The Washington herald., 1917-04-23

I Tmh series II CONTINUATION oh
Their Married Life" produced by
i"The Married Life OF Helen and wsr-
rem" appearing, exclusively In this pa
per. u the only series now being writ
ten By Mabel Herbert Urner.
Dear, do feel uncomfortable" wor-
ried Helen. II wish now I'd dressed"
Dressed? For a beefsteak dinner"
scoffed Warren. Ought tove worn your
oldest duds."
"If you'd only asked! I'll feel dreadful
| II all the others are"
well, they won't be-" curtly, as they
approached the electric-studded sign be-
lore the restaurant.
Second floor for Mr. Barclays dinner, :"
replied the doorman TO Warren's query
Elevator In the rear, sir"
'Lady's cloakroom to the right-gentle-
mems down the hall" announced the at
tendant as they left the car on the sec
ond floor.
Now. don't primp all night" admon-
ished Warren. ITS after seven"
In the dressing-room three women, In
elaborate evening gowns, were laying on
their wraps That this floor was given
up to private dining-rooms Helen knew.
No doubt there were other dinners.
They're not in the beefsteak party7"
in an undertone to the maid as she
checked her coat.
~yyhy YES. ma'am. they must be-that's
the only dinner up here tonight. There's
"a suppsrAbut not till after the theater."
The filmy decollete gowns were In strik-
ing contrast to Helen's modest AFTERNOON
taffeta With -incensed resentment for
warren's misleading advice, she Joined
him In the hall.
They're all dressed" in an indignant
g. dVfR
well, you look a darned sight more
appropriate for this party than those
dolled-up DANES" as the trio came out OF
the dressing-room-
Following the buzz Of laughter-resonant
voices, they turned down the han to the
log Cabin Room" celebrated Tor It's
beefsteak dinners 1t was long, low
room, the walls and ceilings OF rousn
logs. lit by crude hanging lanterns and
glowing leaf-shaded bulbs from AUTUMN
foliaged branches.
At one end was a deep brick fireplace
before which a white-garbed chef was
preparing the steak Outstanding logs
arranged in a semi-circle and supporting
boards, formed the tables for the party
Of fourteen. Each place was marked oy
a saltcellar, a spoon and a pewter mug.
Mr. Barclay, the host, greeted them
cordially, then steered them over to an
animated group.
''NIrs. Baird, I want you to meet Mrs.
and Mr.. Curtis. Mr.. Baird-Mrs. stokes
Mr.. Holt-Mr. Reed. Curtis. you know
Reed. Mrs. Holt"
For Helen a wholesale Introduction was
always an embarrassing ordeal She
numbled each name vaguely. knowing
She would remember none Of them.
Here's the aprons and caps" an
nounced Mrs. Barclay, as a waiter came
in with a stack of checked aprons ana
trayfuI Of paper carnival caps.
AS the only one who had worn nat
Helen, feeling even more conspicuous
ronrn,rred TO the hostess an awkward.
apoIogetic explanation. n,
''Why, you're quite all right, mrs
RarcIay reassured her. AT this KIND
Of party you dress as you please: Just
give your hat to the waiter-he IL take IL
into the dressing groom. Now Whieh OF
these will you have?
There was laughing scramble over tne
gay headgear. Warren looked imposingly
oriental in red Turkish fee with a nIaGk
IL sseI while Helen selected piue HILL
80, csn as the most inconspicuous.
Mrs Stokes, in a tulle-draped yellow
satin was grotesque in a tapping green
tano-o-shanter Mrs. Baird, even stouter
ana more forid, unwisely chose scarlet
Napoleonic shape with dropping paper
plume. ,D
what do We put IN the PocNes'
laughed Mr.. Stokes, as they ueo on tne
enveloplng bib-aprons' eaeh win nuse
aAnything you can swipe. Who's got
a pin7' demanded Warren. The strap
on this ones busted
Tn the haphazard seating. Helen found
herself between Mr.. Stokes and Mrs:
Gardner, both OF whom she felt weuld
be dificult to talk to-
Crane fruit with maraschino was serV-
ed first. which utilized the solitary spoon
leaving them toolless.
Then came the beefsteak-thin blood
red slices cut from two-inch STEAK:
each mounted on square OF outrered
toast
Don't we get napkins?' Mrs. Reed
held up her greasy, jeweied fingers.
wipe 'em on your apronF
"IIck 'emw was warren's suggestion
A huge bowl OF celery was next passed,
and then a second round Of steak. An
other waiter with a pitcher Of cream ale.
drawn from q keg by the fireplace re-
dIled the pewter mugs.
Helen had not quite finished her hrst
piece when the steak came by for the
third time.
'aNo. we can't let you pass again." pro-
tested Mr.. Stokes, taking a slice for her.
''You won't get anything else-so you'll
have to keep up"
'I always eat slowly. but I could do
better with a knife and fork. can eat
most things with my fingers" she ad- |
mitted, laughingly. but not meat"
Really delicious steak-this Is my |
fourth slice. haven't missed one"
boasted Mrs. Gardiner, as the tray came |
by again.
'It's the one thing you can get better |
At a restaurant than at home. You must |
have charcoal fire to broil steak like
Ihis"
"And you have to have the steak" add |
I'd Mr.. Stokes. Barclay ordered this
himself. Did you see II over there before |
i was cooked? That's what I'd call a |
cut de luxe You can't get that at the
corner butcher's"
The toast-mounted slices were dis
patched with astonishing ease and speed.
That's my sixth"-"This makes my sew
snth''-''rve stopped counting" were the
comments, while Helen was still struw- /
fling with her third.