The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-11-08

Hello. Say, Stromberg. let me give
you piece Of advice. 1t never paws to got
I'd, .itd. Now. what's the trouble?"
No trouble mt ALL" Stro.nberr snonned
pack. Simply, Mrs. Marshall hasn't
chosen to invite me to her dance. She
WASH obliged to. You know"
IN, but She did. though"
hid she! Then perhaps you'n tell me
what has become of the iuyifation.
haven't got it,"
Invitations went out by mall" said
houeftS putting on for this occasion the
ealni' deliberate manner that belonged 10
StfombcrS habitually "Inyitations don't
get stolen from the United States mail"
NO they don't. That's why say this
one never was sent
oh. but you get so many letters. Won
Know Roberts insisted. Better 20 to
your Office and rake over your desk"
Now, Stromberg did not like to take
advice from an eager. green. excitable
young fellow like Roberts. But this was
serious ease. and all exceptional. More
over Stromherg really began To wonder
whether the invitation might not be
khochinS about on his desk ut the Office
So when he thought himself unobserved
he very quietly encaked out of the club
ana into the dark, deserted office.
Alter ten minutes search among the
papers on his desk and in the drawers il
occurred to him that an invitation to
dance would not be sent to his business
address Then he got up. and, slamming
the door angrily, went home to bed.
CurIouSly enough, as he entered his
room his eye fell upon pair Of black
trousers that hung on a stretcher right
opposite to him. Those trousers were
being stretched for the following nights
dance. Strombcrg laughed a bitter laugh
as he Jcrked the unoifending garments
down and pitched them into a closet. He
thought of all he had looked forward to-
Next he looked backward-to the last
occasion on which he had worn those
dress clothes. He sat on a rocker and
mcditatcd bitterly.
Suddenly Stromherg sprung from the
rocker with shout. He flung open the
door of his closet, seized the dress coat
That hung in there and fumbled in the
inside pocket. There was a small. gray
note in that pocket. Is it necessary to
say that the note was Mrs Marshall's?
Surely it was a miserable night that
Strombers passed. What hurt him
what ruined his hopes-was the "R. S. V.
L. at the end of the note.
Early in the morning he rushed to
Clara. She had not yet finished her
breakfast. What was worse. she had
told her mother all about Stromberg's
little lapse of memory, and Stromberg
was welcomed to the breakfast table
with loud laughter.
Il wanted to beg you to help me out"
said Strombcrg. You might-speak to
Mrs. Marshall and explain, you know"
Not T. said Clara. Il warned you to
keep cool, you know"
Give me that letter." said Mrs. Wiles
with authority. Clara. you ought to be
ashamed of Yourself"
1t was Mrs. Wiles that undertook the
diplomatic mission. She placated Mrs.
Marshall. who, to tell the truth, much
needed pacating. BY O'Clock that even
ing she delivered into Stromberg's hands
written full pardon and extension Of
the invitation.
Slromhorg was mt the dance But Clara
cruelty pretended that the dances She
had promised him were forfeited He
got those dances. all the same. though
with refinement of cruelty she enter
tanned large circle at supper with the
tale of the overlooked gray little note.
And everybody numerically chaffcd
Stromberg saving, Here is the man who
never gets ratified. '-Pittsburg Press.