The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-08-30

marry shortly. Clair had given names
no ore attentive to gossip
had done the rest. Years back Mrs.
Reed-then Miss Green, high school
teacher--had had tea at Clairston, and
shaken hands with its owners. Mighty
fine, 1t had been, but nothing to COM
pare in the matter of food with what.
through Torment's uncanny provision,
she vas able to offer in return.
Heavens! Nothing was ever quite
so good,' Rhoda Murray murmured,
sinking back in her chair after a Sec
ond dumping.
"Righto! !" Clair echoed. "Im so
glad we missed the RELATIONSHIPS
quite impossible the dinner could have
come in miles of this-as for the com
pany," bowling to his involuntary hos
t~esses, sit is likewise outclassed."
"Ah! But you've got your own
fathers way of talking" Mrs. Reed
gurgled, beaming. Then of course it
came out-all the story of the tea
the house, the conservatory, the flow
ers each teacher had taken away with
her. IF we'd dreamed you'd be here,
we'd have had some garden flowers on
the table," the elder lady ended. But
/ was lazy-busy with my sewing-and
Torment near Dare-couldn't spare
time. She did everything"
'"Then she must be a worker Of mir
acles," young Clair commented, heart
lily. Rhoda Murray sprang up and
caught Dare's hand, saying: "Why-
tell me-is it possible-to cook SO
beautifully-and look as you dol"
b careful how you answer, Miss
Dare" Clair laughed: "Rhoda has
half a mind to throw me over for love
you may have my broken heart on
your conscience"
Broken for joy at getting rid of
me?" Rhoda said, making a face at
him. But tell me true-did you do
all this? just by your lone self?'
mo! l think sent her
astral body to help me-feeling in her
bones what was going to happen
Dare said laughing. But really" h
wen on, Cooking isn't such a job II
you like to do it. l do like it-not for
every day, but now and then it's a real
lark. Still, I don't want to mislead
try as you might, you'd hardly ever
touch my dumplingl Stolen apples.
you see
forbidden fruit! l quite under
stand,' Clair interrupted. Rhoda
waved him aside, saying determined
ly: "Well! Can't l come here and
learn how to do a few things? | am
so tired of all the rest-dressing, dane
ing, eating what l don't care for-and
never feeling I've really done anything
worth WHILE"
They drew apart, talking eagerly,
Clair eyed them joyously-and when
the motor siren interrupted the con-
ference, made Il great ado over its
impertinence. He shook Mrs. Reeds
hand with quite vehement h~eartiness
Dare got only a deep reverence and
a beguiling smile. But If she thought
she had seen the last of him she was
sadly mistaken-he came again, yet
again-to bring Rhoda to her les
sons, flowers, fruit, new books to
Mrs. Reed-presently he was taking
her for spins III and down the post
road, what time the girls laughed and
worked In the big kitchen. His people
were away--else he would certainly
have the Reeds at Clairston. But that
could wait meantime he wanted coun-
sci, advice that might be the turning
point of his life, namely, as to wheth-
er an old bond and family comfy
should prevail against new love-new
on both sides. Rhoda had truly set
her heart upon a young engineer,
who had nothing but youth, strength
and q big brain and the blood of gen.
tlemen to offer her; was he justified
in letting her break troth that had
been pledged in their cradles for such
uncertainty? Mrs. Reed pondered
deeply. At last she broke out. DE
ponds on how you feel. Don't seem to
me you can give her up easy-after all
this time"
III seemed 50 W uHtil q liohth
back" Clair said a trife huskily:
"She is so pretty, so winning, so sweet
when she isn't all spice and pepper.
thought myself daffy about her.
Now-I know better"
"How did you find out?' Mrs. Reed
demanded.
II think-through apple dumplings
and the girl that made them" Clair
returned smiling. IF only l may have
her. I'll call it a square DEAL"
The answer to which is too obvious
to need writing down.