The Washington herald., 1911-12-10

Full five minutes little Mrs. Montgom-
cry County had sat in profound silence.
And, peeping' over his paper in amaze
ment Mr.. Montgomery County endeav-
ored to estimate the horsepower gener-
ated by the busy brain behind the puck
cred brow. At last she spoke.
Mont" she opened, let's do something
devilish?"
I'VE strive TO please, my dear" he an
Ewered, without any show of astonish-
ment. For instance, there is a bridge
party at Mrs. Methusaleh's tonight and
an oyster supper at the parish house and
lecture on The Uplift-will you choose
or shall we draw straws for it?'
"Ah,'' sighed little Mrs. Montgomery
County would that Willie Wise were
here; he would help us with an original
idea"
Whereat Montgomery County retired
behind a smile and hid the smile behind
his paper. A moment later, however, he
spoke.
Suppose We ask the Calverts to din
ner," he opened, but got no further,
for
rs that the end of the beginning of
the devilment?" queried little Mrs. Mont
gOmery County.
At the Start.
Only the start" said her husband.
Then we'll go to the Burlesque Theater
and smoke and drink beer and see
naughty-naughty show. After that We'll
go Summing, and-wen. know the mag
tstrates of all the police courts, so we
shall not get more than six months
across the falls
Finer cried Mrs. Montgomery County,
and her husband wished he had not
spoken. Tell Caecilius in the morning
that We expect them, and to come pre-
pared to so the limit
So, true to his orders, Montgomery
County the next day confided the scheme
10 Caecilius Calvert. who likewise, 10
Montgomery County's intense surprise,
fell in with the scheme in great cheer.
Great he cried, and slapped Mont
gomery County on the back. Jean will
he delighted, and We'll have the time of
our lives"
But" demonstrated Montgomery Coun-
ty. Il was banking on you to oppose the
idea and to suggest bowling or some
other mild form of diversion"
If I did and Jean heard it. she'd
never forgive me-" retorted Caecilius CAL
vert. The plays the thing, and the Bur-
lesque is the playhouse"
Nor could. little Mrs. Montgomery Coun-
ty contain the plan without shedding
hooks and eyes, but hastened to Mrs
Calvert, and the pair went into ecstasies.
The dinner itself is Of little interest
only a quiet. informal affair between a
quartet Of jolly friends, but the feast was
seasoned with excitement, as the girls
wondered what would happen.
II hope the chorus will wear tights"
said sanguine Mrs. Calvert.
The law compels at least tights" ven
ltured Montgomery County, solemnly, and
thus a good beginning was made.
To preclude embarrassment for the la
as hHir nrfC mt Shn ~
reached the Burlesque early and edged
through a crowd of eager men at the box
office. Then they hastened down a side |
aisle and followed an usher through a fog
to the staircase to their box. In this the I
ladies were ensconced behind q curtain, |
where they laughed IN glee at their ad- |
venture.
As to Lodge Night"
Not a woman in the house" whis-
pered Mrs. Montgomery County. peeping |
through crack at the inpouring throng |
And only one or two men on the
stage" supplemented Calvert. who had |
run through the names on his pro-
gramme
OH gasped Mrs. Caecilius Calvert. in
combination Of surprise and trepidation-
''Oh. there's papa!
whereat Caecilius ducked to shelter and |
shamelessly hid behind his wife.
And he always said that Tuesday night |
was lodge night" " continued Mrs. CAL
vert. why, he may have been coming
here for years."
Bring him up" suggested little Mrs.
Montgomery County. But Mrs. Calvert !
and Caecilius vetoed the proposition.
It's all very we'll for him." they ex
planned, but we never could persuade |
him that it was not wicked for us"
So the quartet LAY low until pater
had taken a seat, right aisle, end, in the
very first row. And:
OH gasped Mrs. Calvert again, willis
the others of the party chuckled and
voiced significant remarks about wicked
old men and suggested that such wick
edness must be hereditary.
Crack! Crack! came sound as Of a
slapstick lambasting the rail of the gal
lery, and Hats Off" cried a voice
through the veil of smoke. Whereat the
orchestra struck up and the box party
sat up in anticipation.
Followed a grievous disappointment, for
two men were disclosed by the rise of