Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-03-28
The Dinner
Guest
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BY GRACE r. OLIN

20. 1874. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicato.l
Little Mrs. Judson was sprightly by
nature, always, and CHEEKY Of face as
WELL but this Sunday morning she
seemed to be simply outdoing herself.
Isabel Marie, her eldest daughter,
cast significant look at Maude Louise
(the youngest daughter), as the clear.
sweet strains of "How Firm Founda-
tion," rent the morning air.
"She never gets up, until quar- Y
to seven," confided Maude iii low
tone; but this morning she was up at
half past FIVE She made the kitchen
fire herself, baked four pies, got the
dressing ready for the turkey, set the
plum pudding on to steam, and now
she's out there cleaning the silver.
"Isabel"-Maude Louise's eyes mar
moved, and a little worried frown
crossed her face-"what has got into
mother since yesterday That's what
| want to know. You know she's al
ways-well, easily managed, and will
do about as you tell her, but last night
she was really rude to Robert. He sim
ply mentioned that 1t was way past
her usual bed time, and she dismissed
him with a cool, guess I'll go to bed
when feel like 1t, Robert, from now
on And though she looked pleasant
enough, 1t struck Robert dumb, same
as It did me-"
"Wst, of course, even at that,
Maud4," Isabels fingers tapped the
window sill nervously, there's an ex-
cuse for mothers flarlng up now and
then. Robert, and Bert, too, are both
a bit dictatorial for just sons-in-law.
| don't mind that so much, but / have
noticed that since yesterday she has
been deaf to reason on the dress ques-
ton.
perhaps we have overlooked mother
more than we should have done. but
the boys have had enough pull to get
along as 1t Is. What with us and the
children, and living so high, declare
1t takes every cent | can get my hands
on to get clothes for myself, and /
know you're the same.
"Now, mother is sixty-four (and I'm
, sure when I'm slxtyfour shan't want
to mix with my daughters company
and mother never has before), and
last night, when Bert and came in
from the theater, she was waiting for
us. Right out of clear sky 1t came
81 phoned to Annie Blake tonight
she told us, and she is to come over
ga I NTH
pare it, but after that l might want
TO meet the guests.
but, mother | explained. Annie
Blake asks two dollars for the after
noon and evening, and we really can't
afford it. You don't have to clean up,
mother; If you'll just stack the dishes
Maude and will do them when every
body has gone But she shook her
head at me, half smiling.
"'Pm not a-going to even stack EN-,
and what could Bert and say2'
Maude Louise sighed heavily.
ITS the last straw" she walled
mlserably. THAT means that she'll
come right In where it's light, 80
everybody can see that faded old al
paca and that threadbare lace, and
talk about Tom"
Ever since brother Tom ran away"
added Isabel gloomlly, mother has
surmlsed all sorts Of fine things about
him, and aired her views to every man,
woman and child In town"
"And everyone knows that Tom ran
away to avoid the draft, and they all
laugh at her behind her back" cried
Maude Louise. ooh dear / think It's
too bad when we've invited Mrs. Judge
Haddon and Mr.. Burns and his wife,
and we've got everything arranged 80
nicely"
IF / had thought for one minute
mother had really wanted to come"
said Isabel traglcally, II would have
gone without my new slippers and
fixed her up something half decent"
"And wouldn't have as well?" put
In her sister; wouldn't have let Hell
ems silk sash and Busters new velvet
suit wait that she might have been pre-
sentable? I've never known mother to
act So" Maude's eyes filed with tears
az suppose she'll tell Mrs. Haddon
and Mrs Burns her latest about Tom,
that he might be the Unknown Hero
they laid to rest with honor"
But why" asked Isabel, docs she
want to be with usi Ever since she's
been with us she has preferred eat
ing in the kitchen when we have had
guests to dine And we never coaxed
her, thinking, perhaps, she was shy
and felt out of place"
Girls" the kitchen door was opened
Unexpectedly, "everything's ready, and
Annie is here to serve dinner"
The sweet old face framed in soft
gray curls smiled radiantly. And Oh,
my dears, the table looks beautiful"
Mother" Isabel was almost hope
full, "you didn't follow that foolish,
old-fashioned custom Of setting place
for an unlimited guest? It's so out-of-
date, and besides, we have favors for
Just the number Of plates You didn't,
did you motherY
Eyes" answered the little old lady
gently, II did"
MOtneFt mauue LOUISE was mug
nation itself "how could you take
things into your own hands so? why
us our dinner, and our guests, ana
our husbands money that's paying for
H. must reset the table, and please,
mother, don't say anything about Tom
i must insist on that. And II you
ST near the end Of the table, the ~
',n't so strong nnc your dress wo
.f,,Ny nm TO-"