Evening star., 1925-11-22

Frank kirsted told me how to make
and that was absolutely new in Mont
rose. / had little Ella Crowninshield
to wait on the table and put flowers in
ba skets on the porch, and VIII said
he broke a shoe lace hurryinE to get
home in time to shave before they got
here. All in all, think 1t would be
perfectly honest to refer to what we
we're about to have as what society
stories would call "a smart little din
ner." Oh, everything would have
gone off in way to be a credit to US
II 1t hadn't been for Wills stupid
tactlessness.
managed to keep him held down
during dinner by constant vigilance.
Whenever I thought he was going TO
say anything ill-advised, l would
change the subject hastily. | could
usually tell. He has a certain express
sion, a kind of friendly, frank, guile.
less look, that he usually gets on
when he is about to express some
truth that would far better be left
unsaid. Whenever I'd see that ex-
preston coming over his face. no mat
ter what we were talking about,
would change the subject before he
had time to say whatever he had in
mind. Naturally, l am alert like this
only when we are with people like the
Curtises. I couldn't stand the strain
TO do IT all the time. With our old
crowd I figure they all know VIII and
like him anyhow, and | just let 'er
flicker.
I HAD forgotten to tell Will that /
was going to serve the demi-ta ia sse
out on the porch, SO when came out
with the tray l fixed him with n CLASSY
eye and talked rapidly. so that he
would have no opportunity to express
surprise. However. in my hope that
the Curtises would not notice his look
of plea sed, startled interest. and guess
that we had never done this before. |
forgot something far more important.
/ had the cigar box on the tray with
the cups, but VIII didn't see II. He
rose briskly and went into the living
room. And just as l was opening the
box with a casual. We'll. just one
apiece left!' out shouts VIII from the
living room:
Say. Dot. what did you do with
those two cigars / bought today
For moment, | felt | could die OF
modification; then my natural adroit-
ness came to my aid.
"Oh. never mind those" 7 called
carelessly, there are a couple left in
the box
What box" viii called. but I was
already talking briskly to the Curtises
and I'm sure they didn't hear him
It's crises like that. though, that age a
woman before her time.
And then, even after | had met
that emergency SO successfully. VIII
managed to spoil everything. 1t was
almost time for the Curtises TO go
home and I was congratulating my
self on everything having gone off in
a very sophisticated way. In my con-
cratulations. though, I relaxed too
soon. In some way the converse ton
had come around TO daily schedules.
and MIR. Curtis. reminisCins of his boy
hood, said
Yes. my mother always used TO
have dinner at II o'clock"
| glanced over At VIII. and TO my
horror | saw that he had on his warn
ing look-friendly. frank and guile
less. l tried frarltically to think of
something to change the subject TO.
but nothing came to me.
l tried madly to signal to viii not
to say whatever he was thinking
me.
"Well. as q general thing. we have
ours at twelve, too 10 my utter
horror ] heard him say in conf
Dental tone.
1 managed 10 catch his eye and
there must have been something in
mine which warned him that all was
not well. He looked anxiouslv at me
for A moment, and then apparently
realized that he had said something
he shouldn't have said.
But it wasn't any trouble to have
it at night tonight" he added hastily.
He evidently thought my concern
was just for fear the Curtises would
think they had put as out. Not the
slightest bit of trouble" he went on.
with the large handed air Of a host
trying to put guests At their ease.
I'VE always switch around and have
il At night whenever we have com