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• ' ■.•• ISwia THE WELCOME GUEST By ALVAH GORDON GARTH. “Promoted? You surprise me. He don’t seem to have any ginger in him at all!” “The boss isn’t looking for ‘ginger.’ Steady application and ‘get there, sure,’ is his motto.” “Well, Hector Blaine deserves his eighteen hundred a year if steady work, punctuality and strictly busi ness methods count for anything.” Thus was Blaine discussed. His rise In the office of the big Roscoe plant was somewhat phenomenal. He was modest about it, withal. He had lived at a cheap but perfectly respectable boarding house while earning all the grades from ten dollars a week up. He made no variation in his method of living now. Hector had come to the city two years previous fresh from wholesome home training, and that influence counted. “The fellows” hailed him as a possible new recruit to their reck less ranks, but Hector disappointed them sorely. Ho was not mean or stingy. He “chipped in” on any gen eral scheme of rational jollity. His dissipation, however, was comprised in treating his roommates to some home-made currant cordial when they felt like celebrating. The result was he was dubbed “a mother’s boy,” and was proud of it. Hector did not make many close friends. He was out of the whirl. It was just as he received his big pro motion, however, that he centered in terest in an acquaintance worth hav if "How Is This?” He Railed Good Na turedly. A new stenographer was added the corps in his department of the plant. She was Geraldine Price and he liked her office ways from the start. She was an orphan, it was understood, had not had much chance in life and, although only nineteen, her self-de pendency had matured her—that is, had made her sensible. Hector was glad when he learned that she was a boarder at Mrs. Wix on's, which had become a sort of a second home to him. The young girl soon wound herself about the heart of the overworked landlady, just as she did with most people she set herself out to like and win as warm, loyal friends. Hector, late at supper one night, learned that Mrs. Wixon had been compelled to go to bed with a sick headache. He looked a trifle surprised when Geraldine appeared from the kitchen and proceeded to wait on him. "How is this?” he railed good na turedlv—"gone into partnership with Mrs. Wixon?” "Oh, no,” responded Geraldine brightly, “only for the evening. Poor soul! She works so hard and was just done out. I told her that I would see that the late ones got something to eat and would do the dishes.” “That’s something I was famous in at home,” reported Hector grandly. “All out of practice now, 1 sup pose?” intimated Geraldine. “Try me and see,” defied Hector. That was a merry, enjoyable remind er of home for the country boy. It seemed as if a flavor of old-time vil I <1 (TO 1 i f A li o /I nlnnfinntlir in t n Uin humdrum city career. Geraldine looked charming in the expensive ki mono apron borrowed from the land lady. “I have made a most pleasant ac quaintance,” Hector wrote home to his mother the next day. “She is Miss Geraldine Price—I don't go out much evenings, you know, and Miss Price is quite a pianist, and we have some pleasant times together.” “It’s come—the blow has fallen! I’ve feared it all along,” groaned Mrs. Blaine to her sister, as she read Hec tor’s letter. “You see, lie's going to marry some city high flyer.” “Well, Geraldine does sound stagey and lofty and mighty,” agreed Hec tor's aunt. The next letter from Hector called Miss Price "Geraldine.” Then he wrote announcing his engagement, and his poor mother grew more pessimistic than ever. The engagement was the outcome of a severe cold that Hector had. It was Geraldine who prescribed for him. In two days he was up and about, and minus any doctor’s bills, and all through old-fashioned home reme dies. ‘‘Why, that onion syrup you made me was just wnat mother always gives for a cold,” declared Hector, ‘‘and I shut my eyes and could fancy I was right back homo when you brought in the goose grease for my sore throat. 1 don’t understand ho\y you come to know all these things.” ‘ Oh, I’ve read a lot, you see,” ex plained Geraldine, with a quiet twinkle in her eye. She, by the way, had heard of the active horror of Hector's mother as to ‘‘city girls.” The “blow” fell upon Mrs. Blaine at last with stunning force. She received a boyish heartsome letter from Hector announcing his marriage. “The boss" had made the happy new ly married pair a handsome present, and had given them a two weeks’ vaca tion. “Geraldine wishes to pass our hon eymoon with you, dear mother,” wrote Hector, “and we will be with you Thursday evening.” Affairs came about, however, that they could get away a day earlier. It was just dusk Wednesday evening when bride and groom arrived at Hec tor’s little home town. “Why, there’s no one at home!” ex claimed Hector in vast surprise as they reached the house to find it dark and deserted. He ran over to a neighbor to discover an amazing fact. Mother was downtown at the dress maker’s “getting her new silk dress!” She had not expected Hector and his wife till the following evening. “Oh, Hector!” suggested Geraldine, “can’t we get into the house some way? And can’t I get supper all ready so that when Mother corned home we can give her a surprise by having it all ready for her?” Ten minutes later, a big calico apron covering her dainty form, Ger aldine was absolutely queen of the kitchen. Her eyes were like two dia monds amid the excitement of the occasion, her cheeks resembled