The Washington herald., 1914-07-19

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she felt his quick displeasure. Then he
said quietly: very well, well take a
car: But if you have your way about
this, shall / have mine about the din
ner?"
She flushed. "You can order the
whole menu if you wish. I'll not say a
word, l promise"
The car was crowded, and they were
forced to stand. It was the hour when
the traffic along Broadway was most
congested. They had gone only short
way when the track was blocked by a
large moving van. and little farther on
they were blocked again at a street.
crossing. As she felt his unspoken I'M
patience, Katherine became more and
more nervous and anxious. Oh, SChy
were they having all these delays? She
saw him glance at his watch.
I'm afraid at this rate, we won't get
through in time for the theater. If you
don't mind walking a few squares, we
can get off here and take the subway"
"Oh, yes, yes" she assented eagerly.
Let's do that"
When at length they reached the res
taurant Katherine was uncomfortably
conscious that they were very late. and
would have to hurry through dinner if
they went to the theater. She knew he
was thinking if they had taken a cab
all this discomfort and haste would have
been avoided.
Already he was ordering the dinner,
the waiter standing obsequiously by
with his pencil and pad. A menu had
also been placed before Katherine, and
she glanced over it anxiously. The
prices were exorbitant.
He had already ordered oysters and
cream of asparagus soup. Now he was
hesitating over the entrees.
Here is flet mignon. You always
like that, Katherine. Or would you
rather have broiled guinea hen? It'll
probably be very good here"
In swift glance Katherine saw that
the flet mignon was ninety cents and
the guinea hen dollar and half. Just
below was broiled sweetbreads, seventy
FIVE cents.
why not have some sweetbreads?"
"All right, if that's what you want." I"
And then to the waiter, "One portion of
sweetbreads."
"Oh, won't half a portion be plenty"
ventured Katherine, IF we have oysters
and soup?"
We don't serve half portions for
two, madam" the waiter informed her
suavely.
Her husband made no comment, but
she saw his brow contract. He laid
down the menu. That will be all now /;
we'll order the rest later. And bring
me a wine-card. No, never mind, l
know what l want-just bring me a
quart OF Chablis, sparkling Chablis."
Sparkling Chablis, yes sir"
When the waiter had gone there was
long silence. Katherine was tracing a
design in the table-cloth with her fork.
She knew that, barring champagne,
which she could not drink, he had de-
liberately ordered the most expensive
wine in the list. A fierce resentment
rose within her. When he knew that
she would have been happier and would
have enjoyed far more simpler dinner,
why did he order an expensive one?"
The orchestra was playing now. A
few moments later the waiter served the
oysters. Another waiter brought the
wine, buried in ice in a napkin-covered
silver holder. 1t sparkled delightfully."-
as it was poured into the noiiow-stem-
med glasses.
The influence of the music, the wine.
the brilliant gayety, gradually had their
effect, and for the moment Katherine
put aside the thought of expense and
entered into the enjoyment of it all with
more of the old spirit OF their outings
before they were married, before the
grinding economy" of their first year
had left its lasting imprint.
When he ordered the salad, the ice,
and the cordials she did not even glance
at the prices on the menu. She was
thinking that at that moment life looked
very pleasant, with her kindly, hand
some husband across from her. She
thought of his law practice, now so
rapidly growing. of their beautiful
home, that spring. 1t suddenly seemed
very foolish for her to worry so over
every small expenditure. And he re-
sented it so bitterly that it had become
the cause of dissension between them.
Why did she do it? She resolved that
from now on it would be very different.
She had made similar resolutions be-
fore, and had not kept them. But she
felt it would be so easy to keep them
now.
And yet when, half an hour later, the
waiter brought their check, she found
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