Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-05
Mira's Kitchen.

II
the green truck which con-
veyed purchases made at the Hull fur
niture store to the homes for which
they were intended.
Good morning, Mrs. Bassett," said
the genial salesman. We've got some
thing here for you that your husband
bought this morning"
Mira tried to smile as the two men
bore in the davenport and placed 1t in
her small living room. It was a deep,
puffy, inviting thing but out OF keep
ing with the rest of the furniture.
There now!" said Mr.. Hull. "How's
that? Fine article, Ell? Your husband
has good taste, Mrs. Bassett."
Then he departed, pleased with his
sale, leaving Mira alone in thoughtful
contemplation of the davenport.
A few days before VIII had unex-
pectedly received some money which
he had thought entirely lost--a loan
that had outlawed. In his Joy at the
recovery Of the amount he had sug-
geSted to Mira that they celebrate by
getting something for their home that
they wanted. Mira had pleaded for a
thorough renovation of her kitchen
Will had said nothing. but she had
hoped that he understood. Instead he
had bought this davenport.
Mira returned to the kitchen, where
she was making cake. Her eyes filled
with tears as she looked about the
room. The paper was dark with age
and soil. the paint worn away with
many washings, the linoleum full oil
holes. But it was the old iron sink
and the stove that troubled Mira most
At this moment ashes were sitting
down from the CRATE upon her cake, fol
the oven had given out.
When Will came home at noon he
expected praise for his purchase, and
Mira gave 1t dutifully. Flinging HIM
of the davenport, VIII grinned at heI
delightedly.
Here's where shall spend my Sun
day afternoons" he declared.
At lunch he complained Of grit on
his piece of cake. Mira said nothing
What good would 1t do now to explain
about the oven? All the money Will
felt he could afford to use had gone
into the davenport.
She spent the afternoon trying to
reconcile the rest of the room to the
new piece of furniture. But even low
cred shades could not conceal the fact
that the luxurious davenport was as
much out Of place as satin frock at a
picnic.
That evening Will rested in state
with the lamp drawn close to the head
of the davenport where he could read
1t was Friday evening, too. and usually
he took Mira to the movies on Friday
evening. But he was too comfortable
with his book to thinw about the
movies.
Saturday morning, in the midst OF
her work, a portion of plaster, paper
and all, fell from the ceiling. Worst
of all, some of 1t fell into the pan OF
cooky dough she was kneading Her
dough was spoiled, her hair was full OF
lime, her eyes smarted. But instead OF
crying Mira grew angry.
She had been Will BaSSett's wife foI
Is years. AS bride she had found
the house just as his mother had left
it. Little had been done to its interior
since, for although Will earned gooC
wages he was frugal to the verge OF
Stinginess. He also thought what was
good enough for his mother surely
ought to be good enough for his wife
Without the house looked we'll enough
for viii kept it painted and he trimmed
the grass weekly. For 18 years Mira
had kept the machinery of the home
running from an imperfectly fitted en-.
CINE room. She had accomplished
marvels where many other women would
have failed, but the time was past wher
piece of tin and brick in the stove
strip of old window shade on thu
| ceiling or plugging Of putty in thu
leaky sink could succeed. Rebellion
filled her heart, resolve crystallized, in
spiration dawned.
That noon when Will came home Il
lunch he found the table empty. Mira
lay on the davenport
What's the matter? Aren't you feel.
ing well?" demanded Will, aghast.
II turned my ankle. I shall have Il
keep of my feet for q day or two,'
Mira answered.
"And lunch isn't ready! I am sorry
about your ankle, but I was planning
to go fishing this afternoon with Len
on: IT suppose I'd better stay home
and look after things, eh?"
THE Kitchens sight," sighed Mira
turning her face away.
I'll see to that. Don't you worry
my dear. I'll have everything fixed up
In q jiffy. What had you planned to
have for lunch"
Will took off his coat and rolled up
his sleeves with an air of gay attack
He could do things about the house if
he wanted to, for his long-ailing mother
had carefully trained him. He laughed
as he tied Mira's apron about his waist.
A moment later came shout.
Whats happened here? I never saw
anything like this mess"
He had found the wrecked ceiling,
the pan Of cooky dough full of plaster,
the Uttered floor. He found other
things. too, in the course of preparing
the meal. The old stove refused to
draw and smoked vigorously. He
tripped over a hole in the linoleum,
and for the first time noticed that the
sink was sieve.
At lunch he was thoughtful. Imme-
diately after Anne Spry came with a
dish Of gelatin for Mira. Anne was the
neighborhood's by-the-day.
Wish you'd stay and work this aft
ernoon, Anne" Will said.
Anne shrugged her shoulders.
"You can't get me in that old kitchen.
I couldn't think of having my neck
broken by falling plaster, and, anyway,
I like modern imps myself" she re-
torted.
viii rubbed his head.