The leader., 1903-11-21

iii 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 ac-
quaintances.
Tom brought Cousin Horace home
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 man
ner OF boy. Coming from the rigor-
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 supper.
Kate was at her best, and Tom, de-
lighted at the first chance he'd had in
a year to take "a flyer" with man
his wife could trust.
Kate, dear" he said at last, wink
ing slyly at his cousin, Horace has to
go downtown to look after his lug
gage. 1t won't take us long"
"All right, Tom. I'll trust you with
| ANNN' hhOW nC IL IdhC Sd1 2 Va JOus
Besides, want you to mail some let
tiers for me-the invitations. You
know, Tom
She slipped the eight envelopes into
his hand and gayly slapped him on the
back. The men smoked a 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, "Ill
wear no coat. It's blooming tropical
place, Chicago"
"Oh, no, it isn't, Horace" chimed
the solicitous hostess; you must take
a 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 a new
sealskin coat (for she meant to hold
Tom to his wager, but just the same
she began to get bit nervous at five
O'Clock Thanksgiving afternoon when
she noticed that not one of the seven
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 her
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, we'll satisfied of Mrs. Kings
lands judgment and appreciation, was
beginning to feel yearning desire to
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
was in nervous tremor; she made re-
peated trips to the kitchen, and at in
the street. Finally Tom pulled out his
watch, whistled softly, looked up and
blurted:
by lingo, 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 a mo.
ment she was sobbing on Toms shout.
der.
81 didn't think they'd do it, the
heartless things!" she sobbed. "And
Martha, too, the mink! She at leasi
knew that had my heart set on this
confounded dinner
1t was all out now Too late tc
guard her modification from Cousin
Horace, too late to evade the silent
sarcasm of the waiting servants, toe
late even to avoid the distressing scene
before her guest. But he as well al
Tom came bravely to the rescue.
Their loss, not OURS" laughed Hor.
ace. Lets eat up the whole dinner
ourselves. I'm ravenous, and, excuse
me, Mrs. Kingsland, don't know but
On the whole, I'm gladder to have oul
dinner privately together. You know
never was beau. Ha, ha, hi-yi!"
So they filed out rather mournfully
to the dining room. Tom managed tt
whisper message 70 his wife as they
stood to let Horace pass, and when sht
took her place at the table she was {
, little brighter for the knowledge tina
she was to have the seal coat anyhow
The wine and meat, the wholesome
humor and hearty laughter of Horac,
gave zest to their merriment, and be
fore the coffee came on they decided tt
have an impromptu theater party ant
make a night of it," as Tom said. III,
was half sorry moment after he hat
awkwardly suggested that ''impromp
. tn things are always happier Blu
Kate, who noticed it. forgave him will
a look.
: But the theater party didn't turn on
exactly we'll, either, for as the mel
were getting into their coats in tn,
hall Horace said:
'Aw, by the way, Tom! There's 10
! of letters here in this box coat of your
that I'm wearing. intended to turf
them over, don't you know, but POI
[ my word-aw-I didn't think of 1t til
now"
And he pulled out poor Kate's buncl
i of invitations
Tom looked at her and she looked a
Tom. The letters had been in tina
raglan ever since the night she CAV
/ them to her husband. They never toll
, Cousin Horace what a mess Of 1t b,
had helped to make. Kate forgaye he
! husband. but-well. Martha Dinwiddi
harn't met fha Canadian vet fyiiicap,