The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-19
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! HIS INVITATION. !
Z How a Man Who Boosted That J
!: He Never Got Ratified
Suffered From Not
Adhering to His Rule.

L
at never pays to get ratified" was one
epf Stromberg's most frequently repeated
N4,iaxims. But a time came when Strom-
berg made slip, and for that slip he
Yaffered severely.
He was all ready to go to the opera one
evening, his readiness including the wear.
ing Of q very well cut and altogether
highly presentable dress suit. He was
scheduled to call for Clara Wiles at 7A5.
Clara was going with him. He was to
take street car to the Wiles' and there
closed carriage was to meet him. All
that had been excelently well planned
with mastery eye to detail and a prop
er regard for the evil consequences Of
getting ratified.
Stromberg was wondering whether he
would have to wait for car, whether
the car would make the distance to
Clara's home In time and whether it
would not have been wiser, after all, to
let the hired carriage call for him at his
furnished apartments, and while he won.
dered all these things he ran down stairs,
his light overcoat spreading its tails on
the breeze behind him as he ran.
Just rs he was making a dash for the
inside handle Of the street door his land
lady interrupted him with, Here's let.
ter for you, Mr.. Stromberg."
"Thank you," said Stromberg.
He looked at the envelope and saw that
1t was gray, diminutive and was address.
ed in a writing that WINS not Clara's.
That was quite enough-no time to open
letters now. He jammed 1t into the inside
pocket of his dress coat and spun out,
his mind still fixed on street cars, car
riages and the keeping Of appointments.
Certainly his mind must have been
strangely perturbed that evening, for
Stromberg thought of nothing all the way
to Clara's home but Clara, and the time,
and the chances of his being late and
keeping her waiting, and the chance Of
his ever being accepted as her escort
or in any other capacity--if he did keep
her waiting this time.
When he approached the door Of that
sacred dwelling, the hired carriage was
standing there, looking as If it might
have been waiting an hour.
Am l lateT he said nervousy to
Clara, as soon as she appeared, with her
cloak over one arm.
II don't know" said Clara with
rather severe accent, "but judging from
your manner should think YOU must be.
/ thought you always kept cool?"
II do" Stromberg protested earnestly.
II make point Of it. Only, you see-yes.
1t wants Ave minutes Of by my watch"
at never pays to get ratified" Clara
quoted, In an aggravating calm, even
voice. please help me on with my wrap.
There. You don't think they'll shut us
out Of the opera house, do you? It's
little crooked at the back, isn't it? That's
right. You've got the tickets? Oh, thanks
for the flowers. I love chrysanthemums,
you know. You see. I've changed the
ribbon on them; pink didn't seem to go
with this dress. You like 1t? Very well,
then, come on. All aboard"
She was In 4 good humor, evidently.
That was a happy omen, to begin with,
and as the evening wore on everything
went in accordance with this beginning.
'"Thank you 80 much for taking me-"
Clara said, when he left her that night.
"I've enjoyed myself so much. Shall l
see you at Mrs. Marshall's? or course.
Good night"
Stromberg was set a-dreaming. He
built castles in the air, with Mrs. Mar
shall's dance right at the threshold of all
the castles. He would meet Clara ut that
dance and make his way with her tri-
umphantly-and so forth, and so forth
But it was ten days from the date of the
dance, which was to be very particular
affair, containing the pleasures Of euchre
with those of dancing and a supper
spread by hostess who was famous for
the elegance and originality of her sup
pers. This left ten days for Stromberg to
build his air castles, and they amused
him delightfully."- in the intervals of bust
ness so engrOssing him that people
smiled and said, sold Stromberg must be
in love-"
Then came the eve of the dance, and
Stromberg met Clara out walking. She
was very gracious to him, which caused
his heart to flutter.
1--WE shall meet tomorrow night" she
said. you know, mamma Is going with
me and uncle"
"Yes, know. Don't you suppose ]
would have begged to be your escort IL !
didn't know that?'
"Very likely" said Clara with smile.
Then they made arrangements about the
dances she was to let Stromberg have.
Somehow he had forgotten to make these
arrangements before, but he was glad Of
the oversight, because 1t resulted in his
discovering that Clara had actually re-
served two for him.
l cant pretend to say just what the
particular dances were that he was to
have or how the details were arranged,
but while they were talking it oyer to.
gether, walking along side by side, Ttrom'
berg suddenly stopped-stood rooted to
the pavement.
whats the matter with your said
Clara.
ave just remembered that-that l
haven't BEEN
"What is the matter with you Mr..
Stromberg? Please come on. People are
staring at u.s. What have you not been!
SaccinatedW
81 haven't been invited"
"Nonsense. How could you not have
been invited? Didn't you write to ac-
cept"
Il am perfectly sure didn't write any
such thing"
There was no getting over these facts.
Clara was so heartless as not to even
get over them. She got angry instead.
Stromberg went wild all that afternoon
and evening after sitting in his own
room for some time trying to think why
Mrs Marshall had not invited him, when
she had been so charmingly cordial the
las, time they had met, merely seeking
distraction, not consolation.
He certainly found none Of the latter
article. A small, wiry man, with an
eager manner, Roberts by name, was in
the smoking room when Stromberg came
in. He was man whom Stromberg had
often exhorted to keep cool.
"You look blue, Stromberg," said Rob
erts. "Never mind, you'll be gay enough
this time tomorrow evening. Its going
to be a glorious affair.""
''Yes, but shall not be there" Strom-
berg groaned PLEASE don't start talk
Ing about that blessed euchre dance. Ev-
erybody does"
Hello! Say, Stromberg, let me give
you piece of advice. 1t never pays to get
ratified. Now, what's the trcubleT
mo trouble at ALL" Stromberg snapped
back. "Simply, Mrs. Marshall hasn't
chosen to invite Inc to her dance. She
wasn't obliged to, you know"
"Oh, hut she did, though"
a Al L II Ill