The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-29
Their Good
Excuse


her husband.
Been invitedo" asked Allen, not
looking up from his paper.
"No. the invitations aren't out yet"
"Well, l suppose We'll be asked, all
right"
Eyes, that's the trouble"
"Trouble?" echoed Allen, laying
down the paper.
"yes, trouble. You know, Tom,
Just can't bear those stiff. tiresome
parties Mrs. Matheson is always Civ
ing. The last time we Vent to one we
both declared that we'd never go to an
other"
Its simple enough 10 send regrets,
isn't it,"
without any reason and cause an
old friend and neighbor to be offended
for life?"
"Then send an excuse. Say that I'm
i'll or that your Angora cat is under
the doctors care because of an attack
Of the pip"
"Don't be silly. Tom. This is Sc
rious matter. The Mathesons always
know everything that goes on in this
house. How could they live right
across the street and not know wheth.
er l was telling the truth or not II l
said you were Ill? No. we've got to
have some real reason for declining"
1--WE might run out of town" sug.
gested Allen. 1.-THE fishing is fine"
"Fishing!" Mrs. Allen gave her hus-
band a whitening glance. when you
feel impelled to go fishing. Tom, please
leave me at home. I've had enough of
leaky boats, wet feet and blistering
sunburn."
"Well, We might 60 to some other
city for little change
I'm not prepared to go away from
home. My clothes aren't in order and
I have a drossmaker coming next
week. think we'd better just invite
some people to dinner the evening OF
the card party. Suppose we ask the
Doolittles?"
do you think" inquired Allen, that
an evening with the Doolittles will be
any more enlivcning than 4 party at
the Mathesons? Have got to listen
for three hours to Doolittlc's maundcr-
ing talk about his one hunting cXpedi.
ton to the Maine woods and to Mrs
Doolittle's bromide "reminiscences OF
her single trip to Paris? Why the Doc
Titles, my dear?
you know very we'll that we owe
them some hospitality. l think Mrs
Doolittle is quite interesting and that
story Mr.. Doolittle tells about the
moose he missed is really exciting"
Eyes. the first twenty times you hear
II. After two dozen repetitions my hair
has ceased to stand on end at the crit
ical moments"
"Well. anyway. like them"
mo accounting for tastes, my dear
II asking the Doolittles to dinner vii
satisfy q soul craving Of yours, ash
them by all means. Never mind me-
Don't be ridiculous, Tom. Yol
know I'm not crazy over them, but a.
long as We have to have some one.
think we may as we'll have them"
"Oh, very WE'LL" replied Allen.
When he left the house a few min
utes later he dropped a note OF invi
tation into the nearest post box ant
grinned.
Three days later he asked his wife
Are the Doolittles coming?"
"Yes, Mrs. Doolittle telephoned al
enthusiastic acceptance. She has ha,
some of her Paris photographs en-
larged and she's going TO bring then
over to show us"
"Has Doolittle had any photograph
taken of his moose story
"Tom. you ought to be ashamed
II am. my dear; but I'd rather b
ashamed than hear that story again
BY the way. did you remember I
send your regrets to Mrs. Matheson?
no"
"Why not"
"Well, It's awfully strange. Tom. an
can't understand II at all-we're nc
invited by the Mathesons."
Not invited. And the sacrifice O
the Doolittle altar is all for nothing?
"Rut can't see why they didn't ii
vite u.s." persisted Mrs. Allen.
The night of the party after the Dot
Titles had taken leave, Mrs. ALE
gazed dolefully from her front vii
dows. "Just look how gay it is owe
there. Toni" she said. After our du
evening the lights and laughter ar
really alluring. 1t appears to be a
unusually lively affair. l honestly cal
no. see why We weren't asked"
I'VE weren't; that's the main thin
to be thankful for
I'm not a bit thankful. I'm great
disappointed"
"Why. l thought you never wante
to go there again.
II didn't, but | don't like 10 be LEI
out and you know yourself, Tom. tn
Doolittles are the worst bores anon
our acquaintance. | don't see wh
: you insisted on having them"
} "why, my dear, l never"
"Now, don't deny 1t. Tom. You sal
for me to have them by all mean
Those were your exact words. Loo