South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-20
BIZ MABEL HERBERT URNER.
THE THIRD YEAR.


Helen rushed into the library where
Warren was reading with calm uhcoh-
Germ. The anxious frustrating prep
arations OF a dinner party never al
fected.
Dear. the ice cream hasn't come.
. Want ven call them Up right away
say We nusA have IL here By o'clock.
Wait. I'll get you the number.
whats the matter with your
'phoning?" grumbled Warren.
ION. I've a thousand things TO do.
It's after one now-theyll be here in
As Warren took down the receiver.
Helen rushed back into her bedroom,
for they would all lay off their wraps
there. and everything must be in per-
feet order.
The bathroom. too, she inspected,
adjusting once more the three best
company towels on the towel rack,
and unwrapping a fresh cake Of scent
ed soap for the soap dish. Carrie
always brought the children in here
to wash their hands after dinner-and
Carrie was so critical, Helen always
felt that she scrutiniZed every nook
and corner.
Their First Christmas.
This was the first time that Helen
had ever had the family dinner at
Christmas, and she was pathetically
All week she had worked necessarily,
preparing for the dinner and house
cleaning the whole apartment.
And now at half-past one. Christ
mas uay, she was fiuttering nervously
here and there to see that everything
was ready. She went from room to
room. adjusting the blinds. giving a
touch 10 the curtains, picking up a
thread from a rug. rearranging the
curtains, and every now and then
shaking up the dried leaves in the
rose lar. so that the whole place would
be fragrant
ITS on the way now" called out
Warren as he hung up the receiver.
''They say the wagons just left"
"Oh, then chats all right" Helen's
voice expressed her relief for it would
have spoiled everything if the cream
had not come. She knew the Cur
tises were particularly sweet-toOthed
family and they would consider any
formal dinner a failure without the
cream.
Helen was in the dining room now.
glancing over every detail Of the table.
IL looked very festive and Christ
Tnassy'', with its holly decorations and
dainty favOrs by each plate. She had
made a special red holly trimmed
shades for the candie-sticks, and the
sideboard, with its burden of cut
glass and silver. was festooned with
holly.
Now, Maggie" going into the
apron they'll be here any moment"
Maggie never put on her fresh
apron until the last moment, and al
ways went to the door tying the
strings. She was now hurriedly max
ing the gravy in the dripping pan.
"Oh forgot to tell you to save the
liver" as Helen noted il chopped up
in bowl OF the gravy. Carrie s
little boy always wants that"
well, turkey gravy. amt good with
out the giblets," answered Maggie.
compfacently as she stirred them in.
and then showed the dripping pan
back into the oven.
Warren's Folks Arrive.
There they are now" exclaimed
Helen, as the door bell rang. shrilly.
Maggie was already taking off the
soiled apron. and she tied on the fresh
one as she hurried down the hall.
IT was Edith and Frank, Warren
younger brother and sister.
Mother and the Governor will be
here in a moment" announced Frank.
They're coming up in a cab. My,
but you've got cOrking big rooms
here" with boyish enthusiasm II
say, you're fixed up all right"
As he was just home for his holi-
day vacation. this was the first time
he had seen their new apartment.
Helen always liked Frank and she
had planned TO seat him beside her at
dinner, for he was the one member
of the Curtis family Nth whom she
felt really cOmfortab e.
The bell rang again. and this time
IL was Carrie, Warrens married sister,
her husband and two children. Mr.
and AIRS. Curtis came last.
Helen had told Maggie they would
have dinner promptly at ., but it was
twenty minutes after before they were
was wondering anXiOusly il Maggie
could manage TO keep so many things
warm on the gas stove.
The first few moments at the table
were relieved from awkwardness by
the chidren's delight in the little
favors at their plates. There was a
quaint wooden Santa Claus with a
basket on his back filled with tiny
bonbons, and a dainty red ribbon
bound box, which they were not &c
open until after dinner.
Instead OF oysters they had italian
hors d'oeuvre tiny curled ~ anChO.
vies and pimientos. Helen thNght the
pimientos a delicious appetizer. anC
their bright red color seemed particu.
larry appropriate
But to her dismay. Mr.. Curt.
sparingly tasted of an anchovv anC
promptly laid down his fork. Oh
why had She tried TO have anvthinl
different for the Curtises? She should
have known they were narrow anC
old fashioned and would dsaprove OF
anything they had not ALWAYS" had
She felt relieved when Maggie tool
away the plates and served the soup