New Britain herald., 1923-05-28
The Way Madge Managed ~ "f,st nn
NTH" Res Dean


WITH Res Rean
7 Ignored the EneeFing iRtimatian IN
Bees Deans voice that ] was pFssnmnr
tuous 20 attempt the connection Of one
OF Mrs DuTkee's favarile dishes,
That she would indulge herself In
every possible pin prick during our
enforced association in ms former
hsighher's kitchen, ! had known when
entered il, knew alsa that she
counted upon my fnrheaFsnee and
hatred Of scene 20 protect her In
her propensity for siilettnsliks labs
Otherwise she would have been upon
her hest behavior for from her refer.
enee 20 keeping my hands off, and
tmothering my painful sense "af
duty" ! guessed that she distinctly
feared my interference With the flirta.
tious little game she VAS playing In
the purkee household,
Mrs. Durkee's cooking Is the In
spired gift Of genius" ] assentsd
cordially. with the mental resolution
that ] would not permit her 20 get
rise out OF me, But she taught me
how 70 make this particular dish. ana
I'll try not 20 make her blush for her
pupil. Have you nnished-.parine the
potatoes"
Just" she replied a bit sulkily.
what next, oh Queen OF the Gas
stove?"
Just turn them into the colandsr
and yet II under the cold water
faucet" directed imperturhably. "I'li
be ready for them in minute"
Bess Dean Helps Efficiently
am familiar with the arrangement
OF Mrs Durkee's kitchen. and as she /
ID one OF the most orderly little WON /
en- living, was able 10 put my hand |
Immediately upon the things | want 1
ed. ] brought to her big porcelain /
topped kitchen table O casserole. two
large bowls. pitcher Of milk, q dish
containing butter, another full OF -four
and shakers with pepper and salt.
Bess Dean eyed my preparations with
q sardonic eye.
PITY you only have one pupil for
your demonstration" she gibed.
more would make me nervous" I
responded imperturbably, carrying the
two bowls to the sink Now. II
you'll lust drain those potatoes into
this bowl. and cover them with cold
water. while I fill this one, we can
get to work"
She threw me swift shrewd
glance. and, ] think, realized that for
the present occasion at least my poise
was proof against her attempts to an
noy me. At any rate, she gibed no
more, but helped me swiftly and ef-
fciently through the preparation of
the dinner.
Indeed, she went further, and bark
Ing back to "reminiscences of our teach
ing days together at Bas,iew. voiced
such characteristic and humorous
comment upon residents of that vii
lage whom we both knew, that I In
sensibly found myself amused at her
chatter.
I'm q 7rtfe Dizzy
There can be no more entertaining :
com pa Mon than Bess Dean, when she !
sets her really brilliant mentality to I
work in that direction, and If IL had q
not been for the thought of Leila
Durkce, | actually should have en- q
ioyed the hour we spent together,
There is no real wickedness in Bess !
Dean such as is to be found In the =
souls of Grace Draper and Rita
Brown. Inordinate vanity, cattiness.
he desire to get even with any one :.
who deservedly or undeservedly tri- .
lmphs over her-these are her worst
rats. and make her dangerous per-
;on to cherish as friend. !,
In all our encounters--a warfare j
lever openly reCoEnized--I have come 8
,ff signelly victorious, however, and ! n
lever would permit the memory of n
my unpleasantness between us to mar T
,ur smicable association. But could
Tot forgive the sacrifice of Leila Dur I,
tees feelings which ! guessed Bess r,
Dean was offering up to her own van n
ty and her desire to strike az me u
through my friendship for Alfred h
)urkee's gentle wife and ! steeied 81
ny brain and heart against the girls
cal powers of fascination Ia
She should not throw dust In my fc
yes with her apparent friendlness, ,--
romised myself grimly, even as
aughed and tested with her, and
1eant 10 relax no whit of my intend
d watchfulness over her during tho
oming evening.
My thoughts went anxiously to