Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-31
CHAPTER XIII.
The Dancing Begins.

Christmas saw many changes in
the Blaisdell families.
The James Blaisdells had moved
into the big house near the Gaylord
place. Mrs. Hattie had installed two
maids i'll the kitchen, bought hand
some touring car, and engaged an
imposing looking chauffeur. Fred had
entered college, and Bessie had been
sent to a fashionable school on the
Hudson. Benny, to his disgust. had
also been sent away to an expensive
school, Christmas, however, found
them all at home for the holidays. and
for the big housewarming that their
parents were planning to give on
Christmas night.
The Frank Blaisdells had also
moved. They were occupying a new
house not too far from the grocery
store. They had not bought it yet
Mrs. Jane said that she wished to
live in it awhile, so as to be sure she
would really like it. Besides, it would
save the interest on the money for
that much time, anyway. True, she
had been a little disturbed when her
husband reminded her that they
would be paying rent meanwhile. But
she said that didn't matter; she was
not going to put all that money into
a house just yet, anyway-not till she
was sure IT was the best they could
do for the price.
They, too, were planning a house
warming. Theirs was to come the
night after Christmas. Mrs. Jane
told her husband that they should
not want theirs the same night, of
course, as Hattie's and that if she had
hers right away the next night, she
could eat up any Of the cakes or ice
cream that was left from Hattie's
party, and thus save buying so much
for herself. But her husband was so
indignant over the idea IF eating
"Hattie's leavings" that she had to
give up this part of her plan, though
she still arranged to have her house
warming on the day following her
sister-in-law's.
Mellicent, like Bessie, was home
from school, though not from the
same school. Mrs. Jane had found
another one that was just as good as
Bessie's, she said, and which did not
cost near so much money. Mr..
Smith was not living with them now,
of course. He was boarding at Miss
Maggie Duff's.
Miss Flora was living in the same
little rented cottage she had occupied
for many years. She said that she
should move, of course when she got
through her mourning, but until then
she thought it more suitable for her to
stay where she was. She had what
she wanted to eat, now, however, and
she did not do dressmaking any
longer. She still did her own house
work, in spite of Harriet Blaisdell's
insistence that she get maid. She
said that there was plenty of time for
all those things when she had finished
her mourning. She went out very lit
tie, though she did go to the house
warming at her brother James-be-
ing a relative, so she decided no criti-
cism could be made.
1t seemed as if all Hillerton went to
that house-warming. Those who were
not especially invited to attend went
as far as the street or the gate. and
looked on enviously. Mrs. Hattie had
been very generous with her invita-
tions, however. She said that she had
asked everybody who ever pretended
to go anywhere. She told Maggie
Duff that, of course. after this. she
should be more exclusive-very ex
elusive, in fact; but that this time Jim
wanted to ask everybody and that
she didn't mind so much-she was
really glad to have all these people
see the house. and all-thev GER