Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-02-08
Social
Obligations

| Dear" said Mrs. Westcott dramat.
| 1cally to her husband as she took the
newspaper out of his hands to compel
him to give his undivided attention to
her, we've got to entertain! That's
all there is to it,"
We'll, why have WEI" demanded
| Westcott.
Why, I'm simply ashamed to look
our friends in the face, and actually
the Ruggleses and the Squires will
think we are stingy! They've lived
here nearly year and I've never
even had luncheon in all that time!
Think of it! And l receive invita-
lions almost every day! But there's
one comfort don't go any more!
So l really don't owe lot of people
more than the invitation myself"
Westcott listened helplessly, trying
in vain to catch glimpse of the
headlines in the newspaper that his
wife held. "Yes," he said, in a most
desultory manner, feeling in duty
bound to make some remark in the
pause.
Eyes, that's it," went on Mrs. West
colt. We'll entertain! Well do some
thing big, too! Come, help me plant"
She beamed on him as she threw the
newspaper behind her, regardless of
its landing on the floor.
But" demonstrated her husband,
weakly, these big affairs are-are
rather an expense, aren't they?"
"Oh, why didn't think of it be-
fore? Mrs. Westcott asked, ignor-
ing his remark. There, they've been
gone only two months and I've owed
them something so long! 1 could
have had it week, say after they
sailed and She paused in rapt
contemplation.
"Why, my DEAR" interposed West
colt, surprised by the peculiar trend
of his wife's remarks. "You say YOU
wish you could have given it a week
after they sailed! l assume that you
mean the Rankins. But why a week
after they sailed? Why was that time
any better than the present?"
'Why, you see," Mrs. westcott
gazed on him in pity for his lack of
comprehension, "you see, could have
invited them!"
Westcott took deep breath. He
looked at his wife earnestly while his
brain tried to fathom the mystery
"You wanted to give it early so you
could invite the Rankins to come to
1t week after they sailed! All, yes!
So clear-so-so-shall we call 1t
lucid?"
ooh, bother!" Mrs. Westcott impa-
tiently exclaimed. why can't you
understand things? 1 always have to
explain everything to you! If I in
vited them then they'd owe me an in
vitation. I'd have paid what I owe
them, but they couldn't come because
they'd be sailing for Europe at the
time"
| Westcott eyed his wife in admira-
ton.
Are you going TOTO run the whole
party on the same principle?" he
queried, respectfully.
well, we'll issue about twice as
many invitations as the house can
hold" she explained, the fire of vic
tory in her eyes. There are the
Browns. They're going to Florida
this winter. l heard that they leave
In about week. That's five, for I'd
have to have the girls, too" She
looked at her husband exultantly.
ooh, and there are the Warrens and
the Smiths. They're going hunting to-
gether this fall somewhere up north
and they'll be gone month, I know!
That's seven with Mr.. Warren's sis
ters!" Westcott pulled out an en-
velope and put down the figures"
"Then there are the doctor and his
mother. He told me the other day
that she wasn't at all we'll and he
thought he'd take run out west to
go with her to his sisters in Cali
fornia. l could invite them!"
And there are the minister and his
wife and his son and daughter" put
in Westcott, with proper pride in his
offering. He's going to accept that
church in Rochester So we can in
vite them!"
Mrs. Westcott glanced at her hus-
band to detect any fraud in his air
Of frankness, but he was adding the
names to his list enthusiastically.
There are twenty that can't come"
he counted, finally.
Mrs Westcott sighed deep sigh
Of Thanksgiving. That's all right,
them" she said. "Now, We'll just ask
our own immediate friends in to tea
that night and have a good time.
That'll be eight or ten altogether
and, thank goodness, most of my obi.
cations will be paid!"
Then she handed his newspaper to
him smilingly.