The Portland daily press., 1900-01-10

ter or early in the spring. wore few
times and then asked you to put away
for me?' asked Mr.. Jobson when he
was ready to start for the Office the
other morning.
Mrs. Jobson looked nonplused.
"Lct me sec," she said. where in the
world did | put them? In the cedar
chest in the attic, in your old trunkful of
odds and ends, orr
'Oh. that's you all over. Mrs. Jobson,"
growled Mr.. Jobson. you're. the most
consistently forgetful woman on the top
of the ground today. It's wonder to
me that you remember to get up in the
morning or TO go to bed at night. Pair
of brand new gloves that l only wore
about four times, and you don't remem-
Der whether you gave them to the ash
man SOS he could keep his hands from
getting soiled or packed them away in
that junk box of yours full of half made
tides, doilies, never finished piano COW
ers and SO on. Mrs. Jobson, it wouldn't
hurt you any IL during the coming win
ter you hunted up one of these memory
improving sharps and took a couple of
hundred lessons from him. 1t 'ud"-
Don't you ever forget anything. my
dcarT' inquired Mrs. Jobson.
"MeY' repeated Mr.. Jobson after her.
standing on his toes. "Me forget any
thing? Never. Mrs. Jobson, never! l
don't profess TO possess all the virtues,
madam, like some persons that l could
mention, but there's one little matter in
which am never at fault, aud that's the
matter of remembering things. i never
forget anything. l was never known to
forget anything. / challenge you to men
ton a single occasion in the whole course
OF our married life where I've ever for
gotten anything. And I don't think I'm
anything remarkable because l happen
to he able to remember things that l
want to remember for % minutes or so.
l just keep my head about me, that's
ALL"
"And you never forget anythng?" in
quired Mrs. Jobson. with certain arch
ness that Mr.. Jobson couldn't under
stand.
might ! ask what you're up to now,
Mrs. Jobson? 2" he inquired. Forget any
thing? Haven't just finished telling you
that make specialty-that I've made
q lifelong specialty-of never forgetting
anything? Dates, names, scenes, incl
dents. conversations. faces-l can remem-
Der 'em a hundred years. | remember
thing. Why did you ask me that ques-
ton. might l inquirer
"Oh, nothing" replied Mrs. Jobson.
with a smile lowering at the corners of
her mouth. and Mr.. Jobson looked at his
watch and found that he didn't have time
for any more discourse on the strength
OF his phenomenal memory.
As soon as he had gone Mrs. Jobson
went TO her writing desk and addressed
a postal card to Mr.. Jobson Mt his office.
1t read simply:
"Haye you forgotten anything todayT
followed by Mrs. Jobson's signature. She
sent the card to be posted at the corner,
and about half an hour later she put on
her things and went over to the drug
store and rang up Mr.. Jobson on the tele-
phone. When he came to the phone.
Mrs. Jobson simply inquired:
''My dear, have you forgotten any
thing todnyY' and, before he had time to
reply. rang off.
About 2 o'clock in the afternoon Mrs.
Jobson sent small boy down to her hus-
bands Office with note. The note read:
Are you absolutely certain, my dear,
that you haven't forgotten anything to-
day."
Then Mrs. Jobson looked up the pair
of missing gloves and found them just
where she supposed them to be, after
which she dressed to receive her guests.
There were about 20 OF these guests, old
and tried friends, most of them, when
Mr.. Jobson came charging in about half
past 4. The table was set with unusual
splendor, and all Of the company seemed
TO be wearing suppressed smiles. Mrs.
Jobson had been telling them of Mr.. job
kaI NJ Inhgan
greeted his wife's guests with a puzzled
air. and then turned TO Mrs. Jobson.
my dear" he began. "wha-wha-I
am delighted to have all of our old
friends about us in such a cheerful gath
ering. but ] didn't know when ] started
out this morning that you had a dinner
and reception booked for today"
tut tut. my DEAR" said Mrs. Jobson;
'you suggested 1t yourself. You must
have forgotten"
Suggested it myself? Must have for
gotteng" said Mr.. Jobson, some solem-
nifty creeping into his features. Forgot
ten-forgotten--that reminds me of those
queer messages | received from you to-
day. Who's forgot anything? Who ever
forgets anything? I'd be delighted to
have you tell me what all this mystery's
about, Mrs. Jobson."
mo mystery at ALL" said Mrs. Jobson,
drawing him out into the hall and look
ing him square in the eye. "More than
month ago you suggested that on the fif-
teenth anniversary of our marriage,
which happens to be today-now wait I'M
til l get Throughout suggested that we
have a little party, with n dinner and
some music afterward. Remember?
Well. when you went away this morn
ing after having told me with such as
tonishing conviction that you neyer-no,
never-forgot anything, i thought I'd
give you every opportunity to remember
by sending you those messages today.
But you didn't remember. did you. now.
honesfT
why. of course / remembered 1t,
said Mr.. Jobson. First thing ] thought
about as soon as woke up this morning.
Would have mentioned il then, but you
we're sound asleep. Been thinking about
all day, too, aud ! knew you'd think
:uu had a little surprise awaiting me,
NIL I 1iJn't want TO SnOil IT. Rut wleU