The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1941-03-22
Meals-Appeal
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By AMY SMITHERS
Associated Newspapers-wNU Service. }

close track of everything that hap
pened to any member of the family.
This morning she had read out to
Naomi:
why, it's just three years ago
today that Tom Tyler was introduced
to you, Naomi. Three years
m-m-m-three years" 1t was not
so much what she said. 1t was the
way her voice had trailed away
softly into silence that Kissed as it
started.
Oh, Aunt Dora didn't say that she
thought Naomi was fiat tire. Dear,
no! Dear, gentle Aunt Martha
wouldn't hurt the feelings of a mos
quito. Naomi, nevertheless, caught
the CLEAN; three years was a long
time to Ego with" any man without
having at least the offer of an en-
gagement ring. Naomi had never
heard Tom mention the word mar
riage in any positive, definite fash
ion.
Tom stopped in twice a week and
allowed himself to be persuaded to
have dinner with them. He had a
habit of saying admiringly: "You
certainly look cute in that apron,
Naomi! If there's anything a man
likes to see it's a pretty girl in a
pretty apron. 1t makes him think
of home and mother and good
meals and so on. That's the way to
get 'em-meals-appeals! There's
nothing like meals-appeal."
Three years." Naomi whispered
to herself as she frosted the layer
cake. "Three years! Why, Alice
Parker met Jim Parker only a year
ago and they're-married."
She opened the drawer to find a
fresh tea towel and saw the pretty
little organdie apron that she had
laid there for the evening. At that
moment her Aunt Dora walked into
the kitchen.
Making marshmallow frosting?"
she asked. Tom always likes your
marshmallow frosting"
"Marshmallow frosting!" said
Naomi, suddenly. why, l wouldn't
give Tom Tyler a mouthful of this
cake if his tongue hung out of his
head milel And if l ever put on
that apron again it'll be because
some one fastens the rags on me
when I'm dead"
She took the delicate little wisp
of froth and tore it almost viciously
from left TO right and up and down.
"Why-Naomi, darling!" gasped her
Aunt Dora.
When that evening Tom Tyler
cheerfully ran up the stairs of the
apartment building he was aston
ished to meet Naomi coming down.
"Where're you going?" he asked.
"Oh-out," she said, with shrug.
"Out?" he echoed "Out? Out
where? You're such a domestic lit
tie home body-why, Naomi! I al
ways think of you as being home"
This last was said with reproach-
full glance that might, had it not
been for Aunt Dora's diary, have
melted her completely.
"Pooh!" she remarked airily.
Home body, indeed! 1 guess l
have stayed at home too long-about
three years too long" she added in
an underbreath.
But where are you going?"
why, I'm going out to dine, if
you must know" she said demure-
ly.
"Alone?" he demanded.
IL,
81 meet Prince Charming at the
door, awaiting me in a coach and
four or an eight-cylinder car of
cream color with brown landings.
l just adore cream-colored cars,
don't you, Tom?"
He eyed her uneasily. Say, will
it be all right if l go along with
your" he asked.
IF you can finance yourselves.
Otherwise, no." She spoke candidly.
Well" he said half-hour later
when they were settled at central
table with an orchestra playing a
vigorous melody, Il guess I don't
understand women at all. why,
l thought you liked to stay at
home and cook and wear little soft
looking aprons"
Il don't" she cut in heatedly. Il
hate to cook"
He stared at her Jimmy, new
er knew you were so pretty, Naomi.
You look $3.50 demure."
"Demure!" she scoffed. Lets
dance this while they're hustling
along the fodder, eh?"
Pep" he murmured, we'll
pleased. "Ah, you have it, my dear.
Pep! Super-pep, Ell? And that pref
ty dress, l never saw that before.
Did II"
81 guess you never saw me be-
fore either, maybe? Huh?"
And that night when he took her
home after a movie and a little bite
of supper they talked for a long,
long time in the living-room. When
he left, Aunt Dora came out.
Didn't Tom stay rather-late?"
she asked gently.
well, now that you speak of it,
Auntie, guess he did, a little"
RI