The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-05-05
Going Out to
Dinner


night" reminiscently said the man
who had just succeeded in lighting his
cigar with the third match. I'm fact,
j went out to dinner in such whole.
souled. enthusiastic way that I haven't.
recovered yet!
"You see. the Walworths. who live
at big family hotel. invited us out
on a Thursday night for dinner. and
the dance following. The dances al
ways are dress-up affairs and my wife
reminded me in the morning that I
must get home early from the office
in order to surround myself with my
evening clothes. nearly broke my
neck to do So My collar button rolled
away only twice and managed to find
the hooks on the hack of my wife's
gown-sEe had brand new party
dress-so We arrived only half an
hour late
I'VE went right upstairs to the Wal
worths' suite and tapped on the door.
There was no answer. Then knocked
hard Nothing happened.
t."''Well. i think that's queer said
my wife. She was anxious to get
some powder on her nose and was ir-
.r1table. She said she'd wait there
while ] went down to the desk to in
!quiIe ab0u! GU, host
THE clerk said the Walworths wero
Nm at dinner ! made him repeat tho
statement. which he did. distinctly and
calmly. He seemed utterly unmoved
by the situation. When got my
breath and told him to have my name
sent In he seemed dubious. He said
Mr.. Walworth didn't like to be dis
tprbed when he was in the dining
room. but if insisted"
Il told him in a carefully repressed
tone that did insist.
Presently Walworth came out. He
came with an air Of irritated surprise,
Which was hard to beat. Moreover, he
had on his business suit. He greeted
ME with politeness and then remarked
that he and Mrs. Walworth were with
In 1t minutes Of finishing dinner. and
would take the evening paper and
amuse myself until
thi INK my face must have halted
him there. for he trailed of into moth
Ing. and finally blurted out, Say, what
the dickens do you want anyhow
I blew up then. 'Want!'. roared,
letting my overcoat fall back so he
might see my expanse of shirt front.
What the deuce do you suppose
want? Do you think Travelled away
down here just for the pleasure of
gazing upon your countenance? II
want dinner. you unmitigated chump!
Didn't you ask me down? And up
stairs In the hall. outside your door,
Is my wife, patiently waiting, unless
she has died from hunger since left
her there!'
well, Walworth twined himself
over the desk and roared. You
thought II was Thursday night, didn't
your he inquired, soothingly. Well,
It happens to be Wednesday night
"And SO 1t was. My wife and
never will know how we CHANGED to
skip day. When we had collected
my wife and Walworth's we held a
council of war. Jessie absolutely re-
fused TO. enter the hotel dining-room
In an evening gown and pearls when
SSCsJ'Ne. V.iSS' .WdS peacefully u1NIUk
In otf-night costume. Then ] rose to
the occasion
The joke said J. is on me- Come
on-well all go out to the country
club and have dinner!'
Then Mrs. Walworth got into the
game What she cried. and in a
shirtwaist and tailor suit and Jessie
in all those things!'
well, finally the girls compromised.
We went up 10 the Walworths' rooms
and. while Jessie toned down her gor-
geousness Mrs. Walworth began stick
ing things on. Jessie took off her
jeWeled bandean and donned Mrs Wal
worths turban and promised to keep
on her wrap, which was only mildly
hilarious. Mrs. Walworth wore her
new spring hat. bunch of violets and
some extra chains and pins to help
out her plain tailor suit, and Wal
worth just had to grin and bear his
business clothes.
1--WE couldn't get train. so WAL
worth phoned for taxi and when it
came it was in charge of a pirate,
who confided that he was only re-
pair man and, while our lives were
safe in his hands, he didn't know a
thing about the way to get to the club
So Waiworth had to sit out in front
with the driver
when we got there we met every
living soul we knew and each one took
q separate stare at our incongrucusly
CARRIED party.
Coming home the locomotive broke
down and we had to walk across q
stubble field to a street car.
after all that Walworth and his
wife had the nerve to ask sweetly IL
we weren't going to go through all
that dress agony again and come to
the dance. the next night! I'm afraid
the Walworths have no sense of hu-