The herald., 1912-08-08
Their Good
Excuse

week Friday" remarked Mrs. Allen to
her husband.
Been invited?" asked Allen, not
looking up from his paper.
mo, the invitations aren't out yet"
well, suppose We'll be asked, all
right"
"Yes, that's the trouble"
"Trouble?" echoed Allen, laying
down the paper.
Eyes, trouble. You know, Tom, I
just can't bear those stiff, tiresome
parties Mrs. Matheson is always CIV
ing. The last time We went to one We
both declared that we'd never go to an
other"
cts simple enough to 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
Ill 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 | was telling the truth or not II /
said you We're i'll? No, we've got to
have some real reason for declining"
"We might run out of town." sug-
gested Allen. "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 go to some other
city for little change"
I'm not prepared to go away from
home. My clothes aren't in order and
have a dressmaker 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 enlivening than a party at
the Mathesons? Have l got to listen
for three hours to Doolittle's maunder-
ing talk about his one hunting expedi-
ton to the MaineSwoods and to Mrs.
Doolittle's bromide "reminiscences Of
her single trip to Paris? Why the Doc
Titles, my dear?
"You know very well that We owe
them some hospitality. 1 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
1t. After two dozen repetitions my hair
has ceased to stand on end at the crit
zeal moments"
well, anyway, like them"
mo accounting for tastes, my dear.
II asking the Doolittles to dinner will
satisfy a soul craving Of yours, ask
them 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, I
think We may as well 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
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?"
''Tom, you ought to be ashamed"
81 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?
mo"
"Why not?"
"Well, it's awfully strange, Tom, and
I can't understand It at all-we're not
invited by the Mathesons."
mot invited! And the sacrifice on
the Doolittle altar is all for nothing"
"But I can't see why they didn't in
vite u.s." persisted Mrs. Allen.
The night of the party after the Doc
Titles had taken leave, Mrs. Allen
gazed dolefully from her front win
dows. "Just look how gay 1t is over
there, Toni" she said. "After our dull
evening the lights and laughter are
really alluring. 1t appears to be an
unusually lively affair. l honestly can
not see why We weren't asked"
eve weren't; that's the main thing
to be thankful for"
I'm not a bit thankful. I'm greatly
"Why, thought you never wanted
to go there again."
ri didn't, but I don't like to be left
out and you know yourself, Tom, the
Doolittles are the worst bores among
our acquaintances. / don't see why
you insisted On having them"
why, my dear, / never"
"Now, don't deny 1t, Tom. You said
for me to have them by all means.
Those were your exact words. Look.
they've begun to dance over there
Oh, dear, haven't danced for an ager
Daily News.
Never, Never, Never.
L. al hA