The Ordway new era., 1909-08-27

his usual tact Keith had delicately
suggested (of course aside) that Don
| should honor his mother in the man
ner of his garbing. Your black vel
vet will make an excellent dinner
coat" gravely said his father.by-mar-
riage.
The two were in the drawing.room
awaiting Don's mother. Keith was ap-
appropriately coated as usual and
looked to Don very personable spec.
linen of his class. Furtively the boy
watched his father-chum and uncon-
sciously initiated him. to the mans
| secret mirth.
Don dimes with us tonight" Mr..
Kennedy reminded his wife as she ap.
preached. "As guest OF honor. sug-
| gest he take you in" he chuckled. The
young pair. happy beyond words.
laughed at their guest OF honor's seri-
Gus expression and when Keith swung
the lad-whom he loved as his own
fiesh-up on his shoulder. Marion
Kennedy smiled the brooding smile
of happy wife and mother. Her chal.
ice Of life was filled with wine of a
rare vintage. And so began Don's So
cial life among the elders.
Now the boys table manners-nur.
sery tableware OF the best. but. as
every one knows. to dine amid unac.
customed forks. spoons and sundry
portable stun for the first time is not
an easy matter later in life than five.
even when a novice has the certainty.
as had Don. that his presence Is re
garded joyously. The boy wished to
honor himself as well as his host in
his department, and so-came swiftly
to grief.
With the oysters he got on well. He
ignored the-to him-loathsome OBJ.
jects. With the soup came woe. Be
ing hungry. the child stood not upon
ceremony. but began at once. He re.
mother reproachfully.
IT'S hot" he gasped. winking with
exceeding celerity. It's awful hot"
You must not begin before mamma
does" whispered Marion sympathet.
ically.
But, muvver"-over went the water
glass for which the burned child was
eagerly reaching. This was not no.
ticed, apparently, by any one save
the emergency man. who hovered cor.
nually near.
Happily. it was the tablecloth that
was deluged. rather than Don. The
rest of the dinner passed without fur
Sher disaster, thanks to the whispered
suggestions of Don's hostess.mother.
Not only into his appreciative small
mouth went novel things. but Dons
attentive ears were as bountifully re-
galed. 1t must be understood that
except for his parents, Don had lived
his life as a child-not among older
people. Words such as he had never
before heard were uttered and phrases
used that filled him with profound in
terest
Finally, he felt he must make Ger.
tain inquiries. So. placing two very
chubby elbows upon the table. he
leaned toward Keith.
What's 'detest'?" he asked eagerly.
Twice his mother had used the curl
GUS word. Twice had he murmered II
after her.
1T means dislike. sweetheart" an.
swered Marion, before her husband
had time to.
But why do you?"
do what?"
"De-test Mr.. Carey. He's nice. Cent
he amt, why is he at our house many
times?"
Keith's eyes twinkled Don's literal.
ness always tickled his soul.
That's Just it. kiddy. Mamma thinks
he is here too many times"
But" protested Don, who was fond
Of the man in question, mamma asted
Mr.. Carey to tum adam, didn't YOU.
muvver?"
Marion's face reddened Il am
afraid / did. son-to be polite. you
know"
Don did not know, but mat he
should before he left the table he de.
cided. Hence. continued he:
when ladies' don't want pemnle.
mans at dere house. must dey say:
'Tum ve'wy soon adain?' Amt at
story-teller?" Innocently the blue
eyes challenged Marion's.
Keith chortled, but the questioner,s
mother looked troubled.
when you are older, dear, you will
understand" she hedged, the while
handing Don his dessert. But, excel.
lent as 1t was. the sweet did not di.
vert Don's thoughts.
The insincerities were quite new to
him. To tell a lie he had been taught
was deplorable. II his dear mother
found Mr.. Carey's visits tiresome, was
1t not a-a-story-teller to look into
his face sweetly. as his mamma had,
and make his welcome sure-in ad.
vancs7 Furtively he looked up from