Show II I A BACKGROUND ROAST TURKEY t I 11 BY EVELYN WOOD LOVEJOY Dick Garish ought to have havo been supremely content and happy happ as ho he sat down to his well laden dinner table facing one oC or the tidiest and sweetest little HUle housewives that ever graced a mans man's home His bachelor friend Ernest Stratton who sat on tho the right of or Mrs Garish would gladly have surrendered all the tho luxury of or hisrich hisrich his hisrich rich apartments for tor a cosy home homo like this one could ho have been sure of capturing a matrimonial prize such as ns Dick had won For a year he had been swinging between Ill venture and I wont won't risk It as he was entertain entertained enter enter- tain d by one and another of his old chums some of or whom had dra drawn blanks that staggered him and others prizes that lured him to test his fate Today he was as dangerously near the venture point as he looks across tho table at the tho pretty sister Ister of or Mrs Gar Gar- ish He la Is wondering how It would seem to have her lay her soft sort hand on his arm and look up roguishly Into his face us ts she ahe Is looking now Into Dicks Hang It It is his mental tion There ought to be bo a law Jaw against girls being so free with their theil brothers- brothers in Save me a drumstick please this charming sister-in-law sister Marion Marlon Hunt was saying to Dick Getting ready for tor another century spin I guess you'll need both of these drumsticks If Ie you expect to feed teed muscle This turkey is coot cooked ed to death Doll Dolly It Is a as much overdone as tho tim last one W was wa-s OS underdone A shadow cha chased ed the from the face of Mrs Garish and the re red blood d dyed ed her cheeks checks Im sorry Dick I tried to have it I Just right this tune time she sho answered deprecatingly Oh it'll do do I guess You'll hit it better next time perhaps I tell you what it Is Ernest nobody ever cooks We e turkey quite so BO well as mother expected her this Christmas but hut she wrote that she cout couldn't nt get away awny for a da day or or- two Ver Very sorry said Mr 11 Stratton I po politely II tel though he felt like chol choking ln his friend I I havo have heard that I mothers cooking always seems beems the thebe be best t to her hel boys especially after they leave leavo home After the they are married married mar mar- ried ned is la wh what t he started out to say but checked himself In time I dont don't know lenow how that Is myself as m my mother died when I was quite young oung Marion Marlon looked at him with considerably considerably con con- more approval than she had heretofore done There Thero would be no mothers cooking as ns a LL bugbear to hl his wife Shu Sho watt Was a n. bit startled at ot tho the faultfinding faultfinding fault fault- finding finding- of or Dick Sho She hud had visited her sister Alster but once before sIno since her marriage marriage mar mar- ringe and und that soon after the honeymoon when Dick was too happy to see seo any faults In Doll Dolly Now ow she had observed that at rr e every meal thoro thero was something which ibid did not just suit his taste but she simo did not think ho would ho 10 BO 80 thoughtless as to criticise tho the food when company was present even though thou the time company was an In In- friend Such Sueh a 0 kind Indulgent husband and hearted great fellow must bust not miot become a Weak cal dyspeptic and wi worrier wIfe for luck of or a tL little tittle discipline Sho She meant to to take the Uio matter III In hand herself Sho She praised 1 the different dishes extravagantly and OIHI called on Ernest to second her hor Ho lie r readily took the cue and heartily Joined in iii laudation of or the time dinner which would have hove dono honor to an any housewife After t I the meal was wan ended Marlon Marion helped Doll Dolly about washing the fine china which could not be he trusted to I I the time young oun girl girt who was the only maid Mrs 1 Garish could afford I ou You wore so BO good Marion to I I praise my dinner but I know leno wh why you ou I did It It said Doll Dolly nervously wringing out her dishcloth Tho Thu turkey was wal a I i little o erunA on one side aide I 1 know but but but-but- but Then tho the tears she had before heroically held back hack rolled i down threateningly toward towan th dish I pan In an instant Marion Marlon had drooped her and had her arms arma about her sister sleter I wont won't say eav a a. mean thing about i Dick sho cried with commendable lf lIes Hes a 0 d dear ar old boy Just such n IL hUK husband as Id I'd like If It he ic weren't so 80 crotchety crotchet about lila his food tood I If H ever el I marr marry the man will wIl be an nn i orphan I wont won't havo mothers cookIng cookIn cook cook- Ing In- forever dinned Into m my ears ears Dolly laughed In jn spite of ot herself I How would l Ernest do she nhe asked wiping awn away tho limo tears with on ono one hand hond ird inI t patting Marlon's Marions cheek with the tho tho tt ir II Oh lies he's an on Inveterate old lied bach bach- elor clor and old