Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1911)

NAN'S DIPLOMACY 113 domestic science down to a freezeout, and can give all the housekeepers cards and spades and then lick them to a frazzle. That's all right, Doc, get on the jump. Old man, your train is leaving the next station. Yes, that's all right. Nan is asleep and everything serene, thanks to your Uncle Robert." Bob hustled them all out of the room, or they might have seen the suspicion of a smile on the sleeping patient's face, down in one corner of her pretty mouth. Ralph went to business, the doctor resumed his calling trip, Bob walked around the village, and Mae, later, set to work getting dinner. She knew nothing about cooking, but thought she ought to do something for Ealph, and then that provoking Bob had said she was a mistress of the art, while all the time she knew he was chaffing her. She would just show him that she did know a thing or two. She hunted up all the cook books she could find, ordered this, that and the other thing from the butcher, the baker, and all the rest, and set to work. The dinner was not a success, the soup being watery, the meat done too much, the vegetables not done enough, and the coffee as strong as the soup was weak. The breakfast was worse than the dinner, and Ralph went off hungry and cross, his condition being in no wise improved when he came home at night. Nan was all right, except when she saw Mae, or when the young lady was mentioned. Then her paroxysms returned. This sort of thing went on for two or three days. The meals were bad, the house was not swept, the washing was not put out, and everything was going to rack and ruin. The crisis came one morning, when Ralph, going to Nan's room, found her sitting up in bod, eating her breakfast which Bob had brought in from a neighbor's, while the said Bob sat at the foot of the bed. "I like that," cried Ralph, "What arc you doing here in my wife's room?" lie seized the tray of dishes, and dashed the whole thing on the floor, but immediately Nan began to scream again, and, springing out of bed, caught up a big brush and chased him from the room. In the lower hall, he met Mae, with her wraps on and a grip in her hand. "Good-bye, I'm going on the next train up," she said. "I am of no use here, and I rather think I am not wanted. Tell Bob that the crackerjack cook resigns her place to him." "Yes, but Mae—" "There have been too many 'buts' and I think I have been made one myself. Are you wise? Good-bye." Ralph was not altogether satisfied, and went up to his wife's room again, where he found Nan perfectly quiet. "It's all right, old man,'' said Bob. "Somebody has gone? Well, you can leave safely enough now." "Yes, but the cook?" "Oh, didn't I tell you? She's coming back this morning." Things were all right again that night, but Ralph did not know of Nan's "Diplomacy" until sometime later. Aided by the artful Bob, she had worked her clever scheme. The cook had been given a vacation, the doctor had been seen in advance, Nan's meals were sent in regularly from outside by previous arrangement, and there had not been any madness at all. However,, Ralph was cured. His craving for excitement had been fully satisfied. Nan was changed, "too. She played and sang and entertained Ralph as she had done in the days of their courtship, but she did not knit. One night, Ralph found an old bit of her work and took it to her. "Why don't you knit any more, Nan?"' he asked." "Because you do not like it, Ralph." "Yes, 1 do, and I'll learn if you'll show me." Ralph knelt at Nan's feet and watched closely while she knitted. "What is it,' Nan?" he asked. "It's awfully prettv, but it's too little for me."