The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-09-25
. EMBARRASSING SITUATION .
: essssssssssssssseset

As Won Blumer opened the door his
wife tiptoed downstairs to meet him.
and, after the customary kiss, said:
Dear, the bishop has come"
What bishop" said Won Blumer.
"You know perfectly we'll. Bishop
Lancaster. This is his regular visit to
the diocese, and it happens to be my
turn to invite him. At least insisted
upon his coming"
On his way to the house that after
noon Won Blumer had stopped at the
office of the brewery and ordered two
dozen bottles of beer to be delivered at
once. At the grocer's he had ordered
other materials more dry and less nee
essary to the hilarity Of the evening.
That noon it had suddenly occurred to
him that it would be pleasant thing
to invite the four men with whom he
had taken luncheon UP to his home In
the evening for quiet game of cards.
Won Blumer had been married four
years and a half-just six months short
of the allotted period when man learns
not to take any step without first con-
sulting his wife.
~ didn't know anything about It,"
he said.
That's just like man." she exclaim-
ed snappishlya You never listen to
what 1 say, you are so absorbed in your
own affairs told you all about it
week ago-how I had written, and the
bishop replied that he would be here
this afternoon.
Won Blumer suppressed an inward
shudder and braced up. There was no
way out Of it, he knew, but to put on
bold front. Deception was impossf-
bic.
II suppose" he said, chat at the
present moment the bishop is occupy
ing the best front bedroom
YES"
"Then," said Won Blumer, 'tin a few
moments he will have" the pleasure Of
seeing a brewery wagon drive up and
deliver two dozen bottles Of beer.
hope he won't think it is in honor OF
his visit" He stopped her with a ges-
ture, and quickly proceeded: Nov, my
dear, I'm sorry, but it can't be helped.
had forgotten all about the existence,
even, of this bishop, and today invited
some of the boys up for a quiet game of
cards. So far as l can see the bishop
will have to make the best of it,
There was a painful silence. The
greatest tragedies in life usually take
place in silence. Them Mrs. Won Blu
Hrer gave one of those inexpressible
"Ohs!" which indicate that woman's
nature has been stirred to it's depths.
How could you do it?" sheD said at
last. HE is SO strict. I don't see how
We can keep 1t from him."
1t was natural that this should be hel
first thought. The same thing occurred
to Eve.
1--WE can't and we won't" said Won
Blumer, with tragic wave of his hand
II have invited a few friends to my
home to play cards-yes, poker" nd he
raised his voice slightly, in spite of q
lhorror-stricken look of warning on his
wifes face-"anh to drink beer, and ]
don't care who knows it. I didn't ask
him to come here. He isn't my guest
OF course, he's yours, and he shall re.
ceive all proper courtesy. You go t.
church regularly, and it is all right tina
you should have him. But there is NJ
reason why I should pose as a hypo
critic. In his lime presume he is an ad
mirable man, but don't consider tina
he is one whit hetter than am. If
want to play cards and drink beer in m,
own home, I'm going to do it. I'm no
ashamed of it,
Won Blumer was aroused. He wa!
only plain, ordinary man, with small
capacities outside of his regular duties
The delivery wagon drove up. TIL
bishop was probably at that moment sit
ting at the window of his room on tn,
second floor front.
"There!" said Mrs. Won Blumer. III,
will see, and tonight he win hear then
come inland the noise, too. Oh, wha
shall do?"
dol" exclaimed Won Blumer, sternly
as he cut the string on a box Of pre-.
fectoes he had brought with him. "Tel
him the TRUTH of course"
The clock struck 10.
Won Blumer excusing himself momen
tarily from his companions, went dow,
stairs past the wide-open door of tn
bishops empty room to the library
where his wife sat alone reading.
my DEAR" he said. "do you supposp
you could send some one for anothe
dozen bottles of beer?'
"You don't mean to say" said Mrs
Won Blumer, that you want NOR
beer?"
Eyes" he replied; you know I hadn
counted on the bishop"-Tom Mason 1,
: Life.
f-'-... --~-.-,-..-sr-7.,s.~ s
4.