The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-07-16
Lunch and Lucille
BY HORACE wyNDHAM


But II you take Ii | can't"
Lucilla looked puzzled.
This is beyond me. Take VIA,
please?"
The chair"
Don't be silly. What | meant uss
why don't you follow my example NV
do something useful d-er-eunoe
ling for the cause of women"
I'm afraid I'm not destined for ne
reformer's role"
We'll, you needn't boast abou- E,
\ However, IN not going TO argue"
Thank you"
Because il would be waste N
( time
Lucilla has her points. but the Pin
of repartee is not conspicuous among
them.
Don't you believe in women HELPING
| themselves" she continued
Theoretically. do. but public
4 opinion is unfortunately. againsi fr
The objection was promptly snept
aside
Bother public opinion. That has
nothing TO do with It,"
| conceded the point After aU
was lunching at Lucillas expense
!
is often interpreted by unreasonne
prejudice. Only this morning. for *
ample. a narrow minded Phihstine
magistrate at Bow Street gave
woman months hard labor for help.
ing herself at the stores. OF course.
Lucilla held up a protesting hand
Il wish you'd be serious for two
minutes together sometimes You're
so selfish. though. that nothing would
induce you TO help a woman who was
in trouble
Put me TO the test"
IL can't thing OF one at present.
Perhaps ! will later on, though Now
don't look so disappointed Cheer Up
and say something bright"
"Radium"
The reception Of my effort was not
encouraging
You needn't be so dazzling as am
that. What | want TO know is Why
you're so horribly selfish? For Is.
ample, have you any excuse for being
a bachelor at your age?'
"A dozen al least"
Lucilla looked suddenly Thoughtful
HIM. only a dozen. You mus ur
losing form. Well what's your inst
excuse"
Reason" corrected
same thing However If you IKE
It better. what's you first reason .or
being a bachelor?'
IL was born one"
80 was everybody"
Except those who were horn spin
sters And they. | understand, are %
the majority"
"All the more reason. then" was De
triumphant response. for you TO ~
duce IT,"
shook my head in disagreement
Its not worth building on. and
shouldn't like TO raise false hopes.
! You see. the little ! could do IN the
matrimonial line wouldn't make any
real difference. And then" con-
( tinued, warned by the expression on
my companions face. apart from avn
/ this. the fact remains that elieih.e
] heiresses and wealthy spinsters. as a
class. don't seem TO know good thing
when they see one"
Lucilla's eyebrows rose omintus'y
THAT will do" she said. There
/ limit even to my endurance am
determined woman
To the obvious disappointmen- az
the two women sitting at the next
table who, by straining their ears hai
caught most Of our conversation. ] ac'
Cepted my companions ruling, and the
subject was accordingly dropped. nor
was there time 10 start another one.
as before | could hit upon somethils
less debatable Lucilla asserted her arg
thority as hostess by calling for NE
/ bill. When II had been presented. eAe
picked II up and examined II crI-
call. while the waiter stared gloon y
al a picard announcing that grai4'
ties were forbidden.
A moments pause ensued. Then sac
isfed. apparently that the total was
correct. Lucilla turned 10 her mum
and began TO inspect its contents. -
she did so. | saw a look OF anxiety
deepening on her face. Evidently iHt
object OF which she was in search
could not lie found for with sudden
gesture OF ANNOYANCE she dropped neg
muff and bent her head toward nine
The movement presaged contidentf'
Accordingly, | inclined my head ~
ward hers in turn. while the occupants
OF the adjoining table leaned forward
eagerly.
Il want TO ask you something said
Lucilla. in low voice.
What is it?'
Were YOU in earnest" she inquired
when you said five minutes ago tA"'
YOU wanted 10 help women"
Try me and see
Iucilla's face softened.
Then help me now" she Whisper
please pay for the lunch-Ive ioi-
gotten my purse. THE Sketch.