New Britain herald., 1925-06-11
%E[LAlpEp[E[R1',T''j 1TyIHY'[[.ZI N; 1
6,< Beaffice buston Q bod s.a saAnas p.s.

I have for dinner7 Dick liked lamb chops and fresh peas. She'd have them. she guessed. ... No, even Mother Gregory had said that 1t was quite job to shell peas.
 Gloria bought canned ones and a can of beets. And she saw some potato salad in a dellcatessen she passed. So she bought that, too. It would save her going to the bother of cooking potatoes. -.
 Then there was the pie her moth CT had given her. Why. she wouldn't have anything to cook but the meat! Anybody could warm up canned vegetables.
 How long do you fry lamb chops?" Gloria asked the butcher as he wrapped them up for her.
 "'Bout fifteen minutes, lady" he said. Depends on how you like 'em, rare or well done"
 How did Dick like his meat cooked? Gloria didn't know. We'll. she guessed she'd take a chance and fry them slowly for twenty minutes.
 At six o'clock that night she put them on the stove. The peas and beets were in their kettles. The po- tato salad was heaped high in a bowl on the dining-room table. i (~fAriaf0 haa rf ExHa1leI ttIfh hnn- est pride as she looked around the house. It was in what she called perfect order. There was a roll of dust, like gray mouse, here and there in a'shadowy corner hut no one would notice that she was | sure.
 She went upstairs 10 her room to put a little powder on her nose. She decided that she needed some more rouge on her cheeks and more gloss on her fingernails. |
 Suddenly Gloria sniffed the air. .. What was that queer smell? ? .. The meat! The chops were burning!
 She flew down to the kitchen. It was filled with smoke. The sput- tering fat in the pan had caught on fire. It was blazing.
 Here's where the house goes up in smoke!" Gloria thought with ter TOT. She lifted the red-hot pan from the stove in her bare hands.
 Then she ran out doors with 1t, and threw it down on the grass. It hissed fiercely as she turned a spray Of water from the garden hose on it.
 Gloria was so excited that she did not hear Dick drive into the yard. It was only when she turned to go back to the house that she saw him watching her from the driveway.
 What have you been doing. having a bon1re?" he asked.
 Gloria burst into tears. She ran over to the car to show Dick how she had burned her hands.
 "No," she sobbed, T just burned up all the chops |. . and I'm all bistered, too! .,. Oh ooh, ] meant to have such a good dinner too.
 T didn't expect to And you Mere at all." Dick said calmly. You said you were going to leave me, last night, you know"
 Gloria hung her head. "I know did" she said in a tone so low tha' , Dick divined rather than heard hel worde. but changed my mind"
 Dick studied her for a moment with half-lowered lids. Gloria thought she even detected a glean of amusement in his eyes.
 Well, never mind about that, he said. Run upstairs and get your hat and I'll take you downtown fol dinner. I'll walt here for you Hurry"
 Gloria put the fire out under the vegetables on the stove, and took the potato salad away.
 She made a paste of baking soda and water to smear on her burns.
 In the old days Dick would have done it for her, without doubt. He would have been filled with distres, and pity .. and he would proba- bly, have kissed the blistered hands
 Now he didn't seem to care. He was utterly indifferent to her. And the thought was all the harder to bear because Gloria knew that she had brought all this on herself . Dicks indifference and aloofness.
 She had helped to build the wall that rose between them, mountain
 She put on a sage green sports hat and went out to the automo- bile.
 Darn shame about your hands, Dick muttered as she got in beside him. Gloria said nothing.
 Where do you want to go tc eat?" he asked.
 Some demon in Glorias brain prompted her answer. Let's go tc the restaurant where you and Mis-! Briggs eat" she said wickedly. "By the way, how is Miss Briggs behav' ing herself these days?"
 "As usual -. perfectly" Dicl said.
 Hasn't she told you she love- you yct?" Gloria raised her eye broHs in feigued surprise. T though that would be the first thing she't dol"
 Dick didn't answer. But he drov, the car down Main street to tn little restaurant.
 It was a silent meal that they at at the little corner table where tn two Of them and Susan Briggs hat . d:ned only a few days before. The waiter had set their coffe down before them before eithe . spoke.
 What's become of your rings :? l Dick broke the silence that ha' hung, like a smoke-screen betweel v | thepo "Your u,eddinp ripR and xnu