South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-31
REVELATIONS OFA WIFE

OF the table.
supper is the only meal I ever sit
down to-" Mrs. Cosgrove had ex-
planned as she bore in two huge
plates heaped with smoking. hot bis
cult.
Mr. Cosgrove passed a plate OF
delicious looking broiled ham TO
Dicky
"Oh. we're so glad we have new
people" said little Mrs Allis. clap
Ping her hands with an affection
OF pretty childishness. we have
broiled ham just because you're
here"
\ Humorous Mystery.
A tiny flush stole over Mrs cos
groves face, and ! caught the hint
or a steely glitter in her eyes as she
/ looked toward the woman who had
just thrown out the insinuation
shat the first meals Of new bcarders
were better than the following ones.
But her voice was cool and placid
as ever as she spoke
we never have any hot dishes at
supper" she explained 20 me quiet
p Is. except warmed up potatoes and
dish Of hot bread of some kind,
| but wnen people have travelled all
day, as 1 assume you have, they are
( hungry. so / simply have hot meat
for all tonight instead OF cold"
! And I particularly dote on broil-
ed ham," said little Mrs. Allis
I brightly, especially Mrs. Cosgrove's
Her broiled ham is not food. it's a
poem. That's the reason why I'm
so glad YOU were hungry tonight"
/ The flush faded from Mrs. COS
groves face. but the hardness did
not leave her eyes. ] saw that Mrs.
Alliss attempt at smoothing over
I things had not placated Mrs. Cos
grove.
/ ] could not help but admire, how
ever. the adroitness with which the
younger woman had seen the effect
Of her cat-like thrust and the skill
/ with which she had endeavored TO
I change the meaning of her own
words
There was no more conversation
for a little. We all did full justice
10 the ham and potatoes, the hot
biscuit and honey. the real cream
and butter, and the homemade
peach preserves which heaped the
table before us. Then a shrill whis-
tie outside broke the silence in
which we were eating.
There's Ned now!" commented
Airs. COsgrave.
With a muttered excuse me, ="
the blue-eyed boy at Mrs AlIis's side
got UP from the table and hurried
into the kitchen.
Ned is my other SON. Mrs. Cos
grove explained.
In another moment a boy, who, 10
my eyes, was the one who had just
left the room, reappeared complete
~ dressed in a khaki suit and called
out cheerily:
i've got two of them, and I'm
starving"
knew Dicky's face was as Devil
dered as mine. For Mr.. and Mrs.
Cosgrove, Mrs. Allis and even the
two strange youths burst into
laughter.
1T strikes everybody that way at
raising his voice, he called:
Come in here. Fred"
The door opened. and the first
boy we had seen appeared
Twins" calculated Dicky.
els 1t Mystery?"
Yes" said Mrs. Allis, and such
twins I don't believe you've ever
seen! I've been here four weeks,
and I'm never sure 10 which boy
I'm speaking"
As the boys stood side by side.
, flushing partly with embarrassment
and partly with enjoyment Of the
sensation their marvellous resem-
tlance created, l mentally agreed
with Mrs. Allis. But I had been
trained TO very close observation,
and I made up my mind that while
the boys stood there in such widely
different garb 1 would try to see if
there were not some tiny character
istic about one Of them by which
could always distinguish him from
the other. knew their mother
must know them apart. and by the
little amused smile that played
around her lips 1 was sure il was
something besides her mothers in
tuition that enabled her to do so.
1 scrutinized them closely and fin
ally found a distinguishing charsc-
teristic. one which I was sure the
mother knew. As ] sank back into
my chair. Mr.. CoSgrove said jOvial-
~ but with an uneasy note.
Think YOU can tell which is
which after this?'s
'I am very sure L can said
quietly.
The mother of the boys was look.
ing directly al me. At my words she
leaned forward with a quicNl,
drawn breath. Into her eyes there
flashed a tortured look. look OF
fear.