Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-11-02

Coming

When Mrs. Powell looked cut Of the
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 rnindrops that were pattering
on the roof and noted the unyislding
aspect Of the clouds. she groaned
i Just knew | oughtnt 10 have
planned 10 have II Friday" she said
TO her sleeping husband. who merely
grunted and raised one eyend about
an eighth Of an inch Al that moment
three indignant sQueals issued from the
nursery and the moment after three
white-robed figures precipiatsd them
selves upon their mother.
she hit met
She said was a pig.s
Wow. VOW. wow!"
When the dove Of peace had been
persuaded TO bower precariously over
the nursery Mrs. Powell returned to
her room and proceeded dolefully with
her toilet. They always act like that
on rainy day" she mOaned. g! know
1t win be perfectly awful all day"
After breakfast. with the assistance
OF Hilda. her one maid. she proceeded
to remove 10 the dining room the OUT
ward and visible signs Of festivfty
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 10 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 EeIa-
tin TO soak In boiling water and put
the chicken on to boil"
Hilda dropped lumpishly out OF the
room and about Ave minutes after her
blond head and resentful back had
disappeared Mrs. Powell heard an
ominous crash from the kitchen She
withdrew her countenanoe from un-
der the sideboard and scuttled for the
kitchen. Htlda WAS standing stolidly
amidst surging waves OF gelatin.
The bowl break when the hot
water put In" she said gently.
by best cut glass bowil- wept
Mrs. Powell. falling upon hsr knees
and beginning futilely to gather NJ
the fragments. I've q good mind 70
make you pay for It."
HildR slowly unfastsned the strings
that held hev apron around her ample
waist
y guess go. then" she said.
Go where. Hlda?" she inquired,
the tears rolling OF her chin
Away from the place" Hilda ex-
planned
promised HildA If she would stay de-
veloped gradually during the ensuing
month. For with honeyed words and
promises she inveigled Hilda 20 make
ice cream In place of the lost gelatin.
During the rest Of that fsveriah
morning Mrs. Powell swept and duet
ed and cooked. and At regular inter
walls spanked her offspring. and at r.
regular intervals soothed and In
structed Hilda. Alone and unaided.
she wrestled with the best tablecloth.
which. though usually q sufficiently
tractabls household article. persisted
in undulating over the table like o
huge measuring worm. In desperar
ton Mira. Powell heated an iron and
tried to press It down. but the iron
left a long. dark, rakish looking trail
behind It down the center Of the
cloth.
After that she returned 70 the kitchr
sn. where Hilda appeared 20 be hav
ing q hand TO hand battle with the ics
cream freezer. while the children
were dashing furfously about the
room. shrieking ice cream. Ice cream.
ice cream! We're going TO have Ice
cream!"
Mrs. Powell pointed q stern finger
toward the door and the three, still
screaming. darted past her into the
dining room.
What's the matter with the freez-
err" Mrs. Powell inquired She walked
over TO the struggling maid
He don't work." said Hilda Ehs
gave the crank OF the freezer a final
jerk with her powerful hands and the
crank broke The pail rolled over on
its side and began gurgAng forth an
oozy mush composed OF salt water
and cream. which not even the most
desperate and brazsn hostess would
have dreamed OF serving m q Do
lectable article.
At this critical moment there came
q crash and three separate walls from
the dining room. Leaving Hilda ana
the Ice cream TO commute with one
another. Mrs. Powell new 70 the
nswes. calamity Two thoroughly
subdued small girls stood surveying
the wreck Of the diniAg table. from
underneath which were Issuing yelIs
which carried TO Mrs. Powell The
soothing conviction that her youngest
6a.~h'er. though sclipSed. was stiu
alive.
auer she had separated her daugn-
ter from a mass OF glass. china, olives,
almonds. bonboBs and other ingredt
ents and had sent all three Of the
children TO bed Mrs Powell sat down
upon the nearest chair and wspt 10
was then that the telephone bell rang.
Dick" she 3aid 70 her husband
that night, ''It does seem perfectly In
human, bat I could have shouted with
Joy when I got the massage that Mrs
Watson had fallen and sprained her
ankle and Ghsy couldn't come. II may
have been hard on Mrs Watson. but
It vas simply providential for me-"