dam ask roses. Lost in admiration, Hector stood entranced. “Why, this will never seem like home again if you are missing from the picture!” he enthused. “What would mother say?” How Geraldine hurried! How elad she was when half an hour went by, an hour, a whole hour and a half without interruption. By that time she had fresh, crisp biscuits, a cake, a custard, the meat, the vegetables all cooked. Hector came rushing in from the street where he had been watching out. "She’s coming,” he announced. "Quick, get the surprise ready!” Mrs. Blaine, observing lights, rushed into the house. One hug for her be loved son, and then she stared at the groaning table. ‘Who—did—that?” she voiced in profound amazement. ‘‘My wife—Geraldine,” replied and introduced Hector at one and the same time. "A farmer's daughter,” fluttered Geraldine—“but I never told dear Hec tor!” ‘‘And she pitched right in,” added "dear Hector,” "and wanted to give you a surprise—” Mrs. Blaine sat down faintly. She studied the table with the critical eye of long experience. Her glance next rested on the trim, dainty, blushing girl. It was full of love. “Oh, do I please?” quavered Gerald ine. “You sweet little housekeeper!” cried Mrs. Blaine, and she opened her arms invitingly, “welcome, thrice wel come to home and mother!” (Copyright. 1916. by TV. G. Chapman.) Elucidation of Comestibles. Oregon and Washington have a title to fame in the fine, firm meat of the Columbia river salmon. But cook ery enters into the competition. Chicken halibut should be eaten at Gloucester or Norman’s Woe, say some who have sampled the handi woik of the chefs of these localities, and look at this ecstatic bunch of ex clamations: “Chesapeake, home of the soft-shelled crab and of his hard shelled brother! Diamond-back, com posed as only Philadelphia cooks or he of Baltimore can blend thee! Maryland fried chicken! What an Elysium to spend one’s days fishing on the western shore and one’s nights feasting at the Baltimore club! That, that were quite enough to induce blessed forgetfulness of swordfish and halibut to the north, of tarpon to the soutn, cf tunny and salmon to the west. ‘Is it any wonder,’ demands the Baltimore American, ‘that Maryland girls are fair?’ No, no—a thousand ;:oes —and here we are, condemned to ave in a desert of table d'hotes in :iat city of strangers, alien Manhat tan!”—New York Telegraph. New Theory on Lofthandedness. No attempt should be made to teach naturally left-handed children to use their right hands, according to P. B. Ballard, inspector of schools of Lon don, as it is likely to make them stam merers. Mr. Ballard supplies the fol lowing statistics: Out of one group of 545 left-handed children 1 per cent of pure left-handers stammered, against 4.3 per cent of 399 being taught to use the right hand. In another group of 207 the figures were 4.2 per cent and 21.8 per cent respectively. Six out of ten left-handed children who had been taught to use tne right hand were practically cured of stam mering after being allowed to use the j left hand exclusively for 18 months. There were twice as many left-handed boys as girls, and stammering /Was twice as prevalent among boys. Daily Thought Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. No man has learned anything rightly un ■il he knows that every day is Doom; -ay.—Emerson. IT<>pps Dry G<>odsStore We v I Tupelo, Mississippi The Great “Dollar Day” finds many attractive bargains for your $1 in this store | One whole counter of good Ginghams, Dress Goods, Etc., 13 yards for.$1.00 j | 1500 yards 36 inch Brown Domestic 18 yards for.... 1.00 j j 2000 yards good dress ginghams 16 yards for. 1.00 r 46 American Lady Corsets, discontinued styles, worth $1.50 to $2.50 at. 1.00 I A nice linen or embroideried handkerchief with any $1 Middy or Waist for.. 1.00 | A nice Summer Vest with any House Dress worth $1 for.*.... 100 Don’t over look those special lots of usesul articles for $1.00 A nice suit case worth $1.00 and two pairs sox or hose for. 1.00 3 pieces men’s 50c Balbriggian shirts or drawers, this sale for...-_ 1.00 I 5 pieces men’s 25c Balbriggain shirts or drawers, this sale for. 1.60 50c bleached sheets, 3 for... 1.00 Little boys’ dollar Wash Suit and a pair sox for..... 1.00 j 42 pairs ladies’ fine Slippers worth $2 to $3.50 at per pair._ 1.00 t 30 pair Ladies’ and Misses fine Canvass Slippers, colors worth $1.50 to $2.50 at_1.00 All our Ladies* white canvass slippers worth up to $2 this sale..1.00 s Ladies' Red Cross Slippers, small sizes li to 4, get a pair of them. Special price. 2.00 $5.00 a pair for men’s Edwin Clapp Slippers worth $7 to $7.50 \ $3.00 a pair for men’s Crossett slippers worth $5 This Store— Carries a very large stock of seasonable and attractive merchandise and at prices that will cause careful buyers to give us their business. Ladies Palm Beach Suits, white skirts, silk and fine cotton dresses, boys’ knee pants and suits. Little boys’ wash suits 25c and $1. I I One assorted lot children’s dresses worth 25c for this day - - 15c A 10 per cent Discount will be given on every purchase of goods not mentioned in this sale. Shelby T< >pp, Tupelo,' Miss. ____ f -1 \ REMEMBERl I ♦ | Dollar Day in Tupelo j I Wednesday, May 31 1 | Look over the Journal for rare 'bar- I |j gains offered at Tupelo’s Progressive Stores. || || Save your Dollar and come to Tupelo j j II and spend it Dollar Day and it will do |j I double duty. ' || Don’t forget the date, Wednesday, May 1 || 31st, and be sure to come as all your friends 1 H will be here. if I I