The Monticellonian., 1917-03-22
GRANDMOTHER'S PARTY.
BY JANE OSBORN.

Whenever Grandma Bliss invited her
grandchildren to party they gave up
whatever else they might have had on
/ and accepted. This was not be-
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
vitatons 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, spoiled
| child who had never really accom-
| plished anything in her twenty years
of girlhood And there was Mar
garet's brother, Ned, and laughing
eyed Rose, the poorest of the cousins,
who worked downtown in somebody's
office, wore Margaret's old clothes
made over.
Grandmother sat on her cushioned
divan quite in state after the dinner
was over.
I'VE 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 a 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 five
minutes had passed grandmother had
all the pieces of paper in her hand.
Now the game begins" she said.
"You know l have quite little for
tune that is 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 l want you to en-
JOY little of it before I have gone.
zone thing | have noticed lately
| since you have grown up" grandmoth-
err went on, lis that you are not quite
contented. | want you to find the CON
tentment that comes of accomplishing
your ambition, and in order to find
out what that ambition is | have drawn
you into my little trap.
Now | want each one of you to
For everyone who does there will be
five thousand dollars at the time of
the achievement. For the first enc to
achieve it within three months of the
| present date there will be ten thou
sand dollars"
\ month later Rose sat in the rough
| ~ furnished waiting room of Mrs. Nc
Gihty's employment agency. \ look
of real discouragement was on her face
and in the chairs around her sat other
| discouraged looking ones.
Cooks We're scarce. and Mrs. Nc
/ Ginty had made many calls, so before
the day was spent Rose had again
/ found a place" AS She went out of
the door, just bit faint from her long
wait, she saw herscousn Ned
isn't it funny how often | see you2"
Rose began. "Only two weeks ago |
met you this way-after I'd been dis
charged from Mrs. Bentonson'S |
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
Il am sure whatever you are doing,
you are doing in order TO carry out
your ambition-but what that ambi-
ton has got to do with hanging round
employment agencies is more than /
know"
"Oh, | didn't want to tell you" Rose
said. at was such foolish ambi-
ton, and l don't want the cousins to
know. You see, | had got so tired of
working in offices that l wrote down on
the slip that my ambition was TO make
somebody think | was a perfect cook
l suppose it was silly, because
have never had much practice, and of
course l didn't mean to go out as
somebody's cook"
what did you mean?" persisted
Ned.
Rose blushed little 81 suppose
that | meant to be somebody's wife,
though of course | couldn't go out and
marry the first man that asked me,
and be miserable all the rest of my
life just for the bonus"
Just for a second Ned looked even
more confused than Rose Then he
talked quick and low. Couldn't you
possibly marry me? | didn't think I'd
ever nave the nerve to .ask you
You're $3.50 wonderful"
But, Ned, | 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 l cooked beautifully-but 1
couldn't do it just to win the bonus.
Then I'd never know whether you
really loved me-"
That's easy enough" Ned's voice
was triumphant. You see | wrote my
ambition thus: To marry Cousin
Rose Grandma knew | loved you. so
| didn't mind telling her But | didn't
hope to win-ever. Still I've been fol-
lowing you closely even though | idn't
know what you were trying to do.
Look here, Rose" Ned Jumped from