The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-01-17
BOBBY AND
THE H. c.. L.
By JANE OSBORN
70, 1919, by Mcclure Newspaper syndicat

w" 'SA'' W hcNluFe newspaper Syndicate
Go as far as you like" quoth Bobby
to his young wife, Lucille, with that
peculiar brand of satisfaction written
on his face that comes to a man who
feels ne has been extremely liberal.
Just so long as it is a bang-up dinner,
I'm not going to consider any reason.
able cost. Here, Lucille" he said,
drawing forth crisp ten-dOllar bill
from his bill case, there is something.
Spend the whole of it if you want
terrapin, caviar, green turtle, lobster
Whatever they have at the nifty din
ners."
And there are to be eight of u.s."
Lucille'S words betokened WEAKNESS.
out 1t was 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
Newtons-just jolly party. I'll be
nome by six, so as to do anything l can
Tor you at the last minute. l suppose
you'll get Sally to wear a cap and
apron" And away went Bobby, filed
with pleasurable anticipation of his
first dinner party.
1t 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 go marketing person.
ally, taking advantage of the better
prices that were offered to those who
paid cash, and Lucille had agreed per-
fectly. And Bobby Strange did not
mean to be parsimOniOus-
But the trouble was that Bobby had
been rather Overfed on a certain brand
OF magazine article that urges young
men to save. 1t was his theory that if
young man earned sixty dollars q
week he should save at least fifteen.
He felt that he was generous when he
allowed Lucille thirty-fve on which to
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. II can't remem-
Der just what they call them. But
you'll find it all in the books"
So when Bobby Strange left that
morning Lucille sat looking at the ten
dollar bill. She ran a finger over its
verdant face affectionately. There
were so many things that 1t would do.
They needed potatoes, and only the
day before Lucille had found a place
where she could buy eggs at splendid
price.
She had hoped to be able to get some
to "put down" for winter. They were
out Of soap and it was so much cheap
er buying 1t In large quantities. But
this ten dollars was not for soap or
eggs or potatoes. 1t was for terrapin
and green turtle.
Lucille started out early to shop,
and she spent hours In her search for
the inexpensive luxuries that she had
hoped for. But they were not to be
had. Why, even ordinary barnyard
fowl were fifty cents a pound. Ere
quently as she marketed she consulted
the little menu that she had made out
for the dinner that night, and frequent. !
" she ran her little silver pencil,
through certain dainties she had
planned to have.
It was not alone a physical fatigue
that weighed her down when she re-
turned from the marketing trip.
you'll wear cap and apron, won't |
you, Sally?" she asked when she came |
home.
II suppose so, ma'am," replied Sally, |
IF you get one for me. You couldn't |
expect me to have them for myself"
Lucille had to take the cork out of |
he bottom of the china elephant bank
n which she had been saving nickles
With which to buy washing machine.
Then she went out in search of the
White cap and apron that she could
,uy with the small amount that the
elephant presented her with.
The dinner seemed to be succf sful
nough, but something must have
,assed between the Bobby Stranges
.fterward that took a little of the
elicity out of Lucille. For when her
rother John arrived Unexpectedly the
ext morning 1T about nine after
bobby had started off for his office he
ound his sister in tears.
he had trouble in tracing these tears
0 their source, for Lucille knew that
ohm was an answering friend and
hampton of her Bobby. If he had not
cen she never would lave explained
D him. I
"After you had all gone" she ex-
Iained. she said tO me that 7 needn't