South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-23
BY MABEL HERBERT URNER.

The third house beyond it was a
plain, little, gray brick cottage, but
the garden gave it an air of home.
| As they were sailing Saturday.
| Warren had insisted on their accept
ling this invitation TO tea. Mr.. Boothby
was only a clerk in the office where ne
| had made his headquarters, but in
| many wavs he had been most helpful
and Warren had planned to leave some
| unfinished business in his care.
| As they went up the flower-edged
path, Helen saw that the table on the
lawn was already set for tea. Mr..
| Boothby introduced them 10 his wife
and two daughters. The girls. dress
| ed for the occasion in their best white
gowns. were awkward and self-con-
| sciOus.
! 1t was plain that to them this was
quite an event. Most of the middle
aged English are convinced that every
! American is a millionaire. and the
| Boothby's had probably looked for
ward To this tea with much concern
and trepidation
! They were soon seated on the wicker
| chairs by the little table under the
| trees There was no maid and the
/ two girls passed the tea and toasted
mullins with shy embarr3 ssment.
| Their white dresses were stiffiy starch
! ed and their blue saShes carefully tied.
It was so plainly their Sunday best.
These are mighty good sand
wiches. Mrs Boothby." said Warren.
as he took another. Us this anchoyy
paste"
NO, that's made from kipered her
ring. I'm glad you like il. We use
that a great deal for sandwiches here"
You buy il canned? ?" asked Helen.
ooh. no, just take "A herring. take
out all the bones and mince it up with
butter and seasoning"
| There's nothing that so pleases a
hostess as TO ask how some special
dish is made. And Mrs. Boothby was
most highly battered by their interest
in her kippered sandwiches.
When they had finished tea, Mrs.
BOOthby said abruptly Now We'll go
into the house and have some music"
| Helen murmured vaguely. THAT
would be very nice wondering what
the music would be.
| The parlOr was small and stuffy.
The old-fashioned furniture. not old
| enough 10 be antique. was Of that I'M
| fortunate heavy walnut and marble
! top period A cheap upright piano
was conspicuously placed.
When they were all seated, Mrs.
! EoOthby said:
Now. Emma, YOU play for us first"
| To Helen's surprise. shy and self
| conscious as she was, rose obediently
! without a murmur. They all waited
/ silently while she selected a sheet OF
music from the stack on top of the
| piano.
! 1t was an old-fashioned piece on the
| order of THE Storm" or THE Battle.
/ with thunderOus chords in the base
| and reckless runs and trills on the
| treble. Emma's awkward fingers
| blundered over this as best they could.
rF,T,x I,
/ evident pride.
When at last the piece was brought
/ tC a tempeStuOuS, discOrdant end,
/ Helen murmured some few vague
words OF praise.
Yes, we think she plays very we'll"
said Mrs. BOothby Complacently.
| she's only been taking three years.
! Marjorie. now you play something for
us"
Marjorie. like her sister. went to
the piano without a word of protest.
Her piece was less stormy. but her
! execution was equally bad.
] Then Mr.. Boothby suggested that
they play their duet. And 10 Helen's
horror they took down thick piece
OF music and began the Poet and
Peasant Overture"
\ Terrible Time.
Here Warren leaned over and gave
Helen sly nudge. and she turned her
cough. The poor. cheap piano groan-
ed and Quaked under the onslaught
/ Ct the foU~ strenuous hands. The loud
/. pedal worked overtime. and when at
last they finished both girls were
flushed and perspiring from their Wig
I orous efforts.
Helen had no words with which 20
| commend this performance, SO she
clapped her hands applaudingly, nudg-
ing Warren TO do the same
Yes. we all like that piece" said
Mrs. Boothby, with the same pleased
COmplacency How long were you
| learning that. girls ?"
About three months" answered
7 Emma who was now lingering self
I consciously. the end Of her sash.
oh. what lovely dOggie," murmur-
ed Helen, glad OF an excuse TO change
the subject. She stopped over TO pet
the fat and aged poodle that now
| came shifting around her skirts. The
dog. ignoring the c<aress. suddenly sat
down and began scratching an elusive
flea
GO show the lady how YOU can
/ shut the door. Poughy." demanded
Mrs. Boothby. Go on" as he con-
Lnued 10 scratch. shut the door,