Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1903-11-19

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 te
go downtown to look after his lug.
gage II won't take US long
''All right, Tom. I'll trust you with
Horace. know he'll take care OF you
Besides, | want you TO mail some let
ters 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 few cigarettes
in the parior, 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, 1t 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 suro of a new
sealskin coat Cfor she meant to hold
Tom to his wager, but Just the same
she began to get hit 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
no notes declining her invitations she
was yet confident, but
Tom and Horace, oblivious of heI
growing misgivings. were listening to
her very latest and most glowing tri-
butte to the beauty, wit and grace oi
Martha Dinwiddie, and the handsome
Canadian, well satisfied of Mrs. Kings
lands judgment and appreciation, was
beginning to feel yearning desire to
meet the much-vaunted Martha. Six
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
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 ol
her disappointment, however, re.
solved itself into tears, and in a mo.
ment she was sobbing on Toms shoul.
der.
Il didn't think they'd do it. the
heartless things!" she sobbed "And
Martha, too, the mink! She at least
knew that / had my heart set on this
confounded dinner"
1t was all out now. Too late to
guard her modification from Cousin
sarcasm of the waiting servants, toe
late even to avoid the distressing scene
before her guest. But he as well az
Tom came braveiy 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 our
dinner privately together. You know
| never was a beau. Ha, ha, hi-yi!"
So they filed out rather mournfully
to the dining room. Tom managed to
whisper a message to his wife as they
stood to let Horace pass, and when she
took her place at the table she was q
little brighter for the knowledge that
she was to have the seal coat anyhow
The wine and meat, the wholesome
humor and hearty laughter of Horace
gave zest to their merriment, and be.
fore the coffee came on they decided tc
have an impromptu theater party ant
make a night of it, as Tom said Ht
was half sorry moment after he ha6
awkwardly suggested that 'impromp-
tu things are always happier" but
Kate, who noticed 1t, forgave him with
look.
But the theater party didn't turn ou
exactly well, either, for as the mer
were getting into their coats in The
hall Horace said:
Jaw, by the way, Toni There's lo
of letters here in this box coat of yours
that I'm wearing. | intended to turr
them over. don't you know, but 'por
my word-aw-I didn't think of it til
now"
And he pulled out poor Kate's bunch
of invitations.
Tom looked at her and she looked a
Tom. The letters had been in that
raglan ever since the night she gave
them to her husband. They never TOLD
Cousin Horace what mess of it ht
had helped TO make. Kate torgave hel
husband. but-well, Martha Dinwiddit
hasn't met the Canadian yet.-Chicagc
Record Herald.
HIS HEELS SAVED HIS HEAD.