Mower County transcript., 1903-11-25
e=0h, Martha might. I dare say
you've been telling her about Horace

@0h, Martha might dare say
you've been telling her about Horace
and" 1#
.'''Yes, I have! 4 don't deny it." said
Kate, sharply, sure of her ground.
They're suited to each other exactly,
and If / can help matters along, you
bet will! So there!"
t"All right, Missie," he grinned, get
ting up; "go ahead, but I'll bet you 8
sealskin they all don't come-no even
half Of them" ~
''I'll take the bet, you rascal" she
laughed, and all that day she was,
writing the most winsome little notes
to four of her very dearest friends and,
four of her most "esteemed'' male ac1
Quaintances. = 81
Tom brought Cousin Horace homes
with him that evening, and Mrs Kings
. land went on" over him as fondly as
a young pullet over her first chick. He
was big, sweet-voiced; soldierly man.,
with yellow, curly hair and the mans.
ner of a boy. Coming from the rigorz
Gus weather of Canada, he looked very
queer in his fur greatcoat, cap and
mittens, for the day was almost warm;
They had merry time at suppers
Kate was at her best, and Tom, dea
lighted at the first chance he'd had in
a year to take "a flyer with a man
his wife could trust.
ing slyly at his cousin, Horace has to
go downtown, to look after his lug1
gage. 1t won't take us~ long"
"All right, Tom. I'll trust you with
Horace. know he'll take care of you.
Besides, l want you to mail some let
ters for me-the invitations. You
know, Tom" II
She slipped the eight envelopes into
his hand and gayly slapped him on the
back. The men smoked few cigarettes
in the parlor, chatting with Kate, be-
fore they started.
by Jove!" snorted the Canadian
looking at his fur coat in the hall, "I'll
wear no coat. It's blooming tropical
place, Chicago"
"Oh, no, it isn't, Horace" chimed
the solicitOus hostess; "you must take
coat. One of Tom's-the raglan
Tom. It's too big for you, and you
can wear the top coat"
So they bundled Cousin Horace into
the raglan and away went he and
Tom.
Mrs. Kingsland was sure of her
guests and incidentally sure Of new
o1ct- c1, a.
Tom to his wager, but just the same
she began to get bit nervous at five
o'clock Thanksgiving afternoon wher
she noticed that not one of the sever
young folks: had arrived. She remem-
bered explicitly having asked Martha
Dinwiddie to come early. Dinner was
to be at six, and as she had received
no notes declining her invitations she
was yet confident, but
Tom and Horace, oblivious of he1
growing misgivings, were listening to
her very latest and most glowing tri-
butte to the beauty, wit and grace OF
Martha Dinwiddie, and the handsome
Canadian, well satisfied of Mrs. Kings
lands Judgment and appreciation, was
beginning to feel a yearning desire tc
meet the much-vaunted Martha. Six
o'clock came and struck without either
of the men noticing the change that
was coming over Kate. At 6:15 she
peated trips to the kitchen, and at in
tervals stood by the window watching
the street. Finally Tom pulled out his
watch whistled softly, looked up and
blurted:
by jingo, Kate, your guests are
either late or they're not coming"
She stood before him ready to fly
into rage or weep. The tempest OF
her disappointment, however, re-
solved itself into tears, and in mo-
ment she was sobbing on Toms shoul.
der.
Il didn't think they'd do it, the
heartless things!' she sobbed "Ant
Martha, too, the mink She at leas
knew that I had my heart set on this
confounded dinner
It was all out now. Too late tt
guard her modification from Cousi1
Horace, too late to evade the silen
sarcasm of the waiting servants, tot
late even to avoid the distressing scen'
Ibefore her guest. But he as well a.
Tom came bravely to the rescue. :
= Their loss, not ours" laughed Hor
ace. Lets eat up the whole Dime
yourselves. I'm ravenous, and, excus
me, Mrs. Kingsland, don't know but
on the whole, I'm gladder to have ou
dinner privately together. You know
never was a+beau. Ha, ha, hi-yi!" /
l. s. So they hled out rather mourrnfull,
to the dining room. Tom managed t
u whisper Z message to his wife as the.
. stood to let Horace pass, andowhens sli
took her place at the table she was !
8 little brighter for the. knowledge tina
she was to have the seal coat anyhow
9 The wine and meat, the wholesom
humor and hearty laughter st Horac
gave zsst % their merrimsnt, and bs
fore the coffee came on they decided i
have an impromptu theater party an
-. :