The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-03-26

y
up"
Dear. Jane must live on that mar
malade," as she came back We got
that nve-pound jar last month and
it's over half gone"
"A spoonf" inquiringly. why didn't
you set the table while you were about
itr' Then. abruptly, "When's that fu-
neralr'
This afternoon But told her that
she might spend the night with her sis
ter"
We'll, let's hope the rest of her familys
healthy" scowling at the dried-out toast.
This being without a maid isn't what it's
cracked up to be-
"Oh, there's that dumb-waiter! Helen
dew to answer It
Resentfully she Jerksd on the empty
Purr-mew with a saucer Of milk, and
went back to her cooling breakfast
She was hardly seated when Warren
showed his empty glass toward her.
The glass refllled from the spring water
bottle in the ice box, the door bell rang.
Repressing sigh, she again threw down
her napkin.
Gas man." was the laconic announce
ment as she opened the kitchen door.
She held it wider as the man stallred
In. climbed on the step-ladder chair,
looked at the meter, noted the figures In
leather-backed book, and banged out
with brusdue Morning"
Whats the natter Haven't touched
your breakfast" was Warren's inconsid-
crate remark, as she again came back
to the table. ANY more cocoa there?"
holding out his cup
Yes. plenty" Then. apologize as she
poured it IT'S a little lumpy."
"scorched, too. Wherell We go for din
ner?"
why. there's 50 much in the house-I
thought we'd have dinner here"
Nothing doing. I want . good square
meal"
But Warren" indignantly, tn get
anything you want"
'Oh. we'd better 60 out Meet me at
the Times Square subway at Q sharp.
Wen go to the stradford. That's under
new management They say it's Al"
But. dear. don't like you to think
can't get dinner" resentfully. why.
YOU know I can
Yes, and be half the night getting
things cleared up. Whole lot better to
go out and get a good feed than to have
you putterin' around. Where's that other
stick" taking up a cane from the cor
ner. Never mind, this'll do Now don't
forgetS sharp. Uptown side"
Warren gone, Helen sank into the chair
before her cold, untasted breakfast with
tency. She could get dinner. a fairly
good dinner, but It was a slow and Ia
borious process.
She had so long depended upon a maid
that she had lost what little skin she
had. No wonder Warren preferred to go
to a restaurant. Stirring her lumpy Co
Goa she gave herself up to a censorious
introspection.
OF her efficiency IN other lines she was
always boasting. She took particular
pride in being a good carpenter and cleo
trician, a much better all-around me-
chanic than Warren, but always admitted
that she disliked to cook.
That was why she was so dependent
upon the maid, so abjectly fearful Of los
ing her-so in dread of the interim before
she could get another. Helen faced her
to like to cook.
When Jane left, which she felt would
be soon, for her arrogance was becoming
unbearable, she would do the work her
self for at least a week before attempting
to get another maid.
1t would be salutary training and
would lessen her dependence upon future
maids. She would learn not only to cook.
but to enjoy cooking.
Buttoning an enveloping apron over her
frilly morning gown, she began clearing
of the dishes preparatory to the distaste-
full task of washing them
Out at the piled sink as she filled the
dishpan, she slipped on her rubber gloves.
A thoughtful moment, then with a grim
determination she drew them OF. She
would begin now! She would overcome
her repugnance for handling anything
greasy.
She would convince Warren not only
of her ability for cooking but for clear
ing up with ease and dispatch. And the
first step toward this attainment was to
conquer her squeamish aversion for
washing dishes"
Copyright, lsr7)