The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-04-07

II don't think l am hungry now,
she answered, intent on getting tn,
spoon between Clemmie's uncertain
lips. IL hope 1t will be all right
/ never cooked that sort of dinner be
fore, but followed Miss Selma Luet
directions, so it must be the way you
like It," Miss Cynthia was a Lowell!
thing at all times, but in that timid
trustful mood, and in such becominglI
disheveled condition, as she bent ovel
her charges she was-ravishing.
Mr. Kent grasped wildly at his van
ishing composure and murmuret
idiotically. 'If you cooked it l am sure
there won't be enough, no matter how
much you prepared" He mentally
kicked himself. Where were the
things that ought to have sprung tc
his brain to match the girl? He went
into the kitchen and sat down. The
very prospect of the dinner prepared
by those white hands was going to
his head; he felt safer with the table
between them. He sat, however, where
he could feast his eyes and the inner
man at the same time.
1t was we'll that he approached hts
dinner in a mood of distraction, for II
was with difficulty that he restrained
an exclamation at the first mouthful
Of eggs. But across the bobbing heads
of the oatmeal-and-milk diners, Miss
Cynthia raised trustful, proud eyes
to his.
'Is 1t good?" she asked with be-
wildering solicitude.
Good? Watch mel" and there with
those eyes fastened on him in shining
delight, he swallowed all of the six
incinerated eggs and devoured in
gulps a painful of half-raw, stone-cold,
nauseating potatoes.
Halfway through the dose he
paused. Should he leave any for her
to agonize over, or should he assume
a reputation for abnormanty of appe-
tite? Better anything than that she
should ever find out the truth, and in
rush he finished the job. If, by that
time, she had not been standing d.
rectly across the table, he would have
scraped the dishes, but her nearness
confused him and he let her set aside
a teaspoonful of potatoes and a chip
Of egg.
She was beaming with satisfaction
and at his hastily framed apologies
for having cleared the table, she an
swered cheerily:
Don't say word about leaving me
any. I am too hot to eat for hours
Those blessed babies are asleep al.
ready. Could they have tainted from
exhaustion"
Il assure you they are safe, and for
at least two hours" he laughed, as he
rose and stepped to the door Light
ing cigar, he fingered tentatively,
hoping for some sign of invitation to
remain. The petunia dropped from
his buttonhole.
Then she raised her eyes to his and
said sweetly and directly, with graft
tude ttnging every accent: Thank
you for helping me out with them.
You-you won't be far If they wake
up and get beyond me?"
Those eyes and that curly mouth!
Mr., Alan only really came to-" as
Miss Selma Lue would have put It.
when seated by her side later on the
steps In fact, he lived through an
hour or more of partial eclipse of
mind; and when the four-o'clock boat
whistle sounded to call him to the
wharf to get package brought down
o him from the Lock, he felt as II he
lad been in a dream, beautiful
lream, not such as comes usually at
he bidding of a digestion impaired
" lobster a la Newberg or eggs
ried.
AS for Miss Cynthia, some evil fate
r perhaps a sleepy chirp from Glenn
nile, the roarer, led her to the back
egions Of the grocery, and while
here she idly tasted that spoonful of
'otato which had been left, with mis-.
dvings. A shred of egg followed, and
'one was all her complacency, the
ruit OF Mr.. Alan's self-sacrifice.
How-how would she ever face him
gain after having literally forced
UGH an awful thing upon him! Her
limitation was complete. Her one
bought was hope that she would
ever lay eyes on him again.
We'll, well, Miss Cynthie. honey
Id you ever see such a day for hap
enings as this has been to us all?"
md Miss Selma Lue stood at the door
with delight.