The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-12-27
WHEATLESS DAY
BY VICTOR RADCLIFFE.


'Humph ~ shrugged the customer.
Yesterday was meatless day and l
mad to miss my accustomed chop. !
suppose it will be Sneetless day soon,
and we will have to roll up in blan-
6ets, and heatless day, with no steam
1n."
He showed no resentment to the gov
eminent by dispatching the wheatless
meal in due order and tipping the
waiter
I'm not cross" he told himself as
ne proceeded down the street, but
don't like my days set tasks one bit"
Mr.. Embree went to q railroad de
pot and purchased a ticket to Fair
lale, n little suburban town twenty
miles away. He entered the coach and
drew his coat collar up around his
neck to warn any laxative fellow pas
scngCr that he had a decided crouch.
Then Ralph Embree began to think
lard.
He had. indeed, something necessary
to ponder over. His son. Eldridge, had
come to him the day preceding They
mad always been in harmonious com
DaniOnship.
Father" Eldridge had said frankly,
Il have fallen in love with the sweet
est girl in the world, and l want TO
marry her"
"And you have hidden the face from
me until you had discounted its cul-
mination. eh?" the father spoke, hal5
mockingly.
Not l." demurred Eldridge, in his
open, light-hearted way. "Why. IA
Their, I never knew she loved me till
Yesterday, I have been sure Of only
one thing: That an angel ON earth is
embodied in Ruth Werner That is the
name of the Young lady who has won
my lcye. She lives at IIaZleton with
her old grandmother. Father" and
the tones grow pleading, Il shall abide
your decision, but l want You to sec
Ruth and her grandmother, even
though you ask that we wait years.
Just do this one thing for ne"
"Al right" assented the father
brusquely.
over the situation Ralph Embrco
now reflected mapping out how he
would master it in his usual forceful.
lnSistent way. Finally he decided he
would visit Mrs. Margaret Werner and
her granddaughter, and be pleasant
and polite.
He located the home of Mrs. Werner
without much difficulty He hardly
blamed Eldridge when Il young girl
answered his summons at the door.
81 wished to see Mrs. Werner" an
nounced Mr.. Embree.
ooh. grandma you mean?" chirped
this vision of rare beauty and inno-
cence in the sweetest of tones. "She
is away"
II think | will wait for her, if you
have no objection" observed Eldridge'S
father, intent on critical study of Il
prospective daughter-in-law.
She was all grace and intelligence,
rs she seated herself opposite him in
the coy little parlor, which was taste
full and neat as 4 pin.
Grandma may be back at three, or
five. or seven, | cannot exactly tell
which" Ruth Werner informed her
visitor. you see, she is like a new
being since the war commenced"
Mr.. Embree pondered over this
strange remark. Int a prompt expla-
nation followed.
81 mean since the ladies' clubs here
have taken an interest in cooperative
work" said Ruth hastily. Grandma
is quite Old. but she has never out
grown her usefulness. Oh. sir, there
never was such Il coOk-old fashioned,
some say, but her system just meets
the present occasion for economy and
thrift, and food conservation is the
ruling motto of the day
At three o'clock Mrs. Werner did not
appear. At four Ruth told her visitor
that she must prepare tea, for grand
ma might arrive at five and would be
tired out with her days work, and
need refreshment
Mrs. Werner did not come at five.
NUN lItlh btNI buNlliilS hppul lIlt
kitchen. She came into the paror
with a delicious color in her fresh,
sweet face.
81 have put down grandma's tea"
she explained. 81 hope you will join
me in a cup of coffee"
81 will be glad to, young lady" said
Mr.. Embree.
There were mullins baked TO turn.
hot and crisp-not Mt all resembling
the restaurant graham flour abomina-
ton. The coffee made him almost
smack his lips. An omelet and some
toothSomc preserves capped the eli
max. Mr. Embrce was charmed. He
changed his plan of having Il talk with
Mrs. Werner; he decided to deliver his
ultimatum instead to Eldridge in the
city.
II will write to Mrs. Werner the OBJ
jet of my visit" he told Ruth, and
She went to get his hat. A card
dropped from its inside band, his own.
"Oh," exclaimed Ruth, and stood riv-
oted and Mr.: Emhree discerned that a
climax had eventuated.
81 fancy l am betrayed" said Mr..
Embree quickly, fascinated by the
pretty confusion of his young hostess,