Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-04-07
GRANDMoTHER'S PARTY;
By JANE OSBORN.

and accepted. This was not be- cause of the fact that Grandma Bliss was quite wel-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- ; vitatiOns to her grandchildren for the | evening at the hotel where she lived i them turned up-Nina, the plump | beauty of the family; Tom, also To- tund and ease loving Bob, who was studying law and Margaret, a spoiled child who had never really accom- plished anything iii her twenty years garet's brother, Ned and laughing eyed Rose, the poorest of the cousins.
 Grandmother sat on her cushioned divan after the dinner was over.
 eve are going to play q little pen cil-and-paper game,' she began. And before I tell you anything at all about it I am going to ask each GIG 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, flor no one but l will sec the answers"
 Then the young heads around her were bent in thought, and. before five minutes had passed grandmother had all tho pieces of paper in her hand.
 "Now the game begins," she said. "You know I have quite a little for tune that is rather more than I 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 I am only seventy-seven, and I want you to en- l joy little of it, before I have. gone
 "One thing l have noticed lately since you hnve grown lin,". ,grandhioth- CT went on, 'is that you are; not 'd,lite contentdd. 1swalit ,you to find. the GoT- ltentment that comes of accnlnDlisliiHg your ambition, andfin order. to ind out what that ambition is I have drawn you into my little trap. 4afst'9
 "Now I want each one of you to set about to achieve this ambition. For everyone who does there will be five thousand dollars at the time of | the achievement. For the first one to Iacheve it within three months of the Ipresent date there will be ten thCu- sand dollars"
 A month later Rose sat in the rough fly furnished waiting room of Mrs. Me IGinty's employment agency. A look lof real Encouragement was on her face and in the chairs around her sat other discouraged looking ones.
 Cooks were scarce, and Mrs. Me- lGinty had made many calls, so before the day was spent Rose had again Hound ''place." As she went out of the door, just bit faint from her long Iwait, she saw her cousin Ned.
 'Isn't it funny how often see youY 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 l-before grandma's birthday party"
 Nothing more, was said of Grandma Bliss or her scheme till Rose had been refreshed by tea and toast. Ther lNeds curiosity got the better o1 him.
 q am sure whatever you are doing you are doing in order to carry out Iyour ambition-but what that ambi tior has got to do with hanging rount employment agencies is more than know"
 "Oh, didn't want to tell you," Rose said. 'T. was such foolish ambi
 tion, and don't want the cousins tt
 know. You see, had got so tired o1
 working in offices that wrote down or the slip that my ambition was to make !; somebody think I was perfect cook. suppose it was silly, because
 have never had much practice, and O , course didn't mean to go out al somebody's cook"
 "What did you meanT persisted
 Ned.
 Rose blushed a little. '1 suppos1 that I meant to be somebody's wife ] though of course couldn't go out ant
 marry the first man that asked me
 and be miserable all the rest of m,
 life just for the bonus"
 Just for a second Ned looked evel more confused than Rose. Then h
 talked quick and low. Couldn't yo possibly marry me? didn't think r ever have the nerve to ask yOt
 You're sO-so wOnderful"
 "But, Ned, couldn't marry you jus to get the money. That is-I think
 would be willing to marry you an . cook and everything. and make 70 t think cooked beautifully-but couldn't do i. just to win the bonu 3 Then I'd never know whether yo = really loved me-
 "That's easy enough" Ned's voic was triumphant. "You see I wrote m
 ambition thus: fTo marry Ccusi
 Rose! Grandma knew I loved you, z
 [ didn't mind telling her. But I didn
 hone to Wip--eyer, Still I've been flo