The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-09-13
ALL IN A STEW
BY LUCY HILTON.

" D.
from the garden and shifting about
How long before dinner, Eleanor"
"Abont 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
ers," Bill replied approximately.
Lucky had vacation today, that
garden needed hoelng badly. Hellowhe
exclaimed, glancing out of the window
whats up? Somebody's having tire
trouble. Guess I'll run out minute
and see If can help"
Eleanor" he called in tone Of min
gled awe and excitement few min
utes later, "it's John Gillespie, head Of
the firm, and it will be quite some time
before he gets fixed up, so I asked him
in to dinner"
Eleanor stared at her husband In
ominous silence. In moment she
found her voice. "
"Bill Prlntley, what were you thinks
ing off" she demanded. To-day Of all
days. I'm ironing, too. And We've
nothing but lamb stew, biscuits and
boiled custard."
"Im sorry" he whispered, stepping
up softly behind her and kissing a
saucy curl on her neck.
Eleanor relented. 'Tll have to think
of something more suitable in jiffy,"
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 supe-
rior to plain lamb stew.
She glanced at the clock.
Fortunately, she had saved some po-
tatoes from the stew. She would
cream them. There would be time for
tomato bisque, and with the addition
of few egg whites whipped she would
turn her boiled custard into a floating
island and dot it with currant jelly,
She slipped into pretty gray wolfe
house dress, and flushed and smiling
she welcomed her unexpected guest.
After a few minutes chat she ex-
cused herself, leaving Bill to entertain.
She hurried into the pantry, but
stood petrified with horror as she be-
held the platter of choice tongue float
ing in a pan of milk. In her haste
she had left the platter uncertainty
perched on the window sill and good
stiff breeze had done the mischief.
Another hasty glance at the emer-
gency shelf revealed can of crab
meat that was too small. Salmon and
dried beef were worse than lamb stew.
She sighed. She must serve this plebe-
ian dish after ALL She would serve
the stew en- casserole. 1t wouldn't be
bad. after ALL with carrots ard ped 81 M
II wonder If you ever eat lamb
stew" asked Eleanor slightly apollo
getic after the soup course had been
disposed.
my favorite DISH" responded MFR.
Gillespie. Nothing beats real home
cooking.
After q few mouthfuls, he contin-
ued: tits just like mother used to
make for me when came home from
school. And 1t justifies 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 installing his sincerity.
Mr.. Gillespie took the lead in the
conversation, and before either Flea
nor or Bill realized it, he had them
telling, him their hopes and aspira-
tons.
After his departure, Eleanor looked
at Bill long moment. "What do you
make out of it all?" she asked as she
hurried back to her ironing.
"He seemed mighty interested in us
here in our home" returned Bill dubi-.
ously. "But I never flattered myself
that he even noticed me in the office.
Just a drudge along with the rest of
the machinery"
For two weeks the eager look Of ex-
pectancy in Eleanor's eyes were met by
studied cheerfulness on Bills part as
each night he greeted her with, "No
news yet, sweetheart"
"I'm-Im afraid we talked too
much" said Eleanor uncertainty.
"Well, IL we did it was all Gillespie's
fault" defended Bill. 'He led us on"
The thought that they had made
grave blunder ranked In Eleanor'ss
soul, but she strove to keep up her
spirits for Bills sake. Then one night,
just as she had lost hope, she heard
him bound up the steps and the next
moment he was in the room. II got
It'll" he shouted jubilantly, catching
her In his arms.
"Gillespie called me into the office
tonight and offered me the job of man
ager of the sales department. Do you
realize what that means, sweetheart"
She nodded, face aglow.
'Not just paltry raise, but manag,
err" he emphasized "He had two men
of equal ability on the promotion list,
but couldn't decide which was more
deserving. That stew and our chat
told him many things he wanted to
know"