New Britain herald., 1915-11-16
What Happened Before the Evening
 Came.

There! NOW what do you think Of your kitchen crock?"
 Dicky stepped back admiringly from the dining table, were he had just finished arranging the flowers he had bought in the coarse brown jar against which I had protested to no avail.
 To my housewifely mind, the idea of piece of kitchen pottery as a re- ceptacle for flowers was ridiculous and l had felt much irritation at Dicky not only for putting aside my opinion with careless quip, as if it were no importance, but for persist ing In carrying the unsightly thing into the dining room and putting the flowers into it.
 But as I looked at the yellow daffo- cils. the white narcissi, and the deli- cate ferns rising out of the dark brown earthen jar, realized the ar- ustic sense that had led Dicky un- erringly to select it. Placed careless ly within it. some of the blossoms standing proudly upright, others 1ean- ing lovingly over the side of the dish, they looked exactly as if they were rising from the earth where they were grown.
 I love flowers so much that the very sight of them mellows me, no matter how upset I am. As I gazed at the exquisite blossoms, I felt my irritation at ,Dicky leave me. After all, he had been right about the jar, and I could not believe he had meant to wound me.
 I slipped my hand into his arm. ''They are lovely, Dicky," said softly. T take it all back about the jar. It is the only thing for these blossoms, isn't il?
 "Of course," Dicky replied laconi- cally Queer, how some of the cheapest, coarsest pieces of pottery have colorings which are a delight to the eye.'
 Dinner all served" announced Katie from the kitchen door. Then her, eyes fell upon the table, where Dicky had jumbled dishes and silver in a heap to make room for his ar i engagement of the flowers, and her face grew dark with anger.
 I hastened to avert the storm I krew was brewing.
 ''Never mind the dishes, Katie" I said soothingly. Mister Graham put , them to one side when he arranged the flowers. We will put them all i back again ourselves. Bring on the dinner" ,n
 A Request Forgotten.
 Katie departed grumbling under her 1 breath, but I affected not to hear her. rearranged the dishes and silver and ] when she brought in the oysters she i was serene again.
 It is pleasure to put a good dinner before Dickey, he enjoys every morsel ct it so much. In spite of the de- pressing incidents of the morning, my spirits reflected Dicky's, and we had a merry little meal, while Katie beamed 1 at our appreciation of her efforts |
 Here, Katie" As Dicky finished ! a large slice of Katie's cream pie, he held out a half-dollar to her. "That's iri recognition of a mighty good din- rer'
 Tank you," rejoined Katie. 1T no care if you put dishes on floor next time.''
 Dicky drowned slightly as she left the room.
 "Too fresh, by far, that girl" he commented. Cant you tone her down a little?"
 I felt my old irritation at Dcky's inconsistency rising within me. When he had found that Katie, whom I had engaged as cook, was. the girl who had formerly done the housework in the bachelor apartment which he had shared with three other artists, he had been delighted.
 Now I'll have the chance to finish that painting of Poland for which she was posing when she disappear ed," he had said to me, and added, For heavens sake, Madge, keep her irp after finish that painting.'
 remembered the words as if he had just spoken them. The memory Of them tinged my speech as I re- piled: You surely do not suppose l like her manner any better than you do. But you told me to put up with anything from her, so that she would stay until after you had finished that painting for which she was posing. There is no surer way of making her angry than to try to tone her down. as you express it. She is positively 1rrepres- sible, and to do the girl justice, l be- lieve it is not freshness. but ignorance and high spirits" ! I suppose no man likes to be put in the wrong and Dicky is a perfectly normal man. So I was not surprised when he took refuge in a shaft of irony.
 Really, this lecture is extraordi- | narily interesting. If there is any more coming, you ought to charge a fee.'
 I thanked my stars for Katie's en- 1 trance at that moment with the | coffee. I could not have trusted my l voice to answer Dicky, and Katie's 1 presence of course solved the difH- culty.
 As she served the coffee and nuts,