The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-01-17


party; she sObbed like a child before
she went on--'and stringbeans (sob)
and tomato salad (sOb) and ice cream
and-and chocolate cake" And with
the mention of the cake she had spent
so much pains in making she burst
into a torrent Of tears of self-pity and
sobbed on her brothers shoulder as
she had done in long-ago days when
he had cOmfOrted her over the demise
of a canary or the breaking of doll.
"And | spent every cent he gave
me" Lucille went on when she had re.
gained her cOmpOSure. There wasn't
a cent left and had to take the cork
out of the elephant. told him so, and
then he said that 1t was all because
didn't know how to buy. He said that
that was my great fault-n0t knowing
how to buy, and he said that there
were some women who could manage
on lot less money than did and have
more dellcacies, too. He was very kind
only he really thinks don't know. But
honestly John, went to the cheapes'
places in town and carried all the
bundles home myself, so l wouldn't
have to 60 to places that send them.
well, | guess Bobby just don't un.
derstand," reflected the loyal John.
'BObby's yOung-not much older than
yOu-and there are a lot of things yol'
youngsters have to learn. Perhaps !
can teach him."
"'Oh, please don't, please don't" en-
treated Lucille. Don't even mention
the H. c, L., because if you do then
Bobby will know that | have been talk
ing about him to you, and that would
be dreadful" John promised secrecy
but he went away secretly PROMISING
himself that he would educate Bobby.
Weeks passed and the slight disap
pOintment that Bobby had sustained
regarding the dinner party was well
nigh forgotten. Little was said con
corning the question of food costs, eX
Cept that Bobby once or twice referred
to Lucllle's general ignorance concern
ing the rudiments of buying. He had
decided to be magnanimous and not re
prove her, but he would occasionally
tease her about it,
Then StOrmclOudS began to gather
Bobby was away from home two nights
one week and three the next. He was
preOccupied and seemed to be dis
traught. Rather reluctantly, when Lu
ellie asked him where he went, he told
her that he was at the club. Then LII
ellie recalled the little tiff they had
had concerning the H. G. L., and she
was troubled indeed. Women had lost
their husbands affections before, she
told herself, because they had been
bad housekeepers. She had decided to
take her troubles to JOhn-John who
always stood up so loyalty for Bobby.
"Then one night when Bobby did
come home the conversation went like
this:
TucilIe. how much are you paying
for butterp
"Sixty-five cents" said Lucille.
Il thought so; and you can't get de-
cent coffee for less than forty cents,
can you?"
"Why, no."
That's what I'm telling them. But
those old fogies-I guess they haven't
been In a market or provision store for
years. They don't know-how can they
know? Why. food prices have doubled
In two years." Bobby was waxing elo-
Quent. Doubled, l tell you. And to-
morrow night at the meeting Of the
club I'm going to sail into that house
committee and give them what's COM
ing to them. 1t can't be dCne, gentle
men, 1t can't be done" Bobby had
risen from his place at the table and
was addressing the imaginary club In
uISSllllS uSScllUiGu.
Lucille didn't know exactly what had
come over her beloved Bobby. but she
felt as if suddenly a milestone ,ad
dropped from her shoulders. But
Bobby explained.
"You see your brother John-well,
l suppose he realized that had a bit
more business ability than the other
fellows In the club. Anyway, he ap-
pointed me a committee Of one to act
as sort Of honorary steward-to see
to the buyfng-sOrt Of Jack up the chef
who has usually had full charge. Some
Of the members had been complaining
that for dollar he ought to be able to
give us better dinner. But / went
into the matter Systematically, as |
always do and, believe me, it can't be
done. II those old fossils think 1t can,
they'd better try. Why, one of the
members of the house committee had
the audacity to tell me that didn't
know how to buy"
"You dear Bobby" sympathized Luz
ellie. Wasn't that hateful?" And
then as look Of happiness settled
over her pretty fair features; "when
did brother John ask you to take
charger" she asked.
ut was the day after our little din
ner party-and say, Lucille, since I've
been looking into this matter I'll have
to confess l don't see how you got that
dinner up on that measly ten dollars.
It's been revelation to me, I'll say"
inherited Characteristic.
AS general thing the kind of moth.