New Britain herald., 1923-06-12
CHAPTER NNN, | IasSan in nepOTimeni

Gray was shocked at the change in
 Ms lirlsk0w. She had failed sur
 PFlsiRglE Pleasure lil un her face,
 and she fell into 3 brief iiuiter 0f de-
 lighi ai seeing him' hni as soon as
 their first greeting was over he led
 her ia her lounge and insisted upon
 making her comfortable, He had
 tricks with cushions and pillows, so
 he declared, they became his ahedii-
 eni servants, and there was a knsGk
 in aFTanglng them-ihe same kRaek
 that a robin uses in building its nest,
 This he demonstrated quite eanelu' 1 siNely,
 lt was nice to have a great, mas
 tfrful man like this take charge Of
 aRe, and Ma sighed gratefully as she ] laV hack, "It does siRda fefl like l hiFd's nest" she declared, And you ! kinda look like robin, taa' you're allus dressed sa neat"
 Exactly" he ehuekled, 'RAhins are the very nsatest dresssFs Of al the birds, Isut look, Like real robin, I've brought spring with me" He opened a huge hoX of long sismmed roses and held their cool, deNy buds against Mrs, ariskow's witheref face, then, laughing and chatting, he arranged them in vases where she could see them, Next, he drew down the shades, shutting ont the dreary afternoon, after which he lii the gas lng. and soon the room, whether hy reason of his glowing per- sonaliiy or his def encouragement Of its contents, or both, became a warm and cheerful place.
 Hc had brought other gifts than flowers. too; thoughtful expensive things that fairly took Mas breath. No ono had ever given her presents; to he remembered. therefore. with useless, delightful little luSuries filled her gentle soul with II guilty rapture.
 But these were not gifts in the or iinary sense. they were offerings from the Duke Of Dallas. and his manner Of presenting them invested every article with ducal dignity.
 Gray was seated on the side Of her 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. fl
 Ma was not hungry and sho had ! expected 10 have bite in her own room: but her caller was so vigorous in his objections to this plan that she | finally agreed 10 come downstairs.
 The Brskow household was poor ly organized as yet. and it was only natural that it should function inn perfectly; nevertheless, Gray was an moved at the clumsy manner Tn which the dinner was served.
 'see here, Ma" Gray threw down his napkin. You have beautiful home, and you want it to be perfect, don't you?"
 "Why, of course. We bought everything we could buy"
 "Everything except skillful serr- ants, and they are hard to find. You are capable of training your cook and teaching your upstairs girl to sweep and make beds; but the test of ,yell-run house is a well-serNed meal. Now then, you're not eating bite anyhow and Gus won't mind waiting awhile for his dinner. With your I'd like to take things in hand and add a hundred per cent to your future comfort
 In some bewilderment Ma agreed that she would do anything her guest whereupon he rose ener- retically and called the three domes- ,ics into the dining room.
 We are going to start this dinner al, over again." he announced, and we are going to begin by swapping places. I am going to serve it as a inner should be served, and you are going to eat it as Well, l dare say nature will have to take its course. Mir. and Mrs. Briskow are going to ook Oh. After we have finished you ire going to serve us exactly as I served you"
 Naturally, this proposition amazed he help; in fact, it's absurdity con