Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-13
DAILY NOVELETTE,
ALL IN A STEW
BY LUCY HILTON

about. How long before dinner,
Eleanor"
About twenty minutes" briskly re-
turned his tiny wife, STOPPING to turn
pan of biscuits in the oven. 'I'm
just going to put the potatoes in the
stew now."
''Stew's the stuff for hungry garden
crs," Bill replied apprcciatively.
Lucky / had n vacation today; that
garden needed hoeing badly, Hello"
he exclaimed, glancing out of the win
dow. whats up? Somebody's hav-
ing tire trouble. Guess I'll run out a
minute and see if l can help"
Eleanor" he called in a tone of
mingled awe and excitement few min =
utes later, cts John Gillespie, head
of the firm, and it will be quite some
time before he gets fixed up, so I asked
him to dinner"
Eleanor stared at her husband in
ominous silence. In moment she
found her voice.
'Bill Printley, what were you think
ing off, she demanded. To-day of all
days. I'm ironing, too. And we've
nothing but lamb stew, biscuits and
boiled custard."
I'm sorry" he whispered, stepping
up softly behind her and kissing a
saucy curl on her neck. "Now, don't
get yourself in a stew over it," he
soothcd, patting her shoulder. But it
was up to us to do something. 1t was
only Saturday night that l asked him
, for a raise and I'd like to show him
we deserve it,
Eleanor relented. "I'll have to think
of something more suitable in a jffy,'
she returned, smiling into his great
brown eyes.
She stepped into the pantry and Sc
lected jar of OK tongue. She would
cut it in thin slices and garnish with
parsley. That would be vastly superior
to plain lamb stew.
She glanced at the clock.
Fortunately, she had saved some DO
tatoes from the stew. She would cream
them. There would be time for a
tomato bisque, and, with the addition
of few egg whites whipped, she would
turn her boiled custard into n floating
island and dot it with currant jelly.
1 She slipped into a pretty gray voile
house dress, and, flushed and smiling.
she welcomed her unexpected guest
with n cordiality that made him feel at
| home at once.
After few minutes chat she ex :
cused herself, leaving Bill to enter
| tain.
She hurried into the pantry, but
stood petrifcd with horror as she be
held the platter of choice tongue float
| ing in pan of milk. In her haste
she had left the platter uncertainty
pcrched on the window sill and a good
, stiff breeze had done the mischief.
Another hasty glance at the cmcr
gcncy shelf revealed a can of crab
meat that was too small Salmon and
dried beef were worse than lamb stew.
| She sighed. She must serve this pie
belan dish after all. She would serve
the stew en- casserole. 1t wouldn't be
bad, after all, with carrots and peas.
Il wonder if you ever cat lamb
stew:' asked Eleanor slightly apolo
getic after the soup course had been
disposed.
My favorite dish" responded Mr.
Gillespie. Nothing beats real home
cooking" Eleanor felt delicious sense
of relief, but it was quickly dispelled b,
an unworthy thought in the back of her
mind. He can't help himself. He's
only saying that to be Courteous
After few mouthfuls, he continued
Its just like mother used to make for
me when | came home from school
And it. justifics the tantalizing odors
that were waited out to me when. zip
bang. went my tire. ] was wishing my
good fairy would invite me to dinner
when, 10. . my tire turned the trick"
Eleanor flushed with pleasure. There
was no mistaking his sincerity. Sh,
glanced at her husband mischievousl,
and mentally thanked the breeze foI
averting tragedy.
Mr.. Gillespie took the lead in tn,
conversation and before either Eleano
or Bill realized it, he had them tcllin,
him their hopes and aspirations.
After his departure Eleanor locke,
at Bill long moment. "What do yo,
make out of it all?" she asked as sh
hurried back to her ironing.
''He seemed mighty interested in u
here in our home,' returned Bill dubi
ously. But | never fattered mysel
that he even noticed me in the Office
, Just drudge along with the rest O
the machinery"
For two weeks the eager look. of cx
pectancy in Eleanor's eyes was met b
, studied checrfulncss on Bills part a
each. night he greeted her with, IN
news yet, sweetheart
'Im-I'm afraid we talked to
much," said Eleanor uncertainty.
"Well, if we did it was all Gillespie
fault" defended Bill. "Hc led us on
The thought that they had made
: grave blunder ranked in Eleanor
! soul, but she strove to keep up he
! spirits for Bills sake. Then one night
just Gns she had lost hope, she hear
, him bound up the steps and the mex
: minute he was in the room. 81 got it I!
o he shouted jubilantly catching her j
+ his arms.
n "Gillespie called me into the Office to
night and offered me the job of man
, ager of the sales department. DO yo
realize what that means. sweetheart /?
She nodded, face aglow.
l,,l