The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-08
THE DINNER
Chapter 81

ShaPkSi O.
So they met. after the years and
the parting and the emotions each had
gone through, in small kitchen of a
cheap downtown apartment while
Ruth's oId-time chum was putting
Tins baby to bed. Ruth had one
hand on the table-a hand white and
well cared for these last few months,
and manicured that very day by the
much devoted Marie.
And all around were queer. unro-
mantle objects-a line over the stove
where small washed-out garments
were drying, a clothes horse in cor
ner with babies clothes folded and
hanging on it, and on the table milk
bottles half emptied. cups and spoons,
soled dishes, bowl of salad, a long,
wooden spoon steaming from its bath
in roast beef juice, celery and a
bottle of olives. dish towel, and 9th
er odds and ends that go with a hur-
ried dinner getting.
Then Ruth slowly held out her hand
and Tim took it. 1t was a queer way
TO meet she thought.
You're looking like a millionaire, -
he exclaimed.
You're looking well, too" she re-
piled.
And she looked at him again. Her
first thought was that Tim needed a
shave and her second that Langley
never looked as though he did. Then
she felt ashamed of this-for Tim was
just in from work. He had the same
broad. boysh grin that first made her
adore him. and he was looking at her
in frank admiration. as he used to.
Myra came back. Tim turned and
Ii - l., I.
Ruth had been dreading. But it was
not the lingering kiss of the young
lover and it wasn't the habit-trained
kiss of a man long married. 1t was
the sweet affectionate caress that
was SO characteristic of Tins own
sweet and affectionate nature.
Nice thing to come home and find
our special guest in the Kitchen" he
said teasingly.
Myra smiled placidly.
"Oh. ] guess we know Ruth well
enough to let her come back here
0e answered, tying on the apron.
Tim, you mash the potatoes"
But l ought to shave, I'm pretty
dirty. Will you hold dinner"
Myra smiled again and Tim disap-
peared.
Ruth sat down while her chum
went on putting the finishing tOucheS
to the meal. 1t was odd to see Myra
work-she wondered first of all that
she would do it, and then that she
could. Myra wore A dress whose
cheap ready made appearance gave
itself away as something from an up
town bargain house. Where now was
the rosy Tipped little girl who curled
up on the sofa at parties and wore
such stunning gowns?
Myra was getting fat-no. Myra
was fat for all the fact that she was
only %. She was the type, Ruth
thought-that was it. She would
settle down in her home. mind her
baby, look after her husband, and
take on flesh. She remembered their
reflection as they stood by the mirror
while Myra tried on her hat-her own
slimness and youth against the stout
settled lines of her hostess figure.
When they sat down at the dinner
table. the most self-poss of the
shree was the always placid Myra.
She sat on one side, Ruth on the 9th
er, and Tim between them.
Then Ruth began to see why 1t was
that Myra managed her house SO
easily. The soup was canned opened
and heated, the roast was the only
difficult part of the meal, the vege-
tables were canned, the salad and all
the other dainties came from the deli
catessen shops, and even the dessert
had been bought ready-made.
We could afford a nicer apartment
in a better neighborhood only food
costs so much. You can't think what
delicatessen stores charge" Myra
said once, and that gave the secret
away. Ruth thought some days later
that Myra might economic by buying
raw materials and cooking them, but
then she thought nothing except that
in some curious way she was not
quite at home in the little flat with
these old friends.
"I'll just leave the dishes go until
tomorrow" Myra said easily, after
the meal was over.
Now, thought Ruth, we can settle
down and have a coy old time talk
They went into the living room again
and Ruth settled herself in a corner
of the great upholstered couch-far
too large for the little room. Tim
went to a shelf. and brought out a
pipe, filled and lit it, and Myra
settled herself with some sewing for
the baby.
They talked. indeed, about all the
people in Marketown Myra knew