South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-10
SIADGE MAKES THE BEST OF
THE SITUATION.

"A belated guest. but 90 have some
critical woman casually stroll in be-
fore one is dressed. or has put the
nnaI touches-so dear TO every
hoUsewifely heart-on all the prep
arations is simply maddening.
I am no exception 10 the rule AS
I heard the voices Of Lillian Gale
and her husband and I realized that
they had arrived at $3.50 in the aft
ernoOn. when they had ben invited
for an evening chatting dish supper,
I was both disheartened and angry.
with 4 gasp of thankfulness / re-
membered that Katie had swept up
the nut shells from the living room
rug. but / also knew that the dust
must have settled again upon every
thing. Katie had gone over the fur
niture the day before. but I had
planned TO have her give things a
few finishing touches before the
guests came. Any such plan was
now an impossibility. The rooms
would have 10 remain as they were.
Another problem confronted me.
] had planned 10 arrange my table
for the evening as soon as / finished
MAKING the EdluNttllt~r anu To SCI ~
a light lunch for DicSy and myself,
picnic-like at the kitchen table. The
unexpected coming Of these guests
meant that i would have to serve a
supper for them, thus postponing
the arrangement of my table until
the last minute. i could visualize
myself as hurried. Hurried hostess,
my pet abomination.
But, OF course. there was but one
thing 10 do, much as / hated 10 do
it, / must go into the living room
and cordially welcome these people.
As / slipped off my kitchen apron 1
thought OF the hypocrisy which
marks most social intercourse. What
really wanted TO say 20 my early
guests was this:
Please go home and come again
at the proper time. I am not ready
10 receive you now
had "A sudden whimsical vision
of the faces of Dicky and the I'm
derwoods If I should thus speak my
real thoughts The thought in some
curious fashion made it easier for
me To cross the room 90 Lillian
Gales side. extend my hand and say
cordially:
How good Of YOU to come this
sfternoon!"
Il know it is objectionable" Lii
Iian's high pitched voice answered.
You invited us for the evening. not
Tor the afternoon, but / told Harry
that j was going 10 cruelty the con-
ventions and como over early, so L
would have a chance TO say more
,han two words 10 you before the
rest get here. If Bess Marsden ever
started upon some of those pet the
cries OF hers. nobody else Will get
word in. She's the most rabid
anarchist out of jail"
.'Bess won't be here" broke in
Dicky. Her brother is seriously in
in Chicago. and she had TO go to
him"
"Of course. that lets Paul out al
So" Lillian commented. in the most
matter-of- fact manner But the
Testers are about as bad" she turn
cd TO me again, "They have a six
months-old baby. their first. and
you'd think il was the first in the
universe 10 hear them talk about it,
So L determined TO get ahead of
everybody and have a little visit
with YOU"
Harry Underwood elbOwed his
wife away from my side with a play
rul push. and held out Ills hand. His
brilliant black eyes looking down
into mine with the same lazy APP
proving expression that / had re-
scented when Dicky introduced me TO
,r u-rr
I cudEelled my brain in vain for
some airy nothing With which 20 am
swer his nonsense. ! never have had
the gift TO repartee. I can talk well
enough about subjects that interest
me when L am conversiug with some
one whom 7 know we'll, but the
persifage. the light banter that
forms the conversations stock in
trade OF So many women is an alien
tongue TO me.
YOU are just as welcome as Mrs.
Underwood is" 7 said heartily at
last. Threw a sop TO my conscious
with the realization that 1 had
spoken the exact truth. He was eN-
actlv as welcome as his wife. and
neither OF them was in the least well
come. Fortunately he did not read
any hidden meaning into my words.
That's always the way he said
pIaintively. dropping my hand as II
ne were resigning himself 10 some
lost hope Never am I judged by
nv own merits or welcomed for my
own sake-aIWays Jumped in with
ms wife, as II 1 were a performing
poodle or a pet canary. It's heart
nreaking. that's what il is"
The contrast between the good
looking giant who was speaking and
The tiny objects 10 which he was
Hkenine himself together with his
crawling. whining tones upset the
Gravity Of all OF us. We laughed
heartily. Only Mr.. Underwood re-
manned grave. looking from one 10
The other OF us with the expression
~ an undertaken summoning the
pallbearers.
Come on. Harry. into my room. F."
urged Dicky. taking him by the
arm "Tve got a special brand