The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-02-15

1t was. The steak was broiled to
perfection, the biscuits were so flaky
that even Mrs Wilton was astounded,
The coffee had rercoated itself into
some sort Of nectar.
Say, young lady" Wilton remark
ed as he butterei his fifth biscuit,
this is dinner that must have been
inspired. Why" helping himself to
more steak and mushrooms, its a
regular poem.'
"Oh, this isn't what I call a regular
dinner" declared Mrs. Wilton, dim.
ping. 81 got in rather late from Mrs.
Bentley's this afternoon and so /
didn't fuss. But tomorrow we are
going to have dinner that will take
your breath away. l have the outline
Of 1t already in my mind. and you
may bring that Mr.. Ridgely home
with you II you want to-"
well. II you can beat this dinner
you're a wonder. Of course, I'll
bring Ridgely. I've ben advising him
to get married when he's kicked about
boarding house meals. and meal
like this one will certainly clinch my
arguments"
Directly after Wilton's departure
the next morning Mrs. Wilton sat
down and put the outline Of the din
ner on paper. Everything worked out
80 smoothly and looked so we'll when
written down that she felt as II the
dinner was already half prepared.
Her mind was easy when she pick.
ed up one Of the new magazines. The
stories were interesting. When final
ly she turned from them she discov.
cred that 1t was too late to get sew.
eral Of the dinner essentials in time
for them to be prepared properly.
With a good deal Of reluctance she
rearranged the dinner. As she was
on her way to the telephone to order
the new dinner materials the door
opened and Mary Powers ran in, daz.
zlng in her bridal firerv and fresh
from a European honeymoon.
The sunny afternoon melted away
and when Mary Powers had vanished
young Mrs. Wilton stood in the nil.
die OF the floor and an awful forebod-
ing flooded her soul. She had forgot.
ten for the second time to order the
makings of that dinner.
One wild look at the clock told her
that the last delivery boy had gone
on his last round. There wasn't even
time for her TO dress and run out aft.
er the necessary things.
A sick fear came upon her and She
whispered hoarsely: There's not a
thing in the house,"
Her feet were dead weights. her
head was incapable of thought and
her hands moved necessarily in mad.
dening purposelessness.
Away up on the emergency shelf,
where In spirit of joking security
her husband had put them, was the
proverbial can Of salmon and the
pound Of prunes. In the icebox were
four sad little chops. And she baked
biscuits. sad little biscuits. and cake,
pitiful-looking cake. 1t was then
past dinner time.
She arranged this narrowing feast.
turned the lights low and waited.
When an hour that seemed eternity
had slipped away and her head was
throbbing like a dynamo the door
opened gently and conscience
stricken Wilton appeared-alone.
where's Mr.. Ridgelv?" asked Mrs.
Wilton in far,away voice.
why. you see. Bess, well. I'm
frightfully sorry that | forgot about
your magnificent spread tonight. but
l had an out-of-town caller-Chenev.
you know. my best customer-and
forgot about time. We missed nv
regular train. and Cheney couldn't
stay over, SO didn't try to get home.
We had supper in a restaurant. I'm
awfully sorry, girl, but"
Mrs. Wilton began to clear the ia.