Evening star., 1916-07-31

Ted popped corn. It was very pleas.
ant and though she had planned te
make out a list of edibles needed fol
the sociable which the church had
let 1t go.
The next day Bella and her children
came over. And again she was sur
prised Usually Bella deposited the
them whichever meal was next, dinner
or luncheon. wearily washed their faces
and then declared that she wanted to
get them home and to bed. But this
| time she stopped three days. explain
ing that likely Jerrold would be glad
of their absence. The children both
cred him and he had an important case
in court that week. Her mother was
glad to have her there. but 1t worried
| her. She wondered II Jerrold and Bella
stay away from her home so long. And
the children seemed unusually noisy
| ard restless. though something hung
over them. But finally Bella went
home.
The next week Bert and his wife
| and babies arrived for a two week
stay. Mrs. Griffith hardly believed that
! two children could grow SO fast.
Though she always had heretofore re-
| Trained from criticising Bert's wife.
she really thought that Nell might
make them mind better They ruined
the carved legs of a new mahogany
| card table. And to make matters worse,
Bella brought her children over again
for a long visit with Nell and Bert,
and for two days the house was riot
of quarreling infants. Bella's young
sters all were wilful Mrs. Griffith one
day told Bellas that they needed a
spanking.
Mother" gasped Bella. don't you
like them to come here?"
"Of course l do. But, Bella. Mrs.
Wiley brought me that water set from
Rouen. and l can't match 1t to replace
the broken goblet"
"oh. I'll get you another whole set
mother l never cared especially for
that" consoled Bella. And. mother.
will you ask Hilda to make jam tarts
for dinner? The children are so fond
Of them"
With a rather sober face. Mrs. Grif-
fifth went out to ask Hilda, who said
coldly: We'll. it's terrible hard cook
ing for so many, without making fancy
made them. Hilda grimly allowed her.
The meal was somewhat constrained
Mrs. Griffiths head ached from the hot
kitchen and it was confusing to get all
father. too. was annoyed because they
did not like his selections of chops,
but insisted on selecting their own.
Their grandparents exchanged CLAN
ces Years back children had eaten
what was set before them.
noying moment Ted. for perhaps the
first time in months, had invited a
crowd of fellow law students there for
the evening. He asked his mother If
the girls wouldn't put the kids to bed
but she hurriedly whispered that she
| couldn't ask them. They might be
hurt. But about Bella did bribe and
coax and threaten hers till they con-
sented to go. Nell said placidly that
hers didn't like to go without her;
| they were used to an apartment where
all the rooms were on the same floor
1t made them nervous being in a house
and upon a floor above the older folks
But at the end of the week Nell went
home. Mrs. Griffith kissed them, es-
pecially Bert, with genuine regret She
hadn't enjoyed their visit and she fear
ed guiltily that they might guess it.
The next day her daughter Jessie,
with three trunks. arrived; she had
come to stay for three months Her
proudly. Jessie was a big. we'll de-
veloped girl. handsome in a formal
way, with vibrant soprano voice. She
had been taking singing and violin les
sons.
Her mother had never dreamed that
she would have the happiness of having
Jessie at home again. She huttered
around. making the house trim and
dainty: she coaxed Hilda into cooking
everything her girl liked. Ted and his
father. too. planned a round of good
times. But Jessie laughingly told them
they needn't. She was q busy women,
and she didn't want to waste day. So
she started in the next morning right
after breakfast. She trilled. she sang,
she INDUCED in throat exercises. In
the afternoon she pPactised ON the vio.