Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-11
BOBBY AND
THE H. c.. L.
tC. isis. ~ Meclur. Newspaper syadiests.)
By JANE OSBORN

~. AblS, ~ AeSiufs NeWsbsP~f sSss'sss~S
Go az far as you IKE" quoth Bobby
to his young wife, Lucille, with that
peculiar brand Of satisfaction written
on his face that comes to q man who
feels he has been extremely liberal.
"Just 80 long as II is q bang-up dinner.
I'm not going TO consider any reason
able cost. Here, Lucille" he said.
drawing forth q crisp ten-dollsr Dill
from his bill case, here IL something.
Spend the whole Of IL II you want
tsrrapin, caviar. green turtle. lobster
whatever they have At the nifty din.
ners."
"And there are to be eight of US,
Lucille's words bstokened WEAKNESS,
but IL was q WEAKNESS that Bobby. the
exuberant young Bobby. failed to de-
tect.
YES" he agreed, you and me and
my brother John and his wife and your
brother John and his wife and the Bob
Nswtons-just q jolly party. I'll be
home by six, 10 az TO do anything | can
for you At the last minute. l suppose
you'll get Sally 10 wear cap and
apronf" And away went Bobby. filed
with pleasurabie anticipation of his
6rst dinner party.
IL had been settled between the
Bobby Stranges when they were mar
ried that they would run no bills dur
ing the first years Of their married
life. Bobby was convinced that every
housewife should 60 marketing person.
ally. taking advantage of the better
paid cash, and Lucille had agreed per-
fectly. And Bobby Strange did not
mean 10 he parsimonous-
But the trouble was that Bobby had
been rather overfed on certain brand
of magazine article that urges young
men to save. II WAS his theory that if
a Young man earned sixty dollars a
week he should save at least fifteen.
He felt that he was generous when he
allowed Lucille thirty-fve on which 10
run the house.
When Lucille complained meekly
and good.naturedly that butcher bills
were amazingly high Bobby smilingly
quoted some articles he had read about
using the cheaper cuts. but unfortu-
nately Bobby had taste for chops and
steaks and could not endure stews.
"Oh. there are other things You can
get" he assured her. 81 can't remem-
Der Just what they call them. But
you'T find il all in the books"
So when Bobby Strange left that
morning Lucille sat looking al the ten
dollar bill. She ran finger over us
verdant face affectionately. There
were so many things that II would do
They needed potatoes, and only the
day before Lucille had found place
where she could buy eggs at splendid
price.
She had hoped 10 he able 10 get some
To put down" for winter They wer,
out of soap and il was so much cheap
err buying il In large quantities. Bu
, this ten dollars was not for soup ol
eggs or POTATOES. II was for terrapil
| and green turtle
Lucille started ont early 10 shop
| and she spent hours in her search fol
| the inexpensive Injuries that she ha,
/ hoped for Bur they were not To b'
Il had. Why. even ordinary harnyar'
Il fowl were fifty cents a pound. Ere
II quently as she marketed She consulted
n the little menu that She had made GU
II for the dinner that night, and frequent
II ~ she ran her little silver penci
II through certain dsinties she ha'
III planned TO have
II II was not alone physical fatigu
II that weighed her down when she re
II turned from the marketing trip.
II You'll wear a cap and apron. won
Il YOU, Sally" she asked when She cam
home.
II IL suppose So, ma am" replied Sally
/ III YOU get one for me- You couldn
II expect me 70 have them for myself. "
II Lucille had Ia take the cork out q
/ the bottom ot The china elephant ban
II i'm which she had been saving nickle
II with which Ia buy washing machine
II Then she went out in search Of IN
II white cap and apron that she conl
II buy with the small amount that IA
II elephant presented her with.
II The dinner seemed 10 he SucceSSfl
II enough. hut something must hav
H passed between The Bobby Strang,
II afterward thai took little of Oh
II felicity out OF Lucille. For when he
brother John arrived Unexpectedly I'll
II next morning AT about nine afts
II Bobby had started of for his Office h
H found his sister in tears.
II He had trouble in tracing these teal
II 10 their source. for Lucille knew ilii
II John was an answering friend an
II champion of her Bobby. II he had M
H been she never would have explalne
III to him.
II after YOU had all gone she e,
II planned. he said TO me that ! nerdn
II have been So thrifty. He told me tia
II he wouldn't in the least have minde
II IL had spent all tie money he gay
II me for the dinner--in fact. he said |
II had rather hoped we would have som
II thing - little better than chicken ant
II -Iucile's tears seemed to start aires
II M the details Of the little dinn,
II party: she suhbed like u child hefol
II she went ur-"and Stringb,anS (SOl
II and tomato salad (sob) and ice crca
II and-and chocolate cake And wit
II the mention of the cake she had Spei
II so much pains in making She bur
II into n torrent of tears of >eif.pitN ~
Ill N.r Hruftar's Sl.utIar .