Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-03
Guest for Dinner.

TOR two months Elaine Bridge.
had been mistress of her OWL
home. Charles and Elaine could
afford only a kitchenette apart
ment with the tiny breakfast
alcove, where by dint of much maneuv-
ering. four people could be seated CON-
Portable; but it seemed amply large to
Elaine. Their contentment made ur
for the conveniences they lacked. Then
after one has shared a hall bedroom
with another girl for four years, as
Elaine had, 1t made her new quarters
seem larger.
one afternoon in May she had been
unusually careful with the small de-
tails of her preparation for dinner, for
Charles had phoned home that he was
bringing company. He didn't pause 10
tell her just who, before he hung up,
but she was reasonably sure that 1t
must be some fellow from the office.
In spite of her best knowledge OF
cooking coming from two months ex-
perience, Elaine found her roast lit
tie overdone on top, and somewhat I'M
derdone in the center. But she served
her simple meal gayly to her husband,
and the dust-covered old gentleman
whom her husband introduced to her as
Mr.. Byron. Now Mr.. Byron meant MOTH
ing to Elaine as far as she knew, and
yet she used her very best wedding
china, made up of a dozen different
patterns: her silver too, had beer
chosen a piece at a time from the At
lantic to the Pacific. by fond relatives
and friends. who had their own par
ticular choice of designs. She had
her new and very gay crepe paper
sweet peas that she had just made, in
the center of the small table. It all
looked very beautiful and festive to the
eyes of the young husband and wife.
They laughed and joked over Elaine's
eating with the paringknife and black
handled. three timed cooking fork, that
was a relic of Elaine's mothers early
housekeeping days Charles apologized
for having only two knives and forks,
and explained that just as soon as he
got his raise, they surely must have a
half-dozcn good knives and forks.
IF ] had only had my wits about
me-" Elaine said to Charles the next
day. 81 would have taken notice of the
very searching glance he gave you when
you mentioned a raise in salary. was
Just determined nothing should keep us
from cheering that sad, neglected, old
gentleman"
Charles and Mr.. Byron played chess
together while Elaine cleared the dishes,
and then sat and smoked while she
played a minuet on her violin; Charles
Bridges with the happy bridegroom
look on his face, and the old man with
a fsr-away. wistful look in his eyes, as
if the haunting melody recalled some
dim and half-forgotten past
He had Charles call a taxi for him
at 10, and thanked his host and hos
tess for his entertainment. Then he
was gone. Charles assured Elaine he
knew as little about the man as she
did. but that McMann at the Office
had intended to take him out to dinner.
but through some hook or crook, had
shifted the responsibility on Charles.
We'll, no doubt that's the best food
he's had for month or so, from his
looks" Charles added.
The next morning he didn't feel so
well about it, when his boss, McMann,
called him into the Office Mr.. McMann
spared no words in telling him how
many different kinds of blockheads he
thoguht Bridges was for not taking
the big boss, Mr.. Byron from New York
City, to the best hotel in town, for din
ner. as he would have done had some
urgent business not interfered. Then
by way of encouragement he added:
well, If the big boss can overlook
such a blunder, Of course I can, but
my opinion is, you'll be free to find
another job by the end Of the week,
taking such man to your little two