Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1917-11-08
'GRGNDM0THER's PARTY.
by JANE osBonM.

ana accepted. InlD was NOT 10
cause Of the fact that Grandma Bliss
was quite well-to-do. and had the
only considerable fortune In the en-
tire Bliss family, but because. in her
own quaint way, she was one Of the
most entertaining and refreshing lit
tie ladies' in the world.
So on the occasion Of her seventy
seventh birthday, when she issued In
vitatlons to her grandchildren for the
evening at the hotel where she lived
with her companion, the whole six Of
them turned up-Nina, the plump
beauty Of the family; Tom, also ro-
tund and ease loving Bob, who was
studying law and Margaret, q spoiled
child who had never really accom-
pllshed anything In her twenty years
Of girlhood. And there was Mar
garet's brother, Ned, and laughing
eyed Rose, the poorest Of the cousins.
Grandmother sat on her cushioned
dIvan'a the dinner was over.
ave are going to play little pen
cIl-and-paper game" she began. "And
before tell you anything at all about
1t / am going to ask each one Of you
to write down on piece Of paper just
exactly what he or she would like
most to do In the world-an ambition
as yet unqualified. Don't hesitate to
be frank" grandmother went on, '.fOr
no one but will see the answers"
Then the young heads around her,
were bent In thought, and, before I've
minutes had passed grandmother had
all the pieces Of paper In her hand.
'Now the game begins" she said.
"You know I have quite a little for
tune that ls rather more than / have
ever needed to take care Of my own
wants. As you know, you children
are my only heirs, and some day shall
each have your share. But / am only
seventy.seven, and ! want you to en-
Joy a little Of 1t before ! have gone.
"One thing I have noticed lately
since you have grown up" grandmoth-
er went on, "is that you are not quite
contented. want you to find the con-
tentment that comes Of accomplishing
your ambition, and in order to ind
out what that ambition Is ! have drawn
you into my little trap.
snow I want each one Of you to
set about to achieve this ambition.
Fol- everyone who does there will be
FIVE thousand dollars ut the time Of
the achievement. For the first one to
achieve 1t within three months Of the
present date there will be ten thou
sand dollars"
A month later Rose sat In the rough.
ly furnished waiting room Of Mrs. Nc
Glnty's employment agency. A look
Of real encouragement was on her face
and in the chairs around her sat other
discouraged looking ones.
Cooks were scarce, and Mr.. Nc.
Glnty had made many calls. 20 before
the day was spent Rose had again
found Q "place." Az abe went out Of
the door, just q bit faint from her long
wait, she saw her cousin Ned.
'Tsnt It funny how often I zee youf"
Rose began. "0nly two weeks ago I
met you this way-after I'd been dis.
charged from Mrs.. Bentonson's. I
never used to see much Of you before
before grandma's birthday party"
Nothing more was said Of Grandma
Bliss or her scheme till Rose had been
refreshed by tea and toast Then
Ned'S curiosity got the better Of
him.
II am sure whatever you are doing.
You are doing In order to carry out
your ambiti0n-but what that ambl-
tiOr has got to do with hanging round
employment agencies Is more than !
know"
"oh, I didn't want to tell you" Rose
said. II. was such q foolish ambi-
tion, and I don't want the cousins to
know. You see, I had got 20 tired Of
working In Offices that wrote down on
the slip that my ambition was to make
somebody think I was q perfect cook
I suppose Il was silly, because ]
have never had much practice, and Of
course I didn't mean to 60 out a.
somebody's cook"
"What did you meanT persisted
Ned.
Rose blushed q little. II suppose
that I meant to be somebody's wife,
though Of course I couldn't 60 out and
marry the FIRST man that asked me.
and be miserable all the rest Of my
life Just for the bonus
Just for O second Ned looked even
more confused than Rose. Then no
talked quick and low. Couldn't you
possibly marry met I didn't think I'd
ever have the nerve to ask you.
You're 500 wonderful"
'sBut, Ned, I couldn't marry you Just
to get the money. That Isl think ]
would be willing to marry you and
cook and everything. and make you
think ] cooked beautifully-but I
couldn't do Il Just to win the bOnuA
Then I'd never know whether you
really loved me"
'That's easy enough" Ned's voice
was triumphant. you zee / wrote my
ambition thus: 10 marry Cousin
ROse' Grandma knew I loved yOu. 20
didn't mind telling her. But I didn't
hona IN Uin-avar. Still iva haan fol.