bachelors are arc worse than in ln I 0 t I h f e rig 1 in n law J n w hOCh 1 Marion Marlon did not know that the tho kitch kitchi kitchen en n door was Ajar and that Ernest E in I passing nassing through tho hall hail cau ht h her hem r last lant words Ho Ito bit his hla tips lIps und and then thon I as tho the boys bOH ua used d to set sen him I I Ismile smile when h. h hw ho Wa was r toady ady to start l I on on omi nn fl of the college collego races I Tho The nc next t day a letter came camo from froni I Mother loUer Garish saying she would ur iv I Ne Nev Ne Years Year's with I spend thorn them and antI Dick van nM to meet meat her it t the station triV the I noon afternoon before This Thin st Marion Marlon in ina a groat r. r r. She hOod had never Seen j I this wonderful cook but Doll Dolly had I and hail had learned d to lovo love her Marion Marlon Mas as as determined tha that t even th everything InS InS' about the housekeeping should be above re reproach re- re preach Sho She had many consultations with Doll DolLy which ended with calling In a class first cook cool to help them the theay day ay before Dicks Dick's mother was expect expect- ed Of or course Dick must not know about It It The Time cook was spirited hub Into the tue house after aCter ho had hall gone to his hit business In tho the morning and was not seen when ho camo como home to his dinner dinner din din- ner ncr at nl night ht The Tue strangest part of or It was that Ernest brought her He and antI Marion Marlon were fast Cast becoming good friends As he did not ma mako o love tl to her and did make mako himself useful she sho accepted his hla comradeship and called him into service Ho lie vas Invited to dinner that night and Dick Insisted on his sharing their New Years Tears feast also For said he lie Im lm going to have mother give Ive us one of ot her old old- fashioned dinners and you shall ca cOot cat roast turkey as is roast turkey this last vcr very emphatically Ernest smiled and said nothing would please him more looking ing straight at Marion Marlon who smiled too an and blushed becomingly At dinner Marlon Marion broke open a warm biscuit light as a feather teather an and baked bake to a ti delicate delicato brown How Ho did you ou over o learn to make mak such d delicious biscuits she sho hc asked hot her sister they satisfy th time tho most perverse old epicure Brother Brothe Dick poking his lila t tt t I Thoy aro are fa fair Ir yes cs prett pratt r I I owned but Just wait walt u untIl you OU se see sOme me of mothers mother's cooking Why the they just melt In your mouth Dolly thinks think she cooks pretty well and so she sho do does docs s but I count a good deal on having mother show her how to waite make things things- Mother Iother always had a l knack of ot fixing veal cutlets better belter than anybody elseI else olse I dont don't see sec how these could be improved im Ito- proved Ernest politely remarked Im Inu suro 1 thank you OU Mrs Garish said with some feeling feeling- It seems to tome tome me mc It Is tho the things which we don dont havo have that wo Imagine to be bo the blue best best- I hope 1 shant shan't always bo lIo crying fo folas for tor las last t years cars sunshine Dick dropped his fork erIc and stared a at Dolly DoHy Ho lie had hael never seen her show to much spirit and he wondered that he had not noticed how much handsomer sho she was growing Ills His friend seemed to find finel her attractive too for ho he showed her man many moro more courteous attentions than thon memo meio politeness demanded He had no time to think Wink more about It It for Marlon Marion had hOod a tit lIt of choking am and anel when she sho was not nol choking and cou coughIng coughing cough cough- hInS' hInS h- h Ing InS and null he wa was very 01 much afraid she would have hysteria She quickly rallied ral ral- ral- ral lied however and he lie lJ began s-an s to question question ques ques- tion if it Ernest had an anything thing to do with her nt attack Co for Or h ho observed that when when- I ever sac sno caught ma laiR CO eye eyo she would put out her handkerchief to hor her mouth and a face tace queer little tremor would pass over h Il r The next afternoon Mother Garish the wonderful cook came Marlon had to own that sho she could believe any ex et collence In her for fOl sho she was a 0 sweet lovable lo woman roman Her heart was vas largo large for tal enough or her bier sons son's wife and that wife's sister und amid thc they all had a aver very hap happy time together the time evening before New Years AS s thc they separated for tor forthe the night Dick salt said to his mother mother- i I I want you Ou to cook our dinner to tomorrow to- to morrow mother Ive I've br ugh home to-I to time the plumpest turkey in iii the market market and you must cook It and show Dolly Doily how It m roust must be done done You TOU will wont won't on you 7 IiI Ills mother mothel looked at ot Dolly DOIly 6 1 s If It she sho feared fEarell the younger roun OI would bo hurt hUIt smiled by Dicks Dick's words but Doll Dolly