New Britain herald., 1923-05-26
The Verbal Duel Bess Dean staged
With Madge

'La, old dear, Coming 10 make
sure ] don't slip hiehleride into the
potatoes"
Ress Dean looked up from Mrs,
purkee's Kitchen sink, where she was
preparing vegetables. her lips eohteFt-
ed In a moeking grimaee, II took all
my will power 10 laugh eareiessly, but
] accomplished il,
II would never helittie your pow
ers by imagining anything 50 crude"
retorted, Then, with a glance az
the gas stove, az yet uhlighted, ]
brought the tea-kettle 10 the sink,
If you'll pardon me. while ] MI
this" said eourteously.
She moved out OF my way a bit
jerkily.
What's the big idea" she asked.
her eyes narrowing, where's Moth
or Durkee?"
The phrase revealed TO me one rea-
son for my little friends dislike Of
Boss Dean. Ono OF the rev feminine
weaknesses OF Her Fluffiness" II an
aversion OF her real age being known.
and those OF us who love her, care
fully humor her In this respect. She
isn't silly about it, think she loves
the name OF Mother. from Aifred's
lips. and from Leila's, but ]. for In
stance. as long and as intimate, as our
friendship has been. never would
dream OF prehxing Mother" TO her
name. wondered II Bess Dean used
the appellation In speaking to her.
Mrs. Durkee is lying down." ]
said, stressing the title ever so slight
~. "she isn't feeling well, and she
commissioned me to get dinner for
her"
Does that mean that you prefer to
chef It alone, or would you like a
scullion to assist you?" she asked
with an impish grin. az
II was no part Of my plan to have
her leave before the evening was
over, as in self-respect she would be
compelled to do II treated her frigid-
ly and refused her assistance. And
that, for the present, at least, she
meant to ignore the circumstances ,of
our last leave-taking in the Catskils,
so humiliating to her, ] plainly saw,
So I showed my dislike of her into the
background, and answered her sally
In kind.
Preferences, Gilt Edged
That depends upon your refer
ences. the wages you expect and your
behavior" said, laughing. and
moving toward the gas stove with the
filled tea kettle.
References, gilt-edged,"~ she, an.
swered promptly. behavior, unex-
ceptional to unjaundiced eyes--that's
Il good one, / think"-she interiected
mpersonally with laugh at her own
phraseology. "Wages-well let us
say. the smothering Of ones painful
sense of duty and keeping ones hands
off, -
Her tone was the essence of care
lessness but | knaw that her words.
particularly the last ones. were a d.
rect challenge. ] stiffened involun-
tarily~as ] heard them, made, a pre-
tence of difficulty with the lighting
Of the gas stove until | could frame q
reply.
IF maids behavior is satisfac-
tory, ! never cavil n. ner wages
answered at last. "But---my birth
place Is next door to Iowa. Have you
seen the snap beans? Mrs Durkee
said she had planned them for din
ner." T \ ~ L "a i : !,
Purposely | had given her the
chance to assume as ] had, that the
conversation had no undercurrent of
serious meaning, and she promptly
played up to me. Butsthere was no.
ticeable edge to her voice as she re-
Piled:
The beans are right here in this
bag beside me. was going to cut
them up after / had put the potatoes
on to boil
smothered the houseUifely com
ment that rose to my lips concerning
the condition Of the potatoes by the
time the beans were cooked. That she
was abysmally ignorant Of cooking
lore, ] guessed and quickly drew on
my imagination for ruse which
would save the dinner without hurt
Ing her feelings.
ITS lucky you spoke of boiling"
said nonchalantly, 'or l would have
forgotten that Mrs. Durkee wants
scalloped potatoes for dinner"
The edge in her voice was more
pronounced this time. 80