The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-05-30
Revelations
of a Wife
By ADELE GARRISON,
CHAPTER xLvi.
What Happened Before the Evening

CHAPTER XVI.
What Happened Before the Evening
There! Now what do you think OF
your kitchen crock?"
/. Dicky stepped back admiringly from
the dining table, where he had JUS,
finished arranging the flowers he mao
bought in the course brown jar against
which had protested to no avail.
| To my housewifely mind, the IDEA OF
a piece of kitchen pottery as recep-
tacle for flowers was ridiculous ana l
had felt much irritation at Dicky not
only for putting aside my opinion with
a careless quip, as if it were Of no i'm
portance, but for persisting in carrying
the unsightly thing into the dining
room and putting the flowers into II
But as I looked at the yellow dafto-
| dis, the white narcissi, and the DELL
cate ferns rising out Of the dark brown
earthen jar, I realized the artistic
sense that had led Dicky unerringly to
select it. Placed carelessly within IT,
some of the blossoms standing proud
! ly upright, others, leaning lovingly
over the side Of the dish. they looked
exactly as II they were rising from the
earth where they were grown.
/ love flowers so much that the
| very sight Of them mellows me, no
matter how upset I am. AS 1 gaZed
at the exquisite blossoms I felt my
| irritation at Dicky leave me. After all,
, he had been right about the jar, and l
could not believe he had meant to
wound me.
I slipped my hand into his arm.
"They are lovely, Dicky," said softly.
II take it all back about the jar. 1t
is the only thing for these blossoms
isn't it?"
"Of course" Dicky replied 1acon-
ica1ly. Queer how some of the cheap
est, coarsest pieces of pottery have
colorings which are a delight to the
eye"
Dinner all served" announced Katie
from the kitchen door. Then her eyes
fell upon the table, where Dicky had
jumbled the flowers, and her face grew
dark with anger.
I fastened to avert the storm I knew
was brewing.
Never mind the dishes, Katie" I
said soothingly. "Mr. Graham put them
to one side when he arranged the
flowers. We will put them all back
again ourselves. Bring on the dinner"
Katie departed grumbling under her
breath, but I affected not to hear her.
I re-arranged the dishes and silver
and when she brought in the oysters
she was serene again.
1t is a pleasant to put a good din
ner before Dicky, he enjoys every NOR
sci of it so much. In spite of the de-
pressing incidents of the morning. my
spirits reflected Dicky's and we had a
merry little meal while Katie beamed
at our appreciation of her efforts.
Here, Katie" AS Dicky finished a
large slice OF Katie's cream pie. he
held out a ha1f-dollar to her. That's
in recognition of a mighty good din
ner."
Tank YOU" rejoined Katie. II no
care if you put dishes on the floor
next time
Dicky frowned slightly as she left the
room.
"Too fresh, by far, that girl" he
commented. Cant you tone her down
a little?"
I felt my old irritation at Dicky's in
consistency rising within me. When
he had found that Katie, whom I had
engaged as cook, was the girl who had
bachelor apartment which he had
shared with three other artists, he had
been delighted.
that painting of Poland for which she
was posing when she disappeared" he
had said to me, and added: For
heavens sake, Madge, keep her. Put
up with anything from her until after
I finish that painting"
I remembered the words as If he
had just spoken them. The memory of
them tinged my speech as I replied: |
you surely do not suppose I like |
her manner any better than you do. |
But you told me to put up with any |
thing from her so that she would stay |
until after you had finished that
painting for which she was posing. |
There is no surer way of making her
angry than to try to tone her down.
as you express it. She is positively ir-
repressible, and to do the girl justice, |
[ believe it is not freshness, but ignor- |
ance and high spirits"
I suppose no man likes to be put in |
the wrong, and Dicky is perfectly |
normal man. So was not surprised |
when he took refuge in shaft of
irony.
Really, this lecture is Extraordinarily
If there is any more COM |
ing, you ought to charge fee."
I thanked my stars for Katie's en-
trance at that moment with the cof- I
Zee. could not have trusted my voice
to answer Dicky, and Katies presence
Of course solved the difficulty.
AS she served the coffee and nuts
decided to avert all other possibilities
Of disagreement before the evening.
Il am afraid you will have to excuse
ne now" said quietly after hastily
drinking my coffee. IT must get those
out of the way as early as
possible. Can do anything for you?
You might as well have comfortable
Tine with your papers before Katie
has to clear up the living room"
Happily Dicky did not guess my real
'eason for wishing to be rid of him.
He yawned contenedly.
Nothing to do for me. only to cut