The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-25
His Hlospitable
Way

1
got husband he would be a whole
souled. hospitable man."
"Yes, remember" was the smiling
answer. land wondered then II yo1
realized just what it means to hav'
man in the family who issues invi
tations to everybody all the time"
II realize 1t now. anyway" said thu
daughter. why. mother. Jimmie II
absolutely the most inordinately hos
pitable person I ever saw. lie seems
to want everyone he knows to have
a meal in our fat"
tits because he's so proud of his
little home, l suppose" returned hel
mother.
well, I'm afraid he wasn't yer,
proud of 1t last Sunday. But I'll have
to tell you about it.
Saturday night we had the Fiskes
you know they are the people In
the apartment beneath us-to dinner
and as they had entertained US SO
nicely when we first moved In OF
course l wanted to give them a spread
so We had four-course dinner. Just
after dinner Thora got telephone
message that her brother.in.law had
had an accident, so without washing
single dish she left for South Chi.
oGgo to help her sister take care Of
him.
when We got up Sunday morning
there were SO many soiled dishes |
could hardly get breakfast. com.
planned to Jimmie that 1t would take
me all day to wash those dishes.
Nonsense! he said. Wen go to
church and dine downtown and then
tonight. when We have taken of our
Sunday clothes, we'll do the dishes
together in no time
"That sounded pleasant to me and
turned my back on my disorderly fiat
with a delightful runaway sense of
freedom.
while We were In the restaurant
rain began to fall in torrents. SO we
fingered over our dessert and coffee
long time. Finally the storm sub
sided and We went home. Imagine
my establishment when Jimmie un.
locked our fiat and beheld his cous.
ms that | hardly know at all-Robert
Albaugh and his wife-sitting in our
parlor dressed in Jimmie's lounging
robe anG my kimono!
"'Why. hello!' cried Jimmie. We're
mighty glad to see you
"'I'm afraid we came little early,
said Mrs. Robert as | shook hands
with her. You see, We have taken
some liberties
"'Not at all! We are delighted.
dubbed Jimmie. This Is great. But
how. did you ever get IMP
"'Well,' said Robert, when we
found you weren't at home We thought
we'd take ride in the park, as this
is the first time we've had our car
In town. But We hadn't gone two
blocks when that cloudburst came and
we got drcnched. We were too wet
to go anywhere that we couldn't make
ourselves at home in. SO We ran back
here and climbed the fire escape TO
your kitchen window. The man who
lives under you rushed out and threat
cned to have me arrested | told
him not to bother me-
"'And | told him who we were
added Mrs. Robert, and begged him
not to stop Bob. as We were expected
TO tea
when she said that | just looked
at Jimmie, but Jimmie was busy as.
surfing Robert that it didn't in tho
least matter that he had cut our new
window screen in order to get in. So
my precious husband never noticed
my accusing glance. But when got
him alone for a minute said. James
Albaugh. you invited your cousins to
tea and never told mel
~ forgot all about it. he answered.
But you can get up some little thing
for supper. can't you?'"
well. what did you say to that ?"
asked her mother.
Il said Of course could and
pitched in. while Jimmie talked to his
guests. washed enough dishes to
set the table and l made hot biscuits
and coffee and | made a salad Of the
cold chicken that was left from the
night before. Inside Of an hour they
were all eating.
Il was pretty hot and Hurried. but
I tried to be bright and chatty while
they ate. When they left Mrs. Rob.
ert squeezed my hand in the most sis.
terly manner and whispered. The AL.
baugh men are all alike, but they've
got sense about one thing-they
choose capable wives So knew that,
despite all my efforts. she had taken
In the whole situation"
II hope Jimmy was properly con.
trite?" remarked the mother.
"Oh. Jimmie was q perfect dear.
He said that night while We were
washing the dishes that after this ex-
perience he wouldn't be afraid to ask
in whole regiment to dine. for was
such a wonder. don't want you ever
to think. mother, that Jimmie il I'M.
appreciative."