Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-09
MAN MUST HAVE COOKS
by rHoEBE sHEFFIEL,

With queer feeling around her
heart and very white face. Ruth
Kenyon saw the days slip by anu no
sign or word from John Lansing.
Surely, no did not take mo serious
~" she said/to herself. forgetting that.
NJ the time, she fully intended that
rer words should be taken seriously
They had been talking OF girls who
could do things, and the subject of
cooking had come UP. Ruth had al
ways rather prided herself on her
ignorance OF cooking. She hated these
girls who sat up ut the club and in
sisted on exchanging verbal recipes
which no one ever remembered.
You tako two cups of Hour, pinch
of sale and teaspoon OF baking
fapositc form Of conversation. Ruth
had shocked her one day when Mary
turned her guns on her.
please don't tell me-" she begged.
II can't cook a thing" and at Ma-y's
look OF absolute horror she added,
"cookins is such soFdid work. don't
II was the telling OF This to John
that same night that started the
not laugh and agree with what she
said.
You know. Ruth" he said, "a girls
iirec, h "!.' scrV VAN and a for the first
time q doubtful look crossed Johns
face. People said tina, Ruth Kenyon
less sor, OF ., girl. John. hud always
insisted that beneath frivolous eX-
terror was great depth Of character
and the foundation OF a fine woman.
But to a chap on salary. an enter
tanning wife might prove luxury
Then he put the thought from him
but Ruth had seen the look: hot words
followed and john had beat u hasty re-
treat Oh being invited to do So vow
lag nevcrto return.
II was all very foolish. OF course: as
all lovers Quarrcls are, and with just
about as much point. Ruth had sent
the ring back nest day. then had pro
IL nun John detestcd. She told her
self she WAS happy. hu, deep in her
heart; she knew that she was per
tectly miserable, that she hated Tom
Benton. loved John and lonsed Ter him
with all her heart, The night on
which she took stock OF herself WAS
not a pleasant one. for Ruth was very
honest. Hy the time she finished the
arpraisemcnt Of herself she was so
miscrabic that she cried half the night.
;hcn frll asleep and woke in inc morn
Ing with what her brother called. her
az or die expression
From mat time on the Kenyon Fam,
lily really suffered, for RuthP armed
with cook book. gave Bridget other
duties about the house and did The
cooking herself. She made many mis-
takes, suffered many q burn and near
taking the bottle of iaudanum, which
Bridget recklessiy LEI, on the shelf.
for vanilla. But she learned 10 cook.
During all thesc months Ruth saw
nothing Of John Lansing. She had
caught Il glimpse OF him one day on
I.efton Street, but she quickly entered
the corner drug store. where she col
lidod with Tom Benton, so that John
passing and looking in, perhaps with
softcn!nG about his heart. scowlcd
and hurried ON.
The ncxt day found Ruth bent on
keeping her promise 10 teach cake
making TO Marjorie Hall, a bride OF I,
few months. Marjorie met her at the
door OF her apartment with II troubled
face.
II simply must go down town to
sign some sort OF Il legal paper IN
Jims office. but I'll conc back as soon
as possible"
was growing dark, so Ruth. with NOM
Ina; TO do. decided To make the cake.
She had just put it IN the oven whan
tho door bell rang three long rings,
through the hall without removing hcr
apron, with hour on her hair, dough
on her face and becoming flush ON
her face. But il wasn't Marjorie. 1t
prised TO see Ruth she was him.
II. Jim told me at noon TO como
up here to dinner. he ATTEMPTED 70
traces OF Ruth'S recent battle.
NO. I'm iust looking my hest" Ruth
told him and He'd back 10 the Kitchen
angry Al hrrself, John in nariicuiar,
and The whole world liz general. She
stood looking out the window, drum
ming on the pane and praying for'the
cake TO bake SO that she might go
home. Another ring At the front bell
startled her. AS sho passed the living
room door. she realized without look
ing in. that John sat there with u
magazine on his lap. The delivery OF
Narjorie'S parcels took some time
they had been sort c. q. y. and change
had 10 he made ana one parcel re-
turned. In the midst OF the discus
sion, John came TO the living room
door.
where's the cook? Something's
burning" he said iaconically and re-
strained Il smile as Ruth slammed the
door and hurried for the kitchen. He
followed some minutes later to find an
open oven door from which the odor
Of burned cake grew stronger every
" ~ m W ~ ~