Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-12-20
TheLOSt Invitation
BY INA BREvooRr ROBERTS.

Lucilla and Tom stood at the OUT
skirts Of the town looking disconso-
lately Oft toward the frozen river,
where a skating carnival was in prog
ress. At least, Lucilla looked a the
river. but Toms gaze stopped at her.
which was scarcely any wonder, for
Lucilla was very pretty. She was slen-
der and girlish-looking, with finely
chiseled features, a rose-leaf complex
ion and quantity Of soft yellow hair.
1t was Tom who broke the silence
"Do you suppose" he asked, in "A hope.
less sort Of tone, that it would do any
good if ignored this foolish quarrel
and went to your father like a man
and asked him for you?"
Lucilla looked at him with horror
stricken eyes. That would be the
most foolish thing YOU could do" she
said, emphatically. Father would or
der YOU out OF the house, and, worse
still. he would make me promise not
10 speak TO you again
well, l won't run any risk of that
was Toms decision. DO YOU think
there's the least chance of their max
ing il up?' he added.
NO, l do not" Lucilla answered. 81
had hopes until Christmas drew near.
Always as long as my father can re-
member the whole Lawton family has
eaten Christmas dinner together. No
matter how much pleasantnesS or
pickering were in the air. all hard feel
ings were put aside, and for that one
day, at least, we were a united family"
Weren't they good Old times?"
sighed Tom. "One year the dinner
took place in our house, the next in
yours. Do you remember the long,
snowy tables, the monster turkeys,
and how impressed we used to be 1t the
imposing sight of all our august rela-
tives in their best bibs and fuckers 2"
Indeed ] do" and Lucilla sighed
also. AZ did think that when Christ
mas day came that silly quarrel would
be forgotten. but when mother sent in
vitations to dinner TO every member of
the family but your father and mother
and you, and l learned few days
later that your mother had also sent
invitations, leaving us out, l lost all
hope. Things will be worse than ever
after Christmas, for the people who ac-
cept your mothers invitations will be
in my mothers bad graces, and the
other way round. Oh. dear Lucilla
ended, despair!ngly, why can't rela-
tives agree any better?'
They're jealous. back biting,
small-minded set cried Tom, in
wrath, land after we're married. Luz
ella, say we shake the whole lot, ex-
cept our fathers and mothers. It's the
only way Wei ever be able to keep
out of hot water"
THAT would never do" declared Lu-
ella, gently. I'VE should miss them
too much. In spite OF their quarrels
they think the world of one another.
Don't you remember how good they
were TO Aunt Emmeline before she
died? She needed so much attention
and was SO peeyish and unreasona bic
that she could not keep nurse, and
yet her relatives took turns at taking
care of her"
Tom gave a short laugh. 81 guess
all families are alike" he said. We'll,
i wish they had deferred this affair
unit, after We were married; il would
not have mattered so much then"
NO" agreed Lucilla. 81 wonder why
that particular invitation, OF all you
sent, should have been the one 10 go
astray." As she spoke the girl turned
to go.
Tom turned also. and the pair start
ed in the direction of the town, whose
spires and white cupolas were visible
through the bare branches of the
trees.
Tom" said Lucilla, turning sud
denly to look at her lover. ARE you
sure that invitation was mailed?"
"Lucilla," replied Tom, solemnly, 81
dropped il in the post Office myself.
And that reminds me, I'm due at
meeting. this afternoon to discuss the
advissbility OF putting up a new town
hall, but ] can't say that I'm wildly
enthusiastic one way or the other. II
1 had home here with you in IL
could take lot of interest in the town,
but as IL is-if my father disowns me,
"a / am afraid he will do after tell
him ] mean 10 marry you. why. I'll have
to go somewhere else TO earn my hv.