The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-10-11
EXTRAVAGANT
BY ANNA L. FINN.

mother, at the same time giving an
admiring glance at the beautiful soil
taire which adorned her third finger.
"You see," she continued, "he wants
me to know that l will have to be
quite proficient in the culinary art to
compete with her"
Mrs. Winston smiled at her daugh-
ter's simplicity. well, why don't you
show him what you can do, Jean"
she replied. "He doesn't know that
you have been taking a course in do
nestle science and are already quite
proficient. Why not surprise himY
That's a perfectly splendid idea.
mumsie," Jean exclaimed. bob is
coming to dinner tonight and I'll make
the most elaborate cake imaginable.
1t will surely rival anything which
Mrs. Rogers ever made"
So donning the largest apron avail
to her DESIRE the cake was indeed an
elaborate affair, for every known in
gredient necessary to the making OF a
perfect cake was used by Jean.
There" she exclaimed, as she admir-
ingly put the finishing touches to the
dainty pink and white frOsting, IF
that doesn't beat BOb's mothers cakes
than I'm greatly mistaken" She was
quite beside herself, for the cake was
a grand success and one of which any
girl might well be proud. She could
picture Bob munching piece of the
tOOthsOme dainty won't he be sur
prised and delighted" she thought So
the cake was put away for safe keep
ing and Jean proceeded to busy her
self about the house.
The day passed very quickly and,
glancing at the clock, She realized that
she had just about an hour in which
to dress for dinner. Downing her ia
vOrite blue frock, she was about to
proceed down stairs when suddenly
she became aware Of the fact that
something was missing. ooh, my ring
Where could I have put it?" she ex-
claimed. After a very careful search
of her favOrite hiding places she failed
to find any trace of the lost treasure.
Soon she had the whole household
transformed into a searching party,
but all without avail The ring could
not be found.
"Oh, what shall l dO?" bemOaned
Jean. 81 can never tell Bob | have
lost it; he would think it so careless
of me. Pm sure l had it this morn
ing" she continued. "But in my fool
ish pride and excitement over that
horrid cake l lost it, I just hate the
old cake now!'
All, of course, were in sympathy
with her; but when one has lost her
treasured engagement ring it is hard
to be cOnsOled.
In due course of time Bob arrived
and to all outward appearances Jean
was immensely happy what if he
should miss it from my finger" she
solilOquized The thought caused her
some concern, but she quietly dis
missed it, hoping against hope that
such a thing would not come to pass.
The dinner progressed very favor
ably, and finally the cake was brought
forth. Bob was greatly impressed
with it's tempting appearance, and
Jean promptly explained that she had
made it especially for him and ex-
pressed the hope that he would like it.
He was, of course, anxious to sample
jeans cooking and a very generous
portion was served him.
Jean was quite elated, and was
waiting anxiously for the words of
praise which she knew she was sure
to receive. Great was her surprise,
however, as she glanced up at Bob
to see a distressed look on his face.
"Why, what's the trouble? Is there
anything the matter with the cake?"
Jean anxiOusly inquired. All eyes
were Immediately on Bob.
"Oh, no, not at ALL" he assured her.
"Only 1 struck something rather hard"
and presently he drew forth portion
of the cake in which was imbedded
nothing less than jeans cherished
ring. Poor Bob; he looked both mys-
titled and embarrassed. But Jean at
once cleared up the situation. "Oh,
my precious ring!" she rapturouSly
exclaimed. why, how did it ever get
into that cake?" Instantly she re-
membered removing it from her finger
before commencing to bake the
cake, and concluded that in some mys-
terious way it must have dropped into
the mixture.
Great mirth followed and Jean joined
the merriment, as she realized her ter
rible blunder, despite her efforts to dis
play her talents in the all-impOrtSnt
line.
But it wasn't such a bad cake after
all, was it, Bob?" she fondly inquired,
after the merriment had subsidized.
"Well, / should say not" he replied !;
"it was perfect jewel of a cake, but"
he continued, I'm afraid you will have
to find a more economical recipe be-
fore we are married. because my sal
ary would never warrant diamond
favored cakes"