Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1912-09-21
THEIR INVITED GUESTS
AT SUBURBAN HOME

wife at their suburban home, he MADE
the error of failing to pry into
Hinchett's family affairs as q prelim-
mary move. He realized later that
he should have put Hinchett through
the third degree of the census bu-
reau before extending the invitation.
Thus he would have escaped the con-
fusion that overwhelmed him on the
Saturday when Hinchett descended
upon the Perkins establishment with
one wife, two children and one brin.
die bulldog.
81 had to bring the dog" explained
Hinchett brightly, when Perkins met
him at the foot OF the steps, because
there is no one in our apartment
house that could trust with him
Good old Bruno! He has to be fed
Just so or he is unhappy. Mrs. Hin
chett." he went on, with a wave Of his
hand toward his wife