Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-08-10
A COLD RECEPTION,
BY JAMES CARTER SCOTT.

WlIe, Il nave invited young Fafreu to
dinner tomorrow evening He has
been very polite to me at the club,
chatting, playing billiards. cards, any
thing / have fancied, with me just as
If I were his own age. Naturally
wish to make him some return. He
is alone at his home, his father and
mother being in the country, and no
doubt an invitation to dinner will be
very acceptable to him. Indeed, he has
told me he is very lonely. Let us dine
in the conservatory and by daylight.
FAnd I wish you to speak to Adele
1 have brought several of my young
men friends home, partly on her ac-
count, for l prefer that she should
choose a husband from among those
introduce, and she has treated them
so indifferently-not to say stability
as to cause me excessive modification.
There were Hollabird, worth a million;
Stevens, heir to the largest manufac
turing business in the city, and
adele is full Of fun, and she found
both these young men very matter of
fact"
Full of madness, rather, to throw
away such opportunities. Please tell
her for me that I expect her for my
sake to at least treat Farrell with po-
likeness"
The next evening at o'clock Miss
Burwell picked up a hose in the yard
before her fathers house with which
the gardener had been watering the
grass and began to amuse herself by
putting stream on the hot stones of
the walk that led to the gateway. This
gateway, by the bye, was through a
, brick wall about as high as a mans
head. Presently the young lady saw
the hats on the other side Of the wall
approaching and heard her fathers
voice saying on reaching the gate,
after you" A young man in evening
dress under a light overcoat appeared
at the opening. Whether through nerv-
BUSINESS on Miss Burwell's part of mis-
/ calculation or what not, the young man
received a charge of water on his
shirt front.
A moment later there was an inter-
esting tableau. Miss Burwen stood re-
garding Mr.. Farrell with an expression
on her face Of (at least APPARENT COM
miseration. Mr.. Burwell, who had fol
lowed his guest through the gateway,
stood regarding his daughter angrily,
while Mr.. Farrell was wiping the wa
ter out Of his eyes with his handker-
chief. AS soon as he could see he
looked down at his dripping clothes,
then up at Miss Burwell, and smiled.
"Adelew exclaimed the father stern
ly.
ooh, papa, I'm so sorryw
go into the house"
"Not without the proprieties, Mr..
Burwell," said Farrell. "Im a stickler
for the proprieties. Aren't you going
to introduce me"
II crave the gentlemans pardon"
said the girl, with proper humility.
! Something must have
Certainly it did," Farrell interrupt
ed. How could the thing otherwise
have occurred? You are Miss Burwell,
1 presume" raising his dripping hat.
every pleased to meet you"
"Come inside" said the paterfamil-
las grimly to his guest, "and I'll see
what can do for you"
Dry clothes having been provided
they were much too large-the family
sat down to dinner. Much to the sur
prise Of the elder people, Adele treated
the man she had ducked with consider
alton, commissioning him upon the
misfortune she had brought upon him,
while he avowed that he detested
evening dress and was delightfully."-
comfortable in his loose clothes. Mr..
Burwell for awhile nursed his wrath,
awaiting an opportunity to punish his
daughter, but the young people got on
so pleasantly that before the dinner
was half finished he was laughing and
joking in the best of humor. After
dinner Mr. Farrell and Miss Burwell
strolled out into the front yard.
81 don't see how it could have hap
pened," said Adele. II think an insect
must have
Turned the nozzle" interrupted Mr..
Farrell. 81 saw it aim straight for my
shirt 'front.'
Miss Burwell said nothing for a few
moments. A smile was struggling with
her lips. Presently she put out her
hand, which the young man grasped.
You're brick!' she said
''No slang, if you please. can stand
cold water, but hate slang, especially
when I've had occasion to get up on
my ear"
$50 perceive"
But enough of this monkeying. I've
been spending weeks jollying your ia
ther at the club in order to get him to
invite me here. When arrived-well,
got rather cold reception"
THAT was to pay you for''-
"What?
mot coming before"
How could I?'
Nonsense! There were lots Of
ways"
II couldn't think of any till I found
that Mr.. Burwell Of our club was your
father. 1 Immediately went at him
hammer and tongs. He was mighty
slow about inviting me-"
That's because I've turned down
every one he has brought"
Il wish you'd turned that hose down
when l came"
tits time for us to go in. Now, be
careful and don't'-
LET the cat out Of the bag. Not
much"
Several years later, when his daugh-
ter as Mrs. Farrell told Mr.. Burwell
what he didn't know Of this story, he
opened wide his eyes and said:
"And they say parents should guide