Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1911-03-23
HE DID HIS
BEST


friends realized the loathing with
which the sight Of his evening clothes
inspired him When harried into II
By Wiiely authority he would don the
aDhorred garments. but his excuses
for avoiding an social functions which
involved wearing the festal garb we're
puerile. infautile, mRudlin.
According 10 bis wifes ideas his
Efforts 10 avoid wearing his evening
clothes we're not only out of all pro-
portion to any possible discomfort he
might suffer when he had them on.
but they were a positive evidence Of
degeneracy.
However, when that particular sub
Jet was mentioned, she always said:
You know love my husband dearly.
He is the best man in the world, but
there are times when really want to
do him some bodily injury. His abso-
lutte Indifference to his appearance 10
simply maddening He doesn't care
how he looks. AS long as he can be
clean he'G Just as soon wear any old
thing anywhere. It's perfectly nerve
racking"
Melville seemed quite pleased with
the idea of attending his sisters wed.
ding in the small town where his par.
ents lived until Mrs. Melville casually
mentioned that he must have his eve.
ming clothes pressed in preparation
for the visit.
Why. he protested, half the men
that'll be there won't know a dress
suit when they see It. I'll feel like a
ringtailed monkey"
Stuff and nonsense!" returned Mrs.
Melville. The people down there are
as particular about their dress as we
are, and more so. People in small
towns always dress right up to the
latest thing"
So Melville's dress suit was sent to
be pressed.
Mrs. Melville was slightly suspi-
cious of the sudden accession Of help
fulness that caused her husband to
offer to pack his own suitcase the
night before their little trip. Being a
wise woman, she kept her weather
eye on him. Thus she was just in
time to see him going through some
rather wonderful gymnastics in an eff
fort to fasten his suitcase with one
hand while he meditatively dropped
his evening clothes in an obscure cor
ner of the closet She said nothing.
She merely transfixed him with a
stony glare. The clothes came meek,
| ly out again and were sadly deposited
in the suitcase.
Melville carried both his own suit
case and his wife's down to the office
In the morning, where Mrs. Melville
was to join him just before luncheon
time. They were to take luncheon to-
gether, which would leave them am
pie time to reach the train. They
were about half way to the train
when Mrs. Melville suddenly clutchet
her husbands arm.
"Tom," she calculated, sternly
where is your suitcase?"
Melville looked silly and Mrs. Mel
Vile contemptuous.
You must have left 1t in the res
taurant," she said. Don't waste 9
minute! Run back and get IT,"
So Melville sped back to the res
taurant and then reached the station,
suitcase in hand, Just In time to board
the train.
Its mighty funny" he said. sheep
ishly, how l came to forget It like
that"
Yes, wasn't 1t amusing?" replied
Mrs. Melville, caustically.
! 1t was not until they had reached
the house and were being RECALLED
with tea and conversation that the
second loss of the suitcase was dis
covered
| Everybody ran about excitedly for
a while-everybody that is, except
Mrs. Melville, who sat with an In.
scrutable smile on her face. calmly
slipping her tea.
Melville. apparently In great anx-
iety. telephoned to the livery stable
from which had come the carriage
which had brought them up from the
station. He also telephoned TO the
station.
Il might telegraph to the train" he
said, finally. but It's a through train
from here on and don't know where
a telegram would intercept IT,"
Mrs. Melville sat down her teacup
and gathered up few crumbs of cake
that had escaped from her saucer.
Il wouldn't bother" she said, sweet!
ly, Ito take all that trouble"
Melville turned to her with a "a!
| diant smile. "All right. MARY" Ia
beamed. IF you don't mind, I'm sure
don't. I'll tell everybody how I
happen to be wearing my old business
suit instead Of my beautiful glad
rags"
There was CLEAN in Mrs. Mel.
ville's eyes as she rose majestically.
triumphantly and went out into thu
hall. When she returned she had
over her arm. folded neatly. the De,
tested evening clothes.
Tom. DEAR" she said, Il was afraid
something might happen TO your suit