Peggy Raymond's Way

t measured up to her idea of a holiday. Self-indulgence was Amy's besetting weakness. Her dearest friend

after America's entry into the war she had enlisted in the Land Army along with Peggy and Priscilla, and then in the fall had taken up her work at the loc

lassmates of such advanced years. But Nelson Hallowell's discharge from the service had altered the aspect of affairs. Ruth had pledged herself to keep Nelson's position for him till he should return, and Amy had promised to wait for Ruth. The wound which had kept Nelso

f indolence, her will was more than a match for that tendency. As a matter of fact she was the only one of the Friendly Terrace quartette to spend the day in unremitting industry. Peggy and

shape of an orgy of extravagance and frivolity. The high war prices were continually going higher, as dealers realized that people would get what they wanted regardless of price. The

eggy, with all the authority of a college Junior. "I don't know as I hav

been dieting, all at once you're hungry for creamed chicken and pineapple fritters, and chocolate with whipped cream, and strawberry s

do very well if I make the skirts scanty," s

owd unthinkingly, nor had any of them contracted the fatal habit of asking, "What can one do?" The program they outlined would have resulted in a general lowering of prices i

Amy had commandeered the dining-room table as a cutting table. With the help of a paper pattern she had remodeled the taffeta according to the latest dictates of fashion. Caution suggested that it would be advisable

ce she halted she might not get her courage to the point of starting again. She swallowed a hasty luncheon and rushed back to her sewing. Her eyes grew tired

ervants demanding preposterous wages, had been replaced by others equally incompetent, and there had been interims when it had been difficult to secure so much as a laundress. Amy and her mother had learned a good many short cuts to achievement, and had accepted the frequent

the evening meal. Amy meant to take him at his word. There was cold meat, quite enough for two, she thought; and some potatoes to fry, and her father did not care much for dessert. Accordingly, Amy had waited till five o'clock before she laid down her sewing, and then she realized for the fir

y hair over. I can't ask even poor patient daddy to look at such a frowsy

if somewhat faded and passée, had at least the merit of being fresh and clean. It buttoned in the back, and by virtue of much twisting and str

D AMY WITH A MISLEADI

an, or else a friend so intimate that she could ask her into the kitchen while she made her supper preparations. As she reached the door she realized her mistake. Of the

with the stylish frock setting off the girlish, graceful figure of Hildegarde Carey. And Hildegarde's brother, Robert, if looking a trifle bore

ad made a mistake in the number was dissipated by the composure of Hildegarde's greeting. The two young people ente

oom, but decided against it. Perhaps they would overlook it, though Robert Carey impressed her as one who would notice the least

or the few minutes she had to stay; but on the contrary she not only removed her coat, but slipped off her gloves, unpinned her hat, and added it to the collect

elf. She thought of the dust showing gray against the shining mahogany of the piano. She thought of her faded gingham. S

an of the house came home it was time to leave. Amy introduced her father, pulled out an arm chair invitingly, and Mr. Lassell seated himself. It was from him that

shed. It was almost as if the clock had said, "Time to go home! Time to go home!" And then to her horror her father turne

father of all blame. Seeing them sitting there at that hour, especially as Hildegarde had taken off her hat, he had innocently assumed that

not dreamed it was so late. Instead they sat quite still, only murmuring a polite disclaimer of being hungry. With the force o

mething savory and appetizing from the least promising materials. Amy's cooking until recently had been confined to chafing-dish delicacies and candy.

a generous plateful of potatoes. Creamed and with a little cheese grated over them, they would be appetizing-and filling. She could make baking powder biscuit,-Amy excelled in baking powder biscuit-and there was honey to eat

le take pot luck, they can't expect to find things just as they would be if they were especially invited. They've seemed real friendly and if they like me well enough to stay to a pick-up s

t, when she had removed the soup plates and brought in the sliced meat and creamed potatoes, she had seen an expression of astonishment flicker across Hildegarde's face, but she resolutely put the thought aside and continued to make herself agreeab

ty, Hildegarde dropped a bomb in the shape of

abe

el Vincent

ated, "that I don't kno

Why," Hildegarde cried, "the Isabel Vincent wh

e apologetic. "I'm sorry but I can't say I rememb

reamed, "didn't you ask us

incent! Why, I ne

imself to a fifth baking-powder biscuit, but he laid it down u

ressed herself to Amy. "Didn't

ll the truth,

d that Isabel Vincent was to stop here twenty-four hours on her way to New York from her home in Chicago. And then sh

come from Chicago?" she cried. "Then I kn

don't k

he has a friend from Chicago visiting her. Probably the Vincent girl spoke of knowing y

emanded Bob Carey, sti

erful cook. You'd have had broiled chicken and fresh mushrooms

ever ate," said Bob, and buttered his

thing before. Here we descended on you without w

there's anything I hate, it's these s

distressed Hildegarde, "is that you've exchanged

Miss-Miss Zal

robably they're not waiting dinner any

"I never was so mortified

hen you can call up Avery Zall and explain your mistake. She'll see that the names sou

s long as we've started the evening h

like a spark to tinder. Amy struggled for a

e, "What must you have thought of me, inviting you to d

," Hildegarde cried, "coming at such

Amy. "I've been sewing every minute all day lo

lamented, "when you never said a word about Isabel. I d

on, there was little danger that Amy's biscuits would disagree with

se preliminary stiffness melted as Hildegarde reviewed the situation. And then Hildegarde hurried back to inform her brother th

d git,'" quoted Amy, dishing out

fruit cake," declared Bob. "It carrie

ry. It was all I had in the cake line." Amy paused to laugh again. "I really must stop," she exclaimed, wipi

ast pretty of the four Friendly Terrace girls; but good humor has a charm, and a face radiant with fun can hold its own against discontented beaut

ctance. "Now we've had dinner with you," said

Amy laughed. "I'll ask you again some day

ollier to be informal than to work the society racket." And then Hildegarde carried him of

. She put on her long apron and joined

d clean. I suppose I ought to feel crushed over setting su

sponsive to her high s

er in a restaurant can do that. Give people the best of you