The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-09-05
Their Good
Excuse

going to give large card party next
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, l suppose we'll be asked, all
right"
Yes, that's the trouble"
"Trouble?" echoed Allen, laying
down the paper.
Yes, trouble. You know, Tom. I
Just can't bear those stir, 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"
Its 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 a 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 il
said you were i'll? No, we've got to
have some real reason for declining"
I'VE 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 q 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 Maine woods and to Mrs
Doolittle's bromide "reminiscences Of
her single trip to Paris? Why the Doc
Titles, my dear?
You know very we'll 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
lcal 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, !
think we may as we'll have them"
"Oh, very WELL" replied Allen.
When he left the house a few min,
utes later he dropped note OF invi.
tation into the nearest post box and
grinned
Three days later he asked his wife:
Are the Doolittles coming?"
Eyes, 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 u.s."
"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? p
mo"
"Why not?"
"Well, it's awfully strange, Tom, and
l can't understand It at all-we're moi
invited by the Mathesons."
mot invited! And the sacrifice or
the Doollttle altar is all for nothing?'
"But l can't see why they didn't in
vite u.s." persisted Mrs. Allen.
The night of the party after the boo
Titles had taken leave, Mrs. Allen
gazed dolefully from her front win
dows. Gust look how gay it is ovel
there, Toni" she said. after our dull
evening the lights and laughter are
really alluring. 1t appears to be ar
unusually lively affair. honestly can
not see why We weren't asked"
eve weren't; that's the main thing
to be thankful for"
I'm not bit thankful. I'm great!
disappointed"
why, l thought you never wanted
to go there again"
81 didn't, but I don't like to be lef
out and you know yourself, Tom, thu
Doolittles are the worst bores among
our acquaintance. I don't see VIII,
you insisted on having them"
"Why, my dear, never"
Now, don't deny It. Tom. You sal
for me to have them by all means
Those were your exact words. Loci
they've begun to dance over there
Oh, dear, haven't danced for an age!
DolIxy Nau,c