The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-02-05
Those
BrOwnStO
Rows
NJ DUNG Mr.. P. Chauncey Dickerson

II surveyed himself with an air of
satisfaction, in his full-length mirror
IN the corner. Then he picked up the
n0te of invitation and read it through
once more.
I'VE want you to be sure and come"
;GE said, for we have invited just the
Kind OF a crowd you LIKE. e., you
wont know soul. We appreciate the
fact that you are getting blase, and
that you are tired of seeing the same
ysa0pIe-variety with you is indeed the
-spiee OF life-therefore come and meet
those whom you have never met be-
fore. Save myself and Kitty, all our
guests will be strangers-and attrac-
Elve Ones-to you"
p. Chauncey Dickerson smiled quiet
Iy- Perhaps" he said, they know me
better than | know myself. On the
whole I'm glad they do
He tucked the note away among his
either correspondence and sailed forth.
1t was just six o'clock and the little
cZjuner was at seven. The Townsends
EIg@ed about a mile away. He made up
mis- mind to saunter slowly up the
avenue and reach the place about ten
minutes ahead of time. The evening
'sFas q fine one, and P. Chauncey's
t.S0Ggfits were pleasant. He was at
peace with all the world.
-Eighty-seventh street," he finally
exclaimed to himself. by George! |
Ss-4rrs near going past it." He looked
8G ms watch. Just Is minutes to seven
he had walked very leisurely up the
street.
and now" he continued, ''for num-
Der eight-ffty-nine." The Townsends
Fad moved since his last visit to their
b<Nase,. Townsend had made a bit down
@yn the street, and having made it found
IEr necessary to spend it, hence the i'm
E7zeyTed neighborhood in which he had
made his home.
1T was dark, and the numbers were
Eard to find, but Dickerson found
G.Yght-fif nine all right. He looked at
the house first and the number after
vward-it was all right, the house was
all lit up. Then he rang the bell. A
xaaid appeared. She looked at him in
+4zu cxpectant sort of way and he
stepped into the hall.
You're little late" she said with
81 quiet smile, land they're all down
stairs at dinner. Will you 90 down at
<9aSe''
Late!" exclaimed Chauncey. He
booked at his watch again. 1t was but
Zen minutes of seven. Then his eye
caught sight of a clock in the parlor.
Il I'll ale
III said five minutes after seven. Dick
erson reminded himself that Town
send and his wife were the soul of
Eaznctuality, which explained why they
had not waited And yet he felt to
R1Imself that the Townsends had some
12ou sighted him-he always had been
IN sort of lion in their house. Things
sIways sort of centered round him
SVhen ae went there. However, it was
a. slight matter, he concluded. He
turned to the girl.
>lu go down at once" he replied
$40 The girl. She led the way. As he
'dAcscended he heard the sound of
RRnghter and confusion such as attends
.fhe fourth or fifth course of dinner.
Ihen he entered the room and
looked around. Townsend had been
right The people were all strangers
and not half bad, either, so he rea-
ss0ned with himself, as he glanced at
,1sose of two of the feminine members
~9G the crowd. But he Didn't know
saa1dA There was his chair all right
S1 empty place all ready for him.
lie stood there. They did not see
HIM. He looked around again. Yes,
they were all unknown to him, except
Townsend and his.
->Why where the deuce is Town
-Ssend2" he exclaimed aloud. The crowd
mt the table turned and looked at him.
Mat no face there was that of Town
send or his wife. What the dickens
did it mean?
The man at the head of the table
IA rotund, good-natured sort of man
10 3ked nonplused for an instant, and
then rose and addressed him.
II beg your pardon, sir" he ex-
claimed, with polite, upward in