Holbrook argus., 1912-11-19
Their Good
 2. Excuse:

five heard that the. Mathesons are going to give a large-rard party next week Friday" remarked Mrs. Allen to her husband. =
 Been invited" .ssEed Allen not looking up from his, paper.
 "No. the invitations. sre4't out yet" [" Well, I suppose we'll be asked, sll right" -:
 "Yes, that's the treable."
 'Trouble?s echoed Allen, laying down the papef.
 "Yes, trouble. yon know, Tom, I just can't bear those tttn, tiresome parties Mrs; Mntheson Is always giv- ing. The last time w4 went to one we hoth declared that we'd never 20 to sn. other ,4
 ''It's simple enough to send regrets. isn't it?"
 without any reason and cause .r old friend and neighbor to be offended for ife?" : i.
 Then send sn: eIense. Say that I'm i'll or that ynur Aneora cat fig unde, the doctors care because of an attack of the pip"
 Don't be sillg, Tom This is se rlcus matter The Msthesons always know. everything that goes on in this house: How could they live right across the strict and not know wheth. sr I was telling the truth CT not # I said you were e2iil! No, we've got to have some real reason, for declining"
 We might rsn out .fof town" sug l caetnd xffT-b sa-h -h1,- L.
 "Fishingi"f Mrs. Allen gave her hus band a whitening glance. When you feel impelled to go fishing, Tom, please leave me at s5me. ,1'yA had enough of Ieaky boats. gwet feet and blisterins "well. We might gol to some other city for little chanS&''
 I'm not prepared to go away from home. My clothes aren't in order and [ have 8 dressmaker coming next week. think we'd better just invite some people to dinner the evening of the card party. Suppose We ask the Doolittfes?"
 Do you think" inquired Allen, that in evening with the Doolittles will be any more enlivening than g party at the Mathesons? Have I got to listen for three hours to Dcelittle's maunder. Ing talk about his one hunting expedi ion to the Maine woods and to Mrs, Ooolittle's bromide "reminiscences of aer single trip to Paris? Why the Doc | Titles, my dear?
 You know very we'll that we owe them. some hospitality. think Mrs. Doolittle is quite interesting and that story MT. Doolittle tells about the moose he missed Is really exciting"
 "Yes. the first twenty times you hear It. After two dozen repetitions my hair has ceased to stand on end at the crit cs1 moments"
 Well. anyway, I like them" | "No accounting for tastes, my dear. If asking the Doolittles to dinner will satisfy soul craving Of yours, ask shem by all means. Never mind me"
 Don't be ridiculous, Tom. You know I'm not crazy over them, but as long as We have to have some one, think we may az we'll have them"
 "Oh, very we'll" replied Allen.
 When he left the house few min. utes later he dropped a note of invi tation into the nearest post box and grinned.
 Three days later he asked his wife: Are the Doolittles coming?"
 "Yes. Mrs. Doolittle telephoned an enthusiastic acceptance. She has had some of her Paris photographs en. larged and she's going to bring them over to show us."
 "Has Doolittle had any photographs taken of his moose story?"
 rom, you ought to be ashamed"
 "I am, my dear; but I'd rather be ashamed than hear that story again. By the way. did you remember to send your regrets to Mrs. Matheson?"
 "No."
 "Why not?''
 "Well, it's awfully strange, Tom, and can't understand it at all-we're not invited by the Mathesons."
 Mot invited! And the sacrifice on the Doolttle altar is all for nothing?"
 'But can't see why they didn't in. vite us" persisted Mrs. Allen. The night Of the party after the Doc, Titles had taken leave, Mrs. Allen gazed dolefuIly from her front win. dows. "Just look how gay it is over there. Tom!" she said. "After our dull evening the lights and laughter are really alluring. It appears to be an unusually lively affair. I honestly can not see why We weren't asked"
 We weren't; that's the main thing to he thankful for"
 "I'm rot q. bit thankful. I'm greatly disappointed"
 Why, thought yeu never wanted to 70 there again" "I didn't, but don't like to be left out and you know yourself, Tom, the DooIittles sreShe worst bores smons cur acouaintarcee. T don't see why yen insisted on having them" 'why, my deey, never"