Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-01-18
The Good Old
Days
BY FREDERICK CLARKE.

was the first cloud that had arisen In
and, of course, after season of per-
feet honeymoon bliss, it seemed to be
a terribly dark one.
"Tell me all about it, dear, and let
us see If between us we can't find
some way to patch up this first do
nestle quarrel"
"Quarrelw repeated the bride of a
month in terrified gasp. ooh, dear,
no-there has been no quarrel"
Go on, DEAR" she urged.
Its about the meals" confessed
Nellie, with a little sob. II thought
everything was Just suiting Ronald
to T.. He praised my biscuits and
said he just dotted on my cookies, pie
and sunshine cake. He said they re-
minded him Of food for angels. Then
yesterday 1 found out that it was all
a mellow hOckery."
what, my dear"
II mean a hollow mockery. I've
been so upset get flustered whenever
think of 1t. You must know that an
old college chum Of his was at tea
last evening" Mr.. Stowell. did my
best to make Ronald proud Of me.
Everything was light and dainty"
"What was 1t, dear?" inquired Mrs.
Dorset.
"Oh. they got talking Of old times
Mr.. Stowell reminded Ronald Of glo-
rious week they had spent together at
the Barton home, before they were
married. Such cooking! How moth
er did set out meal that was meal !!
Particularly how Mr.. Stowell had
never had such an appetite as eve
nings when mother had baked beans.
Such beans And mince pie Oh,
1t made his mouth water to think OF
1t Then Ronald got egged on to brag
of his mother. That salt rising
UNI UNI" and pretty Nellie, in try
ing to initiate her dear one, broke
down again.
"And apple sauce!" she choked out
as the last straw. Practical, loving
Mrs. Dorset tried to soothe her.
"See here, my dear" she said "you
are making great mountain out of
the chatter of two big overgrown boys.
Now promise to forget it and I will
make everything right"
"H-how w-will your" sobbed Nellie.
twill you keep secret?'
"Y-yes-if it w-will do any good"
every WELL mother is coming to
visit me next week. You say Mr..
Stowell is going to come to tea again
on his way home from his trip?''
Eyes, he is invited for Thursday eve-
ming"
"Then Thursday evening, dear"
promised Mrs. Dorset, with a little
wrinkle of smile about her lips,
"those two overgrown boys shall just
revel in all the dainties of old times"
Ronald Barton ushered his friend and
little din& room at home, proud of
the neatly set table with it's glittering
silver and glassware. Nellie never
looked lovelier. 1t was when the maid
brought in a great steaming dish of
pork and beans that Ronald stared a
little.
Butcher must have forgotten the
lamb chops" he said alphabetically.
always liked Them" declared
Stowell.
"Why, Nellie, isn't this some new
tangled sort of bakers bread?" in
quired Ronald.
mo, indeed!" resented Nellie with
dignity. THAT is the regular old-fash-
toned homemade, salt-rising bread
that everybody dotes over"
Guess our tastes are getting sort
of perverted, old boy" laughed
Stowell.
Ronalds eyes fairly bulged at the
dessert. The apple sauce looked to
him poor, thin, cherries dish to
offer to an invited guest
And then came the climax as the
maid soberly brought in three great
slabs of mince pie-good pie, grand
pie, but on hot night!
"Too heavy for me-" declared Sto-
we'll and Ronald glanced reproachful-
ly at Nellie.
The gentlemen adjourned to the
porch. Ronald experienced species
of social discomfort.
Guess we'd better stroll down to
the hotel a little later and have a
game of billiards, Ell, Baritone" he sug-
gested.
"They open new grill room to-
night, hear" observed Ronald.
"Why, motherw and the speaker
sprang from his chair and greeted his
mother with genuine gladness.
"This is surprise, Mrs. Barton"
spoke Stowell.
Eyes, l was busy out In the kitchen
and was afraid the maid would spoil
things If l didn't superintend little"
spoke the old lady demurely, as she
had been taught by her plotting
daughter. Mrs. Dorset.
And then the truth dawned on
Ronald. He glanced at his compan-
ion. Stowcll had flushed up and look
ed bored