The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1896-10-10
VULNERABLE.
TBK STORY OF AN INCIDENT AT DINNER
PARTY.

minutes ne had been nopelessly trying
to make INTO bow. Hang it ALL he
thought. Just let man be in a hurry
and everything acts like all possessed
He brought forth another tie as yet I'M
creased. and again essayed to adorn his
collar, this time with success. He was
distinctly anxious TO be on time at the
dinner at which he was due; his interest
and curiosity we're aroused-the latter q
quality he had believed himself with
out-and he wanted to get his bearings
before he was told off to the woman
whom he was to take 10. Moreover. he
had promised his wife not to keep her
on tenterhooks watching the clock as
the hands went around, and the other
guests arrived and the dinner waited for
him She declined any longer to wait
at home and go with him; the kuowl-
edge Of the way, at the last moment, b.
dashed into the house and changed his
clothes made her cold with excitement
les. he should fail TO make connections.
Not that he ever had, but Mrs. Ere
linghuyser was bit inclined TO pessim-
ism.
Tonight he was curious about the
woman who was to be his sisters guest
Of honor, and whom be was to have on
his right. Oddly enough he had not
met her. though she and her husband
had been a month in town.
They had just come over from Lon
don, where III. K. II. had worshipped at
Mrs. Carmichaels shrine as being one
OF great beauty. thereby giving her a
cachef that had established her socially.
His sister raved over her air OF distinc,
ton and breeding. but nothing was
known OF them beyond the fact that Mr..
and Mrs. Carmichael had suddenly ap-
peared from Australia with money ga
lore, and sarOir fdire not associated
with that country OF bushrangers. Mrs.
Carmichael was said to bear the un
mistakable hall mark OF long pedi-
gree-Frelinghuysen was anxious to re-
concile pedigree with Australia; he had
never before heard the two associated
together. But the prospect OF encounter.
ing novelty was piquante.
He got into his coat and tore down
stairs and into the waiting hanson. He
never used HE wifeis horses; she de-
clined to have her animals make time
for her husband.
When lie entered his sisters drawing.
room his wife nodded at him approx
ingly; five minutes to dinner. Cad! he
had done well. was his thought; and
Miss Frelipghuysen told him as much
in an undertone as she took him across
the room, adding that il he was not so
lazy and indifferent he would be more
Inwa-dly he smiled at the
mingling Of criticism and praise. and
then, as his sister murmured some words
Of presentation. he bowed to the woman
before him. She was beautiful; that
part OF the story was true enough. any
way. He hoped she would be entertain
ing.
Certainly her beginning was promis-
ing; for when they were seated at din
ner she turned to him and said slowly:
do you know. Mr.. Frelinghuysen, l
am sorry to meet you. and even more so
that / have you on my hands for din.
ner. Only my great friendship for your
sister prevailed upon me to accept"
"Ehy" Frelinhuysen laid down his
oyster fork aud regarded her. She was
well bred. too; only woman Of the
world could have said what she had,
.ivilly and yet seriously.
They say, she went on calmly that