gilmartin Indignantly. There
must be lot OF other things Thought
OF. Mrs. Pritchard says it's 5ust these
little affairs that bring out real tact
and good TASTE"
"Oh. bother Mrs. Prltchardr' snap
ped Gilmartin.
why. Wiu.' said his wife mildly.
"I'm afraid you're out of sorts this
evening, and did want to have a Ia. .
long talk about this little supper, be-
cause 30 much depends on IT,
Il beg your pardon" said her hus-
band contritely. laying down his pa
per. didn't mean to be cross. Now.
what will we have after the creamed
oystersT'
Il suppose chicken salad or some
thing Ike that would be all right"
said Mrs. Gilmartin rather doubtfully.
and We ought to have q stuffed to-
mato. although that seems awfully
common and ordinary for birthday
party, You know the Pritchards al
ways turn the whole thing over to
Robbem, who has that caterers place
near them. whenever they have any.
thing sort OF for,nal-a birthday or a
holiday party like this you know.
what do We want OF caterer to
get up supper for four peopls?" de.
manded Mr.. Gilmartin. "You can get
away with 1t In great shape with Hiida
to help you out"
"Oh, i didn't mean fsr US TO get Rob-
bem." she said. glancing at him from
beneath her lashes. II was Just telling
you how easy It is for them. Mrs.
Pritchard says It's absurd for people
TO so to the expense OF hiring caterer
Tor q small affair unless they have
plenty OF money"
MIR. Gilmartin stood up and took a
turn across the fioOr.
"Oh. she does, does sher. he said
1efiantly. lis that so2 Well, you lust
90 over to RObbem's tomorrow and nut
he whole thing In his hands and Quit
worrying. i guess we can stand for II
,oout as easily as Al Pritchard can"
Mrs. Gilmartin dropped her sewing
to the nopr with delightful little
'queai. ran around the table and threw
both arms around his neck,
"Oh. you I'D dear" she cooed. sthat's
ust what ] wanted you to say all
siong?-Chicago Inter Ocean,
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