The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-12
AQ3Wl ING ( 53
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! MIST PfeetlnR was over ne leo her 10
her lounge and insisted upon making
her comfortable. He haH tricks
with cushions and pillows, SO he de-
clared; they become his ODE dent
servants, and there was knayk in
arranging them-the same khacE
that robin uses in building its
nest. This he demonstrated quite
conclusively.
! 1t was nice to have great, mas
telful man like this take charge of
one, and Ma sighed gratefully as .she
lay back. ut does kinda feel like a
I birds nest" she declared. And you
kinda look like a robin, too; yoI're
| alius dressed so neat"
Exactly" he chuckled. robins
are the very neatest dressels of all
the birds. But look! Like a real
robin, I've brought spring with me-"
He opened huge box of long
stemmed roses and held their cool,
dewy buds against Mrs. Briskow's
withered face, then, laughing and
chatting he arranged the IN in vates
where she could see them. Next..>he
d. wv down the shades, shutting out
the 'dreary afternoon, after which he
lit the gas log, and soon the room,
whether by reason of his glowing
personality or his deft rearrange-
ment OF it, contents, or both be-
came warm and cheerful place.
He had brought other gifts than
flowers. too; thoughtful, expensive
things that fairly took Mas breath.
No one had even given her presents;
to be remembered, therefore, with
useless delightful little Injuries
filled her gentle snul with guilty
rapture.
but these were not gifts in the
ordinary sense: they were offerings
from the Duke of Dallas and his
manner of presenting them invested
every article with ducal dignky
Gray was seated on the side Other
couch with ~her cold hand between
his warm palms, and he was telling
her about the princess of Wichita
Falls when the summons to dinner
interrupted them.
Ma was not hungry, and she had
expected to have bite in her own
room; but her caller was so vigorous
in his objections to this plan that
she finally agreed to come down.
stairs.
The Briskow household was poor
~ organized as yet, and it was only
natural that it should function i'm
perfectly; nevertheless, Gray was
annoyed at the clumsy manner in
which the dinner was served.
See here, MAJ" Gray threw down
I his napkin. "You have beautiful
| home, and you want it to be perfect.
/; don't your.
why, of course. We bought
everything we could buy"
Everything except skillful slrv-
ants, and they are hard to find You
are capable of training your cook
ana teaching your upstairs girl to
sweep and make beds; but the test
OF weil-run house is a well-seryed
meal. Now then, you're not eating
bite, anyhow, and Gus WON'T mind
waiting awhile for his dinner With
your permission, I'd like to take
things in hand and add hundred
percent to your future comforto"
In some bewilderment Ma agreed
that She would do anything her
, guest suggested, whereupon he rose
energetically and called the three
domestics into the dining room.
I'VE are going to start this dinner
all over again." he announced "and
we are going to begin by swAppine
| places. l am going to serve ii as
dinner should be served, and you are
gong to eat it as Well, dare saw
nature will have to take its course.
| Mr.. and Mrs. Briskow are GOING n
look on. After we have finished YOU
are going to serve US exactly as
served you"
Naturally, this proposition amazed
the help; in fact, it's absurdity
convulsed them. The man laughed
loudly; the cook buried her ebony
face in her apron; the second girl
bent double with mirth. But the
gentleman was not joking. On the
contrary, he brought this levity to
an abrupt end, then, gravely, cere-
moniously, he seated the trio.
Gray played butler with correct
ness and poise deeply impressive
to his round-eyed audience. g..
1t was an uncomfortable expAi
ence for all except Gray himselfNhe
actually enjoyed it-and when the
last dish had been removed, and he
had given instructions to serve the
meal over again exactly as he had
p, served it, the three negroes were
| glad to obey.
You see what a meddlesome busy-
body am" the guest laughed. II
don't know how to mind my own
business, and the one luxury / enioy
most Of all is regulating other peo-
pies affairs" He was still talking,
still lecturing his hearers upon the
oblgatlons prosperity had put upon
them, when he was summoned to
the telephone by long distance call.
He returned in some agitation ito
announce: Well, at last l have bMsi-
ness OF my own to attend"
CONTINUED in Our Next Issue)