Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-09-17
Their Good
Excuse

We ueHIu LuaL the MdlheSOAb do
! going to give a large card party next
week Friday" remarked Mrs Allen to
her husband. #
Been inyited?" asked Allen, not
looking up from his paper.
| mo, the invitations aren't out yet.
"Well, l suppose we'll be asked, all
right"
Eyes, that's the trouble"
"Trouble?" echoed Allen, laying
down the paper.
| Eyes, trouble. You know, Tom, I
just can't bear those stir, tiresopo
parties Mrs. Matheson Is always Civ
ing. The last time we went to one we
both declared that we'd never 60 to an.
other"
"It's 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 attacks
of the pip"
| OON 10 6iAy, 1OlA. Auo ID = 81
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 I was telling the truth or not II
said you we're i'll? No, we've got to
have some real reason for declining"
1--WE might run out of town." sug.
| ooc%nH ALLAN ssrrho Achjn~ Co Anr ISL
"F1shing!" Mrs. Allen gave her hus-
band 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 blisterine
sunburn."
"Well, We might 60 to some other
city for little change"
I'm not prepared to go away from
home. Ny clothes aren't in order ana
have a dressmaker coming next
week. think we'd better just invite
some people to dinner tho evening Of
the card party. Suppose We ask the
Doolittles?"
do you think" Inquired Allen, that
an evening with the Doolittles win be
any more enlivening than q party 40
the Mathesons? Have got to listen
for three hours to Doolittle's mannder-
ing talk about his one hunting expedt-
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 well that We owe
them some hospitality. / 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 repetitioHs my hair
has ceased to stand on end at the crit
ical moments"
"Well. anyway. like them"
"No accounting for tastes, my dear.
II asking the Doolittles to dinner Will
satisfy 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 well have them"
"Oh. very WELL" replied Allen.
When he left the house 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 telepboned 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"
II 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?"
NO"
why not?"
"well, it's awfuIly strange. Tom. and
I can't understand 1t at all-were NOT
invited by the Mathesons."
mot invited! And the sacrifice on
the Doolittle altar is all for nothing"
Blu, ] can't see why they didn't in
wife us" persisted Mrs. Allen.
The night OF the party after the Doc
Titles had taken leave, Mrs. Allen
gazed dolefully from her front WIN
dows. Just look how gay It Is over
there Toni" she said. after our dult
evening the lights and laughter are
really alluring. 1t appears to be an
unusually lively affair honestly cam
not see why we weren't asked"
I'VE weren't: that's the main thing
to be thankful for
I'm not bit thankful. I'm greatly
disappointed"
why. thought you, never wanted
10 go there again"
II didn't, but don't like to be left
out and you know yourself, Tom, the
Doolittles are the worst bores among
our acqnaintances. l don't see why
you Insisted on having them"
why, my dear. l never"
Now. don't deny 1t, Tom. You SAID
for me to have them by all means.
Those were your exact words. Look.
they've begun to dance over there