Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-10
CHAPTER II.
the Heroine of This Mar
rative

1t has been said by those who ought to
know that. if the most painful quarter
of hour in mans life comes when he
is screwing himself up to proposing point.
the corresponding period in womans is
that Immediately preceding her first din
ner party in her own house.
Granting the unpleaSantness of both
these Christening but necessary expert
ences. a mere male may be excused for
inquring why tie second should be ear
marked as the exclusive prerogative of
the opposite sex. There is no more NOR
bidly apprehensive creature under the
sun than the undergraduate about to give
a state luncheon party which is to be
sraced by the presence of his beloved.
Hughie Marrab!e sat back in his han
som with knitted brow. and checked some
hieroglyphics or the back of an envelope.
Lets see, he murmured TO himself
Dressed crab. Can't go wrong there.
Told the cook to be sure 70 send II up in
the silver ScallopS with the college crest
on. After all, it's the trimmings that
really appeal to a woman. Not the food.
but the way you serve it up. Rum
creatures he added, parenthetically.
''Prawns in aspic. That always looks
| nice. anyway, though not very filling at
the price. / remember last year Kitty
Devenish said it looked simply"
Hughie checked his soliloquy rather sud
denly. and, If any one else had been
present IN the hanson. would probably
have blushed a little. Miss Kitty Deven-
| !sh was what cycle dealers term "a last
years model and at the present mo-
ment Hughe was driving to meet some
one else. He continued:
| Outlets a la reform. Quite the best
thing the kitchens turn out. but not so
snowy as they might be. Still. with old
HuiSh'S crown Derby plateS-it was de-
cent of the old man to lend them; / hope
| to goodness Mrs. Gum won't do anything
| rash with them-they ought to do. Grassy
corner pudding. That always creates eX-
element. though it tastes rotten. Fruit
salad; creme brue That's safe enough.
Macaroni au gratin. She won't touch ii,
but it'll please Uncle Jimmy and Jack
Ames. Wish | could have some myself,
| Never mind: only about six hours more,'
| Hughie smacked his lips. 1t is hard to
sit among the flesh pots and not partake
thereof. His fare at this feast would be
cold beef and dry toast.
| He turned over the envelope.
| "H'm-drink. Don't suppose she'll have
| anything, but l can't take that for
| granted. There's a bottle of Berncastler
| Doctor and some Beaune. l wonder If II
would be best to have them open before
! | ask her what she'll drink, or ask her
what shell drink before | open them. Ill
have 'em open. | think. She might re-
fuse IL she saw the corks weren't drawn.
| Anyhow, Mrs. Ames will probably take
some But, great Scott, | must ask Mrs.
| Ames first. mustn't j? That's settled.
anyway. She'll probably take whatever
| Mrs. AmeS takes.
| Then there are the table decorations.
I wish to goodness I could remember
whether IL was wallflower she said.
think il must have been. because l re-
member making some putrid joke to her
once about like attracting unlike. Any
how. it's too late to change II now. I've
pumped for wallflower and the room
simply stinks of 1t.
Then the seats. Me at the head. with
| Mrs. Ames OH one hand and her on the