The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-02-12
Bighdng a
Social Career

only when Trumbull himself was
called upon to shine at dinner parties
or disport in drawing rooms that he
ceased to consider in the light of a
Joke bis wife's desire to set her small
feet firmly upon the next higher rung
Of the ladder.
The cream Of the Joke looked to him
particularly pale and blue the evening
she announced triumphantly that Mrs.
Fulton. the one wealthy woman OF
their acquaintance, Lad invited the
Trumbulls to sit in her box at the
opera the following Thursday evening.
I'm perfectly Wiling for you to
spend your nights and Sundays pursu-
ino the aristocfacy to its lair," pro-
ed Trumbull, but yoI know I'm
lot q par!or pei. IN all right as a
means OF support, but I'm sure to
make donkey OF myself II try to do
the society act. Can't you 90 alone?"
Mrs. Trumbull set her lips. THAT
would be impossible" she said. "But.
Of course, II you don't want to go |
can tell Mrs. Fulton that you have a
business engagement that will prevent
our going"
It was not until her lips began to
culver that Trumbul realized how
much it meant to her. He promised
to 60.
The night Of the theater party the
weather turned cold. Trumbull, in
blissful forgetfulness of the festivity,
entered the house In whirl of snow
and icy wind.
rs that you. dear?" cried Mrs.
Trumbull from upstairs. where she
was futtering about getting Trum'
bulls evening regalia ready for him
to put on.
"Yep," responded Trumbull. follow.
ing the sound Of her voice up the
stairs.
His face fell when he saw the
clothes lying on the bed. "Oh!" he
calculated In q voice from which all
Joy had fed. I'D forgotten this was
the evening Of the blowout" He shiv.
cred audibly. ITS an awful night"
Mrs. Trumbull tripped over to the
dresser and began a search for bis
tie. Il ordered taxi" she said.
cheerily. Its to be here promptly
at a quarter to eight"
In the taxicab Mrs. Trumbull
looked at her husband In undisguised
satisfaction.
you'll be the best looking man
there" she purred. Il don't care II
Mr.. Fulton's ancestors did come over
with the pilgrim fathers and II they
do have a butler and five maids and
q governess. he's nothing but little,
dried.up shrimp. Anybody seeing you
two together won't hesitate minute
about selecting you as the ono with
the money"
The spontaneity Of this wifely trib.
ute pleased Trumbull. He even grew
less sleepy under the enlivening influ.
ence of her honeyed words. How.
ever. this didn't prevent his having
feeting wish as he seated himself in
the chair just behind his hostess that
he had had another strong cup Of cof-
fee. OF course he wasn't really
sleepy, but a cold wind always gave
him a queer feeling.
Mrs. Trumbull. glancing at his big,
wellgroomed figure and his clever,
goodnatured face, and now and then
catching the low, well-bred tones of
his voice, felt that 1t would take very
little more to make her sinfully proud
Of him. Every interested glance cast
up from the seats below them sent a
separate thrill Of delight through her.
She was fairly radiant.
When the first act was about half
over her satisfaction was dispelled by
an all too familiar sound. She cast
terrified glance toward the rear Of the
box. What she saw caused her to start
wildly to her feet. Too late!
Trumbull's head had fallen to one
side, his eyes were closed, his mouth
was open. A sound closely resembling
the distant rumbling Of a railroad
train came from his parted lips. From
rumble it quickly grew into a very
good imitation Of an automobile horn.
Higher and higher 1t rose, until the
startling crescendo broke In fierce,
choking leviathan Of a snore!
The host jumped to his feet with
the obvious intention Of rendering
first aid to the injured. The hostess
gave sharp. quite involuntary shrek.
Mrs. Trumbull stcnily fixed her unsee-
ing eyes upon the glittering stage.
Trumbuil, awakened by the vocifera-
ton, but unconscious Of the cause Of
his awakening and considerably re-