only and anti said pleasantly Yes mother do We c aro all ov ox- ox great things of you yot ou tomorrow tomorrow We Yo will wll cat eat roast turkey lurk turkey y quoting Dicks Dick's words as ns la Is roast roast Mother Garish laughed Dick I Im I'm Im I'm in learning never neer knew before 7 I that you t thought ht my 01 cooking so BO il Wonderful but i promise you OU an on Old Ill I'll tomorrow since Doll Dolly dinner wishes U it too On New Years da day Ernest ln ft Dick to go with to ace Heo mI-lIed cJ u a pretty suburban house hous which I hi he had huel purchased took It Il pu just JUHt said It Ava Was vait 80 so far out an aim old debt lie he that they did ait not reach home until nearly time for dinner When Dick came downstairs downstairs after aCter dressing ho he saw aw Marion Marlon helping his mother bring in tho the dishes prepared ed for the t table bleIm ble Im as hun hungry ry as a LL bear he cried the charm of that tha out I cant can't stand tand odor more moro than titan five o minutes longer Tho Tue bell will m ring In lIt two minutes Marion lallon called back hack Dolly folly is in the parlor I wl h you'd tell her to como come here ft n. minute When ho lie entered the tho parlor ltd lid found his hie friend already there thero en enga engaged engaged en- en ga cd In a a. low confidential chat with ith Dolly Both seemed a trifle trine embarrassed embar by his appearance and the dimples in Dollys Dolly's S cheeks suddenly I straightened out Marion Marlon would like to see you Mrs Garish he said In what he ho meant to tobe tobo tobo bo be a a. very freezing manner Then Themi Mr Stratton will excuse me mo and finish his stor story some other time sho answered sweetly passing o out t oC of tho the room A congealing silence followed Ernest went to tho the piano and ond struck a few chords aimlessly The awkward situation was wa relieved by the ringing of ot tho the dinner bell As the they entered tho the dining room Mother Garish stood stool at ot the head of the table Dolly would have It so she sho said Excitement hall had tinged her still fair checks with a a. faint rosy color and tho the look of ot eager expectancy In her hor brown c ee eyed e as us she turned to Dick was vas really beIt be- be 1 It 11 H le TI iJ his hl hI hand on hoo h n It ft u until his lila lips touched hers Perhaps his heart was a Q little sore and ho was thinking of ot the constancy of or a mothers mother's love The saucy smile fled Hod from MarIons MarIon's Mar Mar- lons lon's face and Sue she was almost ready to forgive Dick It he had hail DolI Dolly too lOO she would have quite forgiven forgiven forgiven for for- given him hint But he hc didn't and her lips firmly together she let lct Nemo Nein sis take tako her bel course Ernest behaved behave most circumspectly during the meal He lie gave his hostess no moro more of or his attention than cour tes tesy required He lie and Marion the time flinging witty jl Jibs s at each ench other across the tho table and did dill not give Dick an any chance until the turl turkey o was brought In In Then ilCi s seemed d to have hav recovered his spirits and unel ho K began bes-an to assert himself Ie t that a beauty h ho eja ejaculated DIdn t I 1 tell you mother would gh's give gh us s roast turkey as is roast turkey See how juicy and tender It Is I t hope Doll Dolly you OU have learned ho how to cook turkey tOday Yes Dick I have I watched it cr ev C cry minute replied Du Dolly b Marion suppressed a giggle and Dick ao ws was again in ln afraid she Was woJ oln going going- to cho choice i 4 The rice rico pudding and pie which fol- fol lowed were aU all lavishly extolled Dick and If r he ho didn't t by byi speak i I ly Marion challenged up un prompt prompt- his ardor aldor by praising the blue dishes moro more than he did Dolly and Mother Garish said Bald very little The one the Wot wearing crown Clown or of success and the It other other- was riot not strange It if she sha could enter so heartily Into the tho not as tho rest did When Ing the lust tho they were eatIng eat eat- cour course e Marion Marlon to her sister Called out Dont you ou wish you could make such nover y tasted one tarts a ns thiN Doll Dolly I so 80 delicious usually I hadn't noticed that tho un good E she Iho ht Then seeing replied a little dt- dt E Garish surprise Ill III temper and at she what said he turned lie he Ot or thought S to her Ss was 1001 a motle mothe her of can dali make tarts quito quite so BO course good i no ono one ther as mo too Im glad s-Iad to hear you ou Ow OWn Dick so much said hi his mouth full or of the tho deli deli- eacy ac I 1 haven't for Cor a a. year ear eaten n. n tart like liko thIs thle I promise you OU shall ea eat Cat t like In n the next mail many malmy morn mo Dolly I I shall year says A that mine keep mother until abc hc hers are arc as good us as I hope you'll flie them broke In Io Ernest ask usk mo mci with to sample My h tort tam has hos j I ha have vo tilo last alread Sue She handed It to one hito hila Mrs Garish Continued and a lUi lie tho on ego EIght |