Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-10

Dicikey surveyed the dinner Katie had
Just served with a whimsical look. We
were taking a combination breakfast. lunch
and dinner. the first food either OF us had
touched Aince Dicl<y had ushered In a most
exciting twenty-four hours by slamming
out OF the apartment the night before in
n towering rage.
Having repented and been shriven only
a few moments befq1s Dicly. like most
penltents, appeared 20 have forgotten his
sins completely. The memory Of the long
hours OF the night when had been fright
ened by the sight OF Dlcky intoxicated, and
worried by his failure TO come home the
thought OF the day just passed, when Dicky
In one room had slept on his intoxication.
and In another had suffered terribly with
headache. shadowed my Joy In our recon-
ciliation. But Dicky was In royal good
humor
This is Katie's idea entirely" replied.
Il really have had no experience in this
sort of thing" I added demurey
Dlcky made a face at me. An answer
knew was on the tip OF his tongue, but
Katie's indignant voice interrupted
'Meester Graham, why you say me 1tal-
ian. Me no dago, me Polish girl tell
you dot odder place, but you say always,
Katie's Italian hand. Why you do dot7"
Diclty threw back his head and laughed
uproarousy Then he put his hand in his
pocket. As he drew II out 1 saw that IL
held bill.
see what this will do toward sooth-
ing your wounded feelings" he said ms he
held IL out
Katie put her hands behind her. mo,
no, dot too mooch." she said, but I saw
her eyes fixed greedily upon the money.
Nonsense" Dicky answered, throwing
the bill on tho table, "a dollar isn't too
much for this lfe-saver and being called
an Italian to boot"
A REvIvING MEAL
He lifted to his lips as he spoke the
sum nf sHNa lffy T1n xuh
had served us as a first course. already
had drained mine. II was indeed delicious,
but dollar tip seemed ridiculous to my
frugal mind.
Take It, Katie" His voice held a note
Of command, and Katie picked up the dol
lar
"You can call me vat you please for dis"
she glggled. as she put the empty cups on
the tray. you try dis salt macker-el Dot
iB goot for" she hesitated for n WORD.
For what ails me-" suggested Dicky
mischevously, to Katie's confusion.
Il no mean noting" she said as she
hurried into tho kitchen.
l looked critically at the dishes ready
for Dcky's serving. If this were drunk
ards breakfast" told myself II certainly
was an incentive to n man to indulge In too
much liquor. II never had known that salt
mackerel could look so inviting, Katie had
soaked them all day until they were like
fresh fish. Then she had plunged them In
them anxiousy 30 that they should not re-
main In the water an instantJ after they
were cooked sufficiently. She had drained
them laid them on a hot platter garnlshed
with parsley, and poured over them a most
invting-loolting thin sauce, the principal in
gradients Of which recognized as hot milk
and melted butter. G
Boiled potatoes, piping hot, and n salad
that gave a forecast of spring, crisp water
cress sprlnkled thickly with chopped chives
and a plate Of hat buttered toast COM
pleted the meal. which even II had not
been ravenously hungry as was, would
have tempted me to eat heartily.
DICKY's STRANGE INVITATION
DiclSy did not appear as hungry as I, but |
he ate n fairly good meal As Katie cleared |
the dishes away and brought the coffee with |
a certain kind of cream cheese OF which |
Dicky is very fond. he looked at me whimsi- |
cally. |
Shall we risk our coffee in the living
room again?" he asked.
/ WINGED at the memory of the evening |
before. when Katie had served our after |
dinner coffee before the gas log in the living |
room. The financial discussion which fol- |
lowed had preclpitated n painful scene. But |
Dicky. I'm his penitence, had granted every |
thing wished. so there seemed to be nothing |
left'which could cause any discussion.
why not?'' turned TO Katie Please |
bring the things into the other room"
lighted cigar. You ought to smoke, |
Madge." he said carelessly. Wont you |
try cigarette?"
lie drew out his case OF cigarettes and |
pronered me one, I drew back in horror.
'Dicky %. calculated You do not mean |
you would like to see me smoking"
lie looked at me curously. II beg your |
pardon. There was a touch OF irony In |
his voice. II seem fated TO stumble on your |
preJudlces He replaced the cigarettes In |
his pocket
But, Dicky," persisted, "ft means a lot |
70 me. Tell me. would you be willing TO |
nave your wife a user or ciRarettes?"
III you mean a cigarette fiend, no." re- |
turned Dicky. mo. of course. / wouldn't |
want 10 see you use many as Lii does
She gets pretty nearly dafry IL she doesn't |
nave her regular allowance. But / think |
IL would be mighty comfy II you would |
SMOKE cigarette occasionally with me.
ihcidentally, I'd like TO see how you would |
look with one. The combination of that |
cold, calm saintllness OF yours with a |
lighted cigarette ought TO be interesting
MADGE's FIRST CIGARETTE
DID his voice hold covert sneer? I
thought again Of the woman in the theater
crossing room who had referred to me as
: the marble BRIDE" Were the principlea
upon which my very character was built 10
De the rock upon which our happiness would
be wrecked?
I recognized the fact that to Dicly my
principles were only preJudices. A tiny
voice somewhere in my inner consciousness
whispered Are you very sure that some
of them are not?"
felt bewildered, shaken. The trifing
query OF Dicky's concerning the smoking
had been TO me as the sudden loosening OF
an anchor must be to boat ] was swept