The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-09
Eoeni,,gStoy
Bobby and the HI. C. L.
by ZANE OSBORN

peculiar sDFdnu OF Sa0SIaclfoR WITH N
on his face that comes to a man who
feels he has been extremely liberal
"Just SO long as it Is bang-up dinner,
I'm not going to consider any reason
able cost. Here, Lucille he said,
drawing forth a crisp ten dolla- bill
from his bill case, here is something.
Spend the whole of it if you want :
terrapin, caviare, green turtle, lobster
whatever they have at the nifty din
ners.''
And there are to be eight of u.s."
Lucilie's words betokened WEAKNESS,
but it was a WEAKNESS that Bobby,
the exuberant young Bobby, failed to
detect.
"Yes," he agreed, you and me
and my brother John and his wife and
your brother John and his wife. and
the Bob Rewtons-Just jolly party.
III be home by 6. so as to do anything
L can. for you at the last minute.
suppose you'n get Sally to wear a cap
and apron?" And away went Bobby,
filled with pleasurable anticipation
of his. first dinner party.
1t had been settled between the
Bobby Stranges when they were mar
ried that they would run no bills dur
ing the first years Of their married
life. Bobby wassconvinced that every
housewife should go marketing per-
sonally, taking advantage of the better
prices that were Offered to those who
PAID cash, and Lucille had agreed per-
fectly. And Bobby Strange did not
mean to be parsimonious-
But the trouble was that Bobby had
been rather oyerfed on a certain
brand OF magazine article that urges
young men to save. 1t was his theory
lars a week he should save at least fif-
teen. He felt that he was generous
when he allowed Lucille thirty-five on
which to run the house
When Lucille complained meekly
and good-naturedly that butcher bills
were amazingly high Bobby smilingly
quoted some articles he had read about
using the cheaper cuts, but unfor-
tunately Bobby had taste for chops
and steaks and could not endure
stews- "Oh, there are other things
you can get" he assured her. II can't
remember just what they call them.
But you'll find 1t, all in the books"
So when Bobby Strange left that.
morning Lucille sat looking at the
ten-dollar bill. She ran a finger over
its verdant face affectionately. There
were so many things that it would do.
They needed potatoes, and only the
day before Lucille had found a place
where she could buy eggs at a splendid
price.
She had hoped to be able to get some
to put down" for winter. They were
out of soap and 1t was so much cheaper
buying it in large quantities. But this
ten dollars was not for soap or eggs
or potatoes. 1t was for terrapin and
green turtle
Lucille started out early to shop, and
she spent hours in her search for the
inexpensive luxuries that she had
hoped for. But they were not to be
mad. Why. even ordinary barnyard
fowl were. SO cents a pound. FIRE.
quently as she marketed she consulted
the little menu that she had made out
for the dinner that night, and fire.
quently she ran her little silver pencil
thru certain dainties she had planned
to have.
1t was not alone a physical fatigue
that weighed her down when she re-
turned from the marketing trip.
You'll wear a. cap and apron, won't
you, Sally?" she asked when she came
home.
II suppose so. na'am." replied Sally.
II you get one for me. You couldn't
expect me to have them for myself"
Lucille had to take the cork out of
the bottom of the china elephant bank
in which she had been saving nickels
with which to buy a washing machine.
Then she went out in search of the
white cap and apron that she could
buy with the small amount that the
elephant presented her with.
The dinner seemed to be successful
enough, but something must have pass
ed between the Bobby Stranges after
ward that took a little of the felicity
out of Lucille. For when her brother
John arrived Unexpectedly the next
morning about 9 after Bobby had
started off for his office he found his
sister in tears
He had trouble in tracing these
tears to their source. for Lucille knew
that John was an answering friend
and champion of her Bobby. If he had
not been she never would have ex-
planned to him.
After you had all gone" she ex-
planned. "he said to me that / needn't
have been so thrifty. He told me that
he wouldn't in the least have minded
if I had spent all the money he gave
me for the dinner-in fact, he said
he had rather hoped we would have
something n little better than chicken
and" --Lucille's tears seemed to start
afresh at the details of the little din
ner party; she sobbed like child be-
fore she went on-"and stringbeans
(sob) and tomato salad (sob) and ice
cream and-and chocolate cake" And
with the mention of the cake she had
spent so much pains in making she
burst into n torrent of tears of self
pity and sobbed on her brothers
shoulder as she had done IN long4ago
days when he had comforted her over
the demise of a. canary or the break
ing of doll.
'And I spent every cent he gave
me-" Lucille went on when she had
regained her composure. There
wasn't a cent left and I had to take
the cork out of the elephant. told
him so. and then he said 1t was all
because 7 didn't know how to buy.
He said that that was my great fault
not knowing how to buy. and he
said that there were some women
who could manage on a lot less money
than I did and have more delicacies.
too. He was very kind, only he really
thinks don't know. But honestly.
John. went to the cheapest places in
town and carried all the bundles home
myself. so I wouldn't have to go
places that send them"
!. well. I guess Bobby just don't un-
reflected the loyal John
IL -