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Show THE MARRIED LIFE OF HELEH AIIDWABIIEH A "Candid" Dinner Convinces Warren of the Expediency of Falsehoods 'This la going to be a 'Candid dinner," din-ner," announced Mrs. Stevens when they were settled around the softly-lit softly-lit table in her attractive Sheraton dining room. "We're going to say only what we honestly think." "Emily's always springing something." some-thing." complained her huahand. Iast month it was a 'Poverty' dinner everybody had to wear their oldest clothes." "I'm sorry we mlased that," regretted Helen. "Mr. Curtis was In Albany." 1 "Yes. old clothes would have been more in my line." ahrugged Warren. "If this is going to be a 'Truth' party, we'll end In an all-around row." "Our candid comment may not be very candled," chuckled Mr. Htevens. "Now, Henry, don't try to make pun. I want you all to take It seriously. seri-ously. I was at a 'Candid' luncheon last week, the monthly meeting of our "Huh. you've never been to New Orleans Or-leans but twice," grumped Warren. "Why say 'every time' to give the Impression Im-pression that it's an annual Jaunt?" Helen reddened and everyone Unshed. "Oh, all women exaggerate," pro-, pltiated Mr. Stevens. "Kmlly plies It. on thick. Jerusalem. .I'm awkward!"' aa he spattered the table cloth In carving. carv-ing. "Mrs. Iml ton, did that splash on you ?" "Oh, It doesn't matter." brushing at the crease spots on her light gown. "Now, that'a a fib you know It does," reproved Mrs. Htevens, "Well, yea. I just had this gown cleaned." she admitted. "But surely one wouldn't advocate such unpleasant little truths." "W aren't getting round to the worthwhile things as we should! Now at that luncheon Mrs. Millard brought out some very Interesting points." Mrs. Millard T' echoed llelan. "Do you know her? laa't she charm- "What if I have? It's much preferable prefera-ble to wrinkle and sagging cheeks so I'd ad viae you to have it done. And I might also recommend the operation for a double chin." with an acid glance at Mr. Stevens' overplump throat. Helen, keeping a discreet silence, held her breath. What further Incriminations Incrimi-nations would thla truthful warfare elicit? Mrs. Dalton fairly exuded animosity! and Mrs, Htevena fac wa crimson with volcanic emotions. I "Hhall w have the coffee In here?" after a militant alienee. "In the front room." decided her husband hus-band with emphasis. "And we've had enough of thia candid stuff. It' all off when we leave the table. TM thing's been carried too far." "Why, I think It has been most enjoyable," en-joyable," Insisted Mrs. evens. "W'v got some very Illuminating angle an-gle on our friends." In the front room the atmosphere wa equally hostile. Th conversation wa kept up with an effort. Kven Mr. woman's club. Twelve of um at the table and wa had a most Interesting time." "Huh, you got twelve women to telf the truth at a luncheon? Must've been a pretty scrappy feed. Why pay twen-ty-flv bucks for a ringside seat?" !ng?" , "Oh. yes. very. ( "Hold on there." Warren caught her up. "I heard you roasting her the other day. What was it you said?'' "I don't remember," a prevarication which was allowed to pass. "But she has a wonderful voice." "And she composes, too, enthused Mrs. Htevens. "tine gave me one of her songs the other day a folk song. Would ymi like to hear It after dinner din-ner ?" "No. lt d bore us stiff." "Why Warren!" flushed Helen. "Tou don't have to say horrid things." "If Mr. Steven wanja th truth, she muntn't squeal when she gets it." "Her husband. Jack Millard, play a good game of golf," Mrs. Stevens, always al-ways the pacifier, broke In. "At the Nassau h played round In eighty-six." eighty-six." I "That' not so good. If I hadn't 1 missed a six-Inch putt on the last green, I'd - have had an ;ghty-two," boasted Mr. Dalton. I I Htevens' unfailing good humor had been taxed by the "candid- dinner. "Well, I don't want to break up the party." announced War is n, "but I'm going to Philadelphia on that early train, so we'll hav to mosey along." "Yea, we'll have to go, too," Mrs. Dalton Dal-ton rose abrutly. Mr. Steven made no effort to delay their departure. "It wa auch an Interesting; Idea," effused Mrs, Dalton with acrid sar-rahm. sar-rahm. "I'm sure we all enjoyed It so much." Outside, Warren declined Mr. DI-ton's DI-ton's puntlliou offer to take them home In his car. "No. thanks, we'll walk. A little air will do us good after that Jamboree." "Oh, what a ghastly evening!" Helen alghed her relief as they turned homeward home-ward through the shadowy, deserted street "Why the 8am Hill did Mr. Ste- ' ! ven spring that fool stunt?" growled I Warren. "Sh might v known lt'd end In a row. grinned