Tensas gazette., 1917-12-14

| any, Stlfny. "NO-nO more wine" n
Dora, who started to refill her glass
1t was an infinite relief when tbs
mortffying pot roast not patheticall,
depleted, was finally removed and the
salad brought on. At least Warren's
salad dressing was always a success
only a couple Of leaves for me
dear. You know l can't have It," eau.
toned Helen, for there had been only
one head of rOmaine.
mo salad?" asked Mr.. Chandler
why, l thought salad was the main
stay OF vegetarian diet"
oh, yes-it is," f1oundering, "but
the vinegar-Fm not supposed to have
anything acid"
Although the plum pudding was un-
mistakably canned, there was enough
OF 1t. And the sauce, made from the
branded peaches. was delicious.
| With the coffee and cOrdials served
In the library before the glowing gas
logs, Helen got out a box of French
glacee mint leaves. But no amount
OF ultra frills could Danish the MEM
ory Of the pot roast!
Warren and Mr.. Chandler were dis.
cussing the investment values of Bronx
real estate. Mrs. Chandler, having sew
eral lots In her own name, seemed in
terested. and Helen was spared the ex-
ertion Of entertaining her.
At half past ten their car was an
nounced. AS Mrs. Chandler put on her
wraps In Warren's room. Helen knew
that she saw his shabby slippers under
the bed and his old toweling bathrobe
caught in the closet door.
There had been no time for the rigid
straightening-up and putting-out-of-
sight process to which Warren's room
was always subjected before the ar
rival Of guests.
Still lashing her mind for some final
palliating excuse for the unguest-like
dinner, Helen could only murmur a
laundering: "The next time you come
Il hope We'll not be so upset. But
Dora had quite a scare with that oven
and she's so easily flustered"
"Oh, I'm sure everything was very
nice" protested Mrs. Chandler for
mally, searching in her mufr for her
gloves.
Seeing people Off was always awk-
ward. Helen never knew quite what
to say at the last moment. Tonight
1t was doubly embarrassing. She could
have screamed with relief when the
door closed after them.
"Oh-Oh, 1t was awful" dropping
down before the gas logs. "Oh, that
pot roast! That hideous pot roast!"
"Yes, that wasn't exactly a swell
DISH" grunted Warren. 1T stumped
her all right. Notice the way she
lamped itT!
"Oh, she'll tell everybody" wailing-
ly. She'll say we invited them to din
ner and gave them pot roast"
Hope she does! Why the Sam
Hill don't you write down your dates?"
II did," running for the calendar
pad. 'LOOk," turning to Thursday the
18th, 1.-The Chambers for dinner Oh,
I'm sure it was the 17th!"
you are, eh? Well, whenever
there's a mistake-Tll bank on it being
yours. Jove, If you ever get a thing
a miracle"
Helen was too crushed to argue. Her
assurance about the date was shaken.
She had written the invitation, and
had kept no copy of the note.
Still brOOding over the humiliating
evening. she went into her room to un-
dress. She was almost ready for bed
when the telephone rang. Through the
open door came Warren's deep Hello!
Who? Oh, Mrs. Chandler!
HOw's that? Oh, that's
all right" with a hearty laugh. 1--WE
thought it was our mistake.
Not ut all-it was a pleasure.
don't bother 10 write-the
jokes on all Of us. Yes, I'll
tell her. !
Her face shining with cold cream,
and her hair tumbling over her night
gOwned shoulders, Helen came flying
in. But with maddening leisure War
rem lit cigar before he would answer
her tempestuous queries.
Looked up your note and found she
marked the wrong datel Guess that
pot roast set her thinking"
"Oh-oh!" triumphantly. Then 1t
wasn't my mistake! l did have the
right"
"Well, what of 1t? If you were so
blamed sure you were right-why
didn't you come square out and say
so? They'd have darned sight more
respect for you If you hadn't pulled
off that string Of weakened lies. I'll
bet they're sizing you up just about
now."