The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-04-04
Copyright by Newspaper
THE FIRST QUARREL. \


It'll give you three guesses- Madge'
Dicky stood just inside the door of
the living room, holding an immense
parcel carefully wrapped. His hat was
on the back of his head, his eyes shin
ing, his whole face aglow with boyish
mischief.
TITS for you, my first housekeeping
present. that is needed in every well
regulated family" he burlesqued boast
fully, but you are not to see 1t I'M
til you have something to eat. and
you have guessed what it is"
81 know.it is something lovely, dear"
/ replied sedately, but come to your
dinner. It is getting cold"
Dicky looked a trifle hurt as he fol-
lowed me to the dining room. knew
what he Observation-Disclosures curios-
ity and a demand for the immediate
opening of the parcel I can imagine
the pretty enthusiasm, the caresses
with which almost any other woman
would have greeted a bridegroom of
two weeks with his first present.
But it is simply impossible for me to
gush. I cannot express emotion of any
kind with the facility of most women.
worshipped my mother, but l rarely
kissed her or expressed my love for
her in words. My love for Dicky ter
rifles me sometimes, it's so strong, but
L cannot go up to him and offer him
unsolicited kisses or caresses. Re-
spond to his caresses, yes! but offer
them of my own volition, never! There
is something inside me that makes it
an absolute impossibility.
whats the menu, Madge? The beef
again."
Dicks tone was mildly quizzical, his
smile mischievous, but 1 flushed hot
1y. He had touch a sore spot. The
butcher had brought me a huge slab
of meat for my first dinner when 1
had timidly ordered rib roast and
with the aid of my mothers cook book
and my own smattering of cooking, my
sole housewifely accomplishment. I
had been trying to disguise it for sub
sequent meals.
"This is positively its last appear
'ance on any stage" I assured him,
trying to be gay. Besides it's cas-
serole, with rice, and 1 defy you to de-
tect whether the chief ingredient be
fish, flesh or fowl"
Casserole is usually my pet aver
sion" Dick said solemniy- Look not
on the casserole when it is table d'hote,
is one Of the pet little proverbs in my
immediate set. Too much like Spanish
steak and other good chances for
ptomaines. But if you made it I'll
tackle it. If you have to call the am
bulance in the next half hour
'Dicky you surely do not think
would use meat that was doubtful, do
you?" l asked, horror stricken. Don't
eat it. Wait and I'll fix up some eggs
for you
Dick rose stiffly, walked slowly
around to my side of the table. and
gravely tapped my head in imitation of
a phrenologist.
Absolute depression where the bump
called sense of humor' ought to be.
Too bad. Pretty creature, too. Cause
her lots of trouble in the days to come
he chanted solemnly.
Then he bent and kissed me. Don't
be a goose, Nadge," he admonished,
land never, never take me seriously
1 don't know the meaning of the word.
Come on, let's eat the thing-um bob.
III bet it's delicious
He uncovered the casserole and re-
garded the steaming contents critical
ly. Smells scrumptious." he an
nounced What's in the other2 Pota-
toes au gratin?' as he took off the
other serving dish Good One Of my
favorites-"
He piled a liberal portion on my
plate and helped himself as generous
". He ate heartily OF both dishes, ig-
noring or not noticing that I scarcely