Warren. "Did you break up In a general hair-pulling?" "Certainly not! There wa only one woman who had ntiy fteling about it. Now 1 want you all to read your place cards, and remember you're not to be offended at any candid remark. W're to say exactly what w think, and to answer very question truth fully." "111 be official referee of all fights," announced Warren, glancing at hi plac cards a saccharin vera on "Candor." "There'll not be any flghte," persisted persist-ed Mrs. "rU evens. "Don't you think w can stand th plain truth fur on evening?" eve-ning?" "I hav me 'doots,'" Warren dispatched dis-patched his morsel of caviar toast. "I'll tell the truth about everything except my age." volunteered Mrs. Dalton. Dal-ton. "Ion't anybody ask me that." "Very well, asking atB is barred." "Mr. Dalton le wild. Bhe thought I no on knew she'd had her face lifted. I But she shouldn't hav said that about Mrs. Stevens dressing too youthfully." 1 "Jove, that was a hot one sh got in about the double chin. Well, you were foxy. For once you had sens enough to keep your trap shut." "I tried to, but I waa furious at Mrs. Dalton for saying my love of antiques waa a pose. Oh, here's my place card." Digging for her powder puff, Helen dragged out the dainty tinted card that had marked her place at th table. Humoroualy she read It aloud: "Truth ta candor, and tha light shines clear. In hearts kept open, kindly and sincere.' ' "Then you must have brushed up on your game since last month," crisped Warren. "How many did you forget to count?" Mr. I Alton's btusterlng retort waa Interrupted by a telephone call for Mr. tftevena. Already th air was charged with antagonism which Increased a the dinner progressed. Mrs. Dalton waa particularly nettled at Mrs. Htevens' frank remark about the unbecoming crimpinesa of her permanent per-manent wave. Hhe repaid thia with several tart thrust that Helen thought mmt unnecessary. Th men still talking golf, the women wo-men had naturally drifted to clothe. That's what I like about Madame Irene her things don't go out of style. She designs them for the Individual. I decreed Mrs. 8tvens. "Anything elae you want exempted before we start 7" "Don't ask how I keep my figger," begged Mr. Stevens, who was bulboua-ly bulboua-ly stout. "That'a on secret I won't reveal." "Now don't try to be facetious. Henry. We re not to ask foot questions that lan't the id. a at all. It's more to get a randid expression on worth-white worth-white things." "Kor instance?" "Well, at that luncheon one woman admitted she never could read Shakespeare Shakes-peare and she loathed a Shakespearean play. How many of us would ordinarily ordinar-ily hav th cournge to admit that?" "Huh, I'll go her one better." Warren crunched a aalted almond. "I'd rather hear a hand-organ than go to grand opera." Them's my nentimenta," agreed Mr. Stevens with conviction. "Now DO try to be serious. The Idea la not to make startling; statements, state-ments, but merely not to poee. or exaggerate, ex-aggerate, or say anything for effect or Just to be polite or plraaant." "Then wed better say aomethlng pleasant whll w can." observed Mr. Dalton. This soup 1 dellclou. What 1 it. anyway?" "Okra. You never get It here. It's from an old Creole recipe X got In New Orleans." "Oh. yes. we hsd It at that famous place where they hav th noonday breakfast.' offered Helen eagerly. "We go there every time we're In ew , Orlcana." j "Kindly!" "Warren .watted a lamp post with his aine. "Wasn't much that waa kindly In that party. Wonder somebody didn't get besned! I was I ready to durk tf th.y I'ot to pitching the crockery." I- "Pear, after this yon shouldn't scold me for telllna; an occasional fib. It's certainly better than ruffling- every -body with th. tnith." "Maybe It Is. v. v. had a dose, of It tonlKht enough to last for soma time. Tea, I guess you're right. Kitten. A few robust lies would'v. mad. that dinner a darn eight mora comfortabl. for everybody.'" (Copyright. 19!:. by Mabel Herbert Harper. Naxt week On Thai Way to Europe. I Now this gown I got last year I always al-ways fe-1 comfortable in It. I Ilka this blouse effect, don't youf" "Sine wa'ra telling the truth, I can't aay I do," waa Mrs. Paltoo'a re-I re-I tort. "You don't Ilka lt bristled Mrs. Stevens. "Why?" "Weil, you're too stout to wear that type of gown. And to b. perfectly frank. I think It's much too youthful." "Oh. you dor" glacially. "Possibly Td look mora youthful If rd hav. my face lifted! But I shouldn't car to resort to auch desperate methods." "What do you mean?"' ISharply. "Tou'r not Insinuating" "Why. yes, a:nc you'v been' so frank. fS'eryon. knows you'v. had your face Itrted and th. lines between your ) eg tilled In." a |
