The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-16
Chapters From a
Woman :SLife
THE DINNER PARTY.
BY JANE PHELPS

CnapIer 80.
Everything was ready, Walter and
dressed and waiting when the guests
arrived. AS L took a last look at my
table, at the food in the kitchen L
smiled happily. Mrs. Page would have
nothing to criticise.
She looked very aristocratic, very
handsome when she appeared.
Il am very proud of you, Mother,
Walter said. You are remarkably
young looking and, that dress is very
You flatter me, my son. Butt am
gratified for L know you have perfect
taste, as an artist should
Our guests arrived punctually, and
we were soon seated at table: Jennie
in a new black dress with apron and
cap served. 1 watched her closely at
first, fearing she might make some
mistake, but she did SO nicely became
interested in the conversation.
Until We reached the salad every
thing went all right. then she served
Mrs. Gordon first, muttered something
grabbed the plate from her and placed
it before me.
No one said anything, but I saw Mrs.
Pages face. 1t made me almost i'll;
Jennie realized she had blundered ana
became nervous. AS she placed the
salad before Mrs. Page she put the
plate too near the edge of the table
and it fell into her lap
1 started to rise, but Mrs. Page mo-
toned me to keep still.
I
sumed her conversation as if there
had been no accident. altho I knew
the rich dressing must have spotted
her dress; and that she would be very
much annoyed by Jennie's blunder.
! I trembled with apprehension apd
annoyance, yet I couldn't help admir-.
ing her aplomb. She was calm as II
nothing had occurred out of the ordin-
ary; as if having plate of salad
dumped into her lap was an everyday
affair.
When finally the dinner was over
the dessert and coffee were nicely
served altho Jennie's cheeks were
crimson, and feared further disaster
and we adjourned to the living room
and the card tables. Mrs. Page excused
herself a moment, knew to clean her
dress. oh. why couldn't Jennie have
dumped it in my lap? 1 thought. ct
1 knew the soiled dress would be a
lesser cause for complaint than the
bungling service.
But not trace of annoyance appeared
in her manner wHen she reappeared
and took her place at the card table.
She played carefully and we'll as al
ways, took her part in the converse
ton, and was absolutely at ease. Which
was a good deal more than l was.
|. 1t was midnight when our guests
left. AS the door closed after them,
Walter said:
''Wen, they all seemed to have a
good time. didn't they?"
81 hope so,' I returned.
81 should advise giving no ssInore
dinners Mrs. Page said. 'I was fear
full something would go wrong. 1t was
intensely mortifying to me-"
Il am so sorry" I replied. II hope
your dress wasn't ruiDed."
1.-The dress is a secondary matter. If
| is my first experience of dinner
spoiled by inefficient service. I felt
very i'll at ease. Please don't attempt
entertaining again while 1 am here.
"Oh, come, Materi" Walter said. He
had seen the tears in my eyes. I had
worked so hard to have the dinner
success, was tired and nervous over the
mishap. "It was an accident. !
| thought Jennie did very well.''
Very well is not sufficient at a
formal dinner. Every detail should be
perfect"
''well. I'm for hitting the hay! Come
: on, Doreen; and goodnight, Mother.
He hurried me out of the room be-
fore she could reply.
I knew he did it to save me and
was grateful. But just put my head
on his shoulder, as soon as we were
alone and cried like baby. I had
wanted so to have everything nice and
| it had been failure
Walter Kept telling me how god the
| dinner was, how everyone seemed to
enjoy it, trying to comfort me. But II
was not untilN he said:
! at might have been worse. Doreen
the hot soup or the coffee and the
Mater certainly carried it off well. You
have to hand it to her" that stopped
Arying to laugh historically.
"She was wonderful" I conceded;
''But. don't you see, that makes it all
the worse for me. that she should have
4 to hep"
'fWeu. forget it and come to bed
| I went to bed but I couldn't forget
/ it knew well enough had not heard
the last of it; probably would not
while his~u1 other remained with me.
CTo be continued.)