The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-07-27
Con,pany's
Coming

window on the morning of the day ap-
pointed for her luncheon in honor OF
Mrs. Fentress, Mrs. Watson's gor-
geous visitor, and saw the abundance
of the raindrops that were pattering
on the roof and noted the unyielding
aspect of the clouds, she groaned.
Il just knew l oughtn't to have
planned to have it Friday" she said
to her sleeping husband, who merely
grunted and raised one eyelid about
an eighth of an inch. At that moment
three indignant squeals issued from the
nursery and the moment after three
white-robed figures precipiated them
selves upon their mother.
"She hit mel"
"She said l was pig"
Wow, WOW, wow!"
When the dove of peace had been
persuaded to hover precariously over
the nursery Mrs. Powell returned to
her room and proceeded dolefully with
her toile% They always act like that
on a rainy day." she moaned. Il know
1t will be perfectly awful all day."
After breakfast, with the assistance
of Hilda, her one maid, she proceeded
to remove to the dining-room the out
ward and visible signs of festivity
from the porch, where she had
planned to entertain her guests.
Now, Hilda," she said to her hand.
maiden, who was in the state of mind
which is technically known as having
got out of the wrong side of the bed,
"I'm going to straighten up in here
and you can run out and put the gela-
tin to soak in boiling water and put
the chicken on to boil"
Hilda dropped lumpishly out Of the
room and about five minutes after her
blond head and resentful back had
disappeared Mrs. Powell heard an
ominous crash from the kitchen. She
withdrew her countenance from un-
der the sideboard and scuttled for the
kitchen. Hilda was standing stolidly
amidst surging waves of gelatin.
The bowl break when l the hot
water put in," she said gently.
by best cut glass BOWL" wept
Mira. Powell, falling upon her knees
and beginning futilely to gather. up
the fragments. I've q good mind to
make you pay for It."
Hilda slowly unfastened the strings
that held her apron around her ample
waist.
Il guess ! go, then" she said.
Go where, Hilda?" she inquired,
the tears rolling OF her chin.
Away from the place." Hilda ex.
planned.
Just how many things Mrs. Powell
promised Hilda II she would stay de-
veloped gradually during the ensuing
month. For with honeyed words and
promises she inveigled Hilda to make
Ice cream in place of the lost gelatin
During the rest Of that feverish
morning Mrs. Powell swept and dust
cd and cooked. and At regular inter
walls spanked her offspring, and at ir.
regular intervals soothed and in
structed Hilda. Alone and unaided,
she wrestled with the best tablecloth,
which. though usually a sufficiently
tractable household article, persisted
in undulating over the table like q
huge measuring worm. In despera-
ton Mrs. Powell heated an iron and
tried to press 1t down, but the iron
left long, dark, rakish looking trail
behind 1t down the center of the
cloth.
After that she returned to the kitch-
en-, where Hilda appeared to be hav-
ing hand to hand battle with the ice
cream freezer. while the children
were dashing furiously about the
room, shrieking lice cream, ice cream.
Ice cream! We're going to have Ice
cream"
Mrs Powell pointed stern finger
toward the door and the three. still
screaming, darted past her into the
dining room.
Whats the matter with the freez-
err" Mrs. Powell inquired. She walked
over to the struggling maid.
"He don't work" said Hilda. She
jerk with her powerful hands and the
crank broke. The pail rolled over on
Its side and began gurgling forth an
oozy mush composed of salt water
and cream, which not even the most
desperate and brazen hostess would
have dreamed of serving as de-
lectable article.
At this critical moment there came
crash and three separate walls from
the dining room. Leaving Hilda and
the ice cream to commune with one
another, Mrs. Powell flew to the
newest calamity. Two thoroughly
subdued small girls stood surveying
the wreck of the dining table, from
underneath which were issuing yells
which carried to Mrs. Powell the
soothing conviction that her youngest
daughter, though eclipsed. was still
alive.
After she had separated her daugh-
ter from a mass of glass, china, olives,
almonds, bonbons and other ingredi-
ents and had sent all three OF the
children to bed Mrs. Powell sat down
upon the nearest chair and wept 1t
was then that the telephone bell rang.
Dick" she said to her husband