The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-04-17
that found Dora Cheney engaged In

that found Dora Cheney engaged IL
various strange occupations.
| After her husband had departed fol
! business she went from one room
| to another of the desolated house anC
raised the windows, leaving the shut
ters carefully closed that no one might
comment upon the upaccust0med sight
| Then she went busily to and fro will
| broom and buster until several unused
chambers were spick and span, ant
| she as quietly cleaned the large front
| aud back parlors. busted the big square
| piano that she rarely touched nova
days and closed and locked the rooms
After that there followed several try
ing days when she cleaned silver and
opened long neglected closets and sort
ed napkins and tablecloths On Wed
nesday she baked all day and conceal
led the evidences Of her extrnvngant
cookery in the roomy attic. Delicious
looking cakes they were too Angel.
Lady baltimore, cream cake and pound
cake and the materials that had gone
into their making were charged in n
special bill from the grocer. and It was
an alarming sum. An order for sever
al gallons of ice cream had been sent
to the adjacent town. and the magic
name of Henry Cheney would insure
its prompt delivery.
Thursday night found the Cheney
supper table all cleared away ut q
o'clock, Ten minutes afterward Dora
came out OF the bedroom dressed in
her best dress, blue silk foulnrd. with
n pink geranium i'm her gray hair Her
checks were as pink rs the blossom
and her dark eyes were shining with
excitement, In her ears rang the
words of Amanda Waters. and she
found courage to do what had to he
done
Henry" she said to her husband
II want to show you something"
Mr.. Cheney looked up from the pa.
per, stared at her. rubbed his eyes and
stared again whats the matter
Dora: you're not sick or anything. are
your" be asked biuntly
"Of course not. Come with me-" she
said with unexpected authority. And
to her Amusement he followed her
She led the way into the hall lighted
by the red hanging lamp and. ignoring
his startled exclamation. threw open
the doorSinto the front parlor and dis
played the two large rooms brilliantly
lighted and pleasantly warm There
was n sheet of music on the open piano
and glimpse was had Of the white
covered dining table in the third room
there were silver and glass and chtaa
Henry started. his face growing
crimson with suppressed feeling
There's fire in the heaterr' he sput
tered Mt last.
yes, there is. and a good one too"
said Dora Cheney courageously And
then, nnconsciously initiating Amanda
Waters plain speech, she went on
firmly: Look here Cheeseparing.
I'm expecting the Ladies' Aid society
tonight. and I've made four different
kinds of cake. and I've used four dozen
eggs, and I'm making gallons of coffee.
and I've ordered ice cream and there'lI
be lots Of people here. and I'm going
to entertain them the best know how.
and expect you to help me, If ] hear
one peep out of you. sir. or you fail to
make yourself agreeable. why, III put
you down in the root ceIiar!'
There was Mortified silence. while
Henry Cheney tried to adjust himself
to the now order of things If might
have been Dora's youthful appearance.