Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-09-21
AN EXPERIMENT
BY FANNY GRAY.

After two weeks of blissful honey
moon In his modest new home, Harry
Carr firmly believed that all newspa-
per jokes about newlyweds, including
wife's biscuits, cranky cook stoves,
burned steak and the like, were just
newspaper jokes and nothing more.
OF course, there was maid In the
kitchen, but Harry never doubted fon
moment that it was his bride, Molly.
who really made 1t possible for these
wonders to be evolved.
Now, Molly had about as much con-
tidence in her own ability In the kitch.
en- as Harry had, although she had
never been put severely to the test,
where everything depended upon her
alone. So, when Bridget's first day out
arrived she and Harry both looked for.
ward to 1t as q sort of lark. AS they
were drinking their coffee that morn
ing, the following conversation took
place:
"Now don't go and try to get up a
regular dinner tonight, honey. I'm eat
have you getting all hot and tired
working over stove!"
"That's very sweet of you, Harry,
but don't imagine that we can't have
dinner just because Bridget Is out. I
shall enjoy getting 1t. And I don't
think much of wives who set out cold
bites because they're lazy. You'll see!"
"All right pet suit yourself, but be
ready on time, and if the dinner is very
good, I might have something In my
pocket. 1t might be tickets for the
Hippodrome
"Oh, how lovely! OF course I'll be
on time. Don't miss the early train!"
In the middle of the afternoon, Mol
ly descended to the kitchen, clad In
neat blue linen dress, and tackled the
dinner.
About half-past five, Mrs. Webster,
near neighbor, who had made friends
at once with Molly, rang the bell of
the Carrs house. Molly answered, sat
down with her caller, and apologized
for her dress. But she was so evident
ly nervous and left the 'oom so many
times on one excuse or another that
her experienced friend began to realize
that something must be wrong with the
kitchen arrangements.
At last the truth came out and Mol
ly explained her predicament, between
tears and laughter.
"Why, Mrs. Webster" she cried, 1T
never occurred to me couldn't get
whole dinner alonel I've done lots
Of cookingW
"Come on out and let's see now bad
1t is," suggested Mrs. Webster.
1t did seem rather hopeless. On the
tables lay fierce-looking collection Of
cooking utensils and dishes, all soiled.
Mrs. Webster peered into everything,
while Molly explained. Mock bisQue
soup being Harrys favorite, she had
decided upon that, and had made It
early to have 1t out Of the way. There
1t stood on the back of the stove,
fine curdled mess, keeping hot"
The roast beef she had put on good
and early In the new double roaster.
laboring under the delusion that the
invention absolved one from giving any
further attention to the meat. A glance
at 1t, just before her neighbor's arrlv-
al, had revealed little, dried-up, hard
piece Of beef, utterly unfit to serve.
Molly and Mrs. Webster looked at
each other moment and then cleared
the atmosphere by laughing immod-
erately. When Molly could get her
breath, she said:
"What shall I dor OF course, my
pride is hurt, and I hate to tell Harry,
but I suppose I must"
"Why tell him that you tried to get
a dinner at all2 He has suggested the
theater, you say. 1t would be most
natural for you to have light supper
to save trouble, as you may be going
out"
'But I told him this morning
didn't mind the trouble, and that
was going to get dinner"
"Never mind. People sometimes
change their minds. I don't want to
corrupt your morals, but I advise you
to do as say. If you will, can help
you out"
Molly nodded assent.
"Good! Now, what salad have You
got7"
Lettuce and tomato"
couldn't be better. Any canned
soup in the house,"
"Only ready-made tomato"
'The very thingl Haven't you
learned the secret Of putting hot milk
and a bit of butter to that just before
serving? Very likely it will be mis-.
taken for your own brand of bisque."
"Greatl You're wonder, Mrs. Web
ster."
mo, just an old housekeeper. Now,
I've got cold ham and cream cheese
I can spare, and I'm going to send
them over. If by any chance you have
your dessert, don't you see that with
a pot of coffee you'll have delicious
and hearty supper after all?"
At 80 Harry was met at the door
by a smiling bride. He held up an en-
velope, teasingly, high above her head.
"Do get some food, or do we stay
1t home tonight? No nice dinner, no
you know"
81 guess I can get dressed in time,"
,aid Molly demurely, and, hand In
hand, like two children, they went into
he dining room.
As Harry took the last swallow Of
he delicious, plping-hot coffee, he re-
marked:
"Bully supper, Molly. Took my ad-
,ice, after all, didn't you? I'm glad
'ou didn't spend the afternoon fussing
,ver a hot dinner"
AIalla elailnd at him anrnSS tho tahla :