The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-03
Her lrnpulsiive
Way

why. Alice, didn't you 60 out to
lunch today?'
NO, | didn't" The stenographer did
not look up from the crocheting. and
what's more. there'll be no rest for me
Moons. nights. or Sundays, Caroline,
until these table mats are done"
Il wasn't aware thta you were In
any Immediately need Of table mats"
pursued the bookkeeper. Isn't this
rather sudien?"
They aren't for me, worse luck.
When | need household goods III let
you know, never fear. These mats
are for another and they are long over.
due" The stenographer laughed bit
| terly. "Behold in me victim of the
habit of promising in haste to repent
when repentance is entirely useless"
WHAT"
Il mean that I'm one of those unfor.
tunate impulsive persons who are al.
ways gratui,ously and recklessly Of
fering to do things for people. Observe
these mats. There was really no rea-
son why should undertake the manu-
facture of eighteen doilies, six OF each
of the three sizes, you know, for per-
son like Mrs. Corwine. but when she
told me that Mr. Corwine had bought
her a beautiful mahogany dining table
| at once said. without considering the
matter at all, automatically, you know.
that | would make her set of mats
for it. She took me up with a jump
and hoped Id do the pineapple pat
tern. It's the most difficult stitch I
know.
Now she is probably wondering
when I'm ever going to get them done.
The truth is that I've only just been
able to begin them, for I've been spend.
ing every spare minute for the last
month on the border of French knots
that in a moment Of abstraction |
promised to embrOider on Gertrude
Lanes white marquisette dress. She
bought it ready made and she thought
it looked to plain. SO, of course, l
suggested the French dots and when
she said that she didn't know how to
make them, | volunteered to do them
for her.
For four long weeks those knots
have haunted me. Every evening that
I've wished to read or play car Is I've
been obliged to stick to the dots, and
the worst of it is that my offer to do
them was made so casually that Ger
trude has no realization OF what a
lIerculean task they were. l wouldn't
feel so sorry for myself as do II
thought were receiving proper credit
for my labor.
ITS the same way with these doll
les. Mrs. COrwine thinks that because
said In light and airy way that Id
make them they're a mere amusement
or pastime for me. Did you ever know
such goose as | am-tO get myself
into doing things and to hate myself
for It? I'm one Of those who jump II
where angels fear to tread"
The bookkeeper laughed. and Alice
continuing to crochet violently. con
tinued:
You ought to be thankful 70,
haven't the habit. It gets one init
all sorts Of entanglements. A few
weeks ago met some suburban
friends on the street. They appeared
so pleased to see me that before
really thought what was doing
asked them to come to town some da
and have lunch with me, and | prom
Used to let them know very soon JUS
r what day to come. That luncheon. 70
which can neither afford the time no
the money, and which wasn't in TIL
least called for. has hung on my nee
: like milestone The thought OF 1t ha
: worried and depressed me ever since
y The event comes tomorrow, and ther
{ after these mats are done. rr
through! shall not mortgage m
II time. money and industry any NOR
l. Hear me VOW"
l. Yes, I hear It." The other youn
"a woman assumed an accusing air. "B,
= xhat about my essay for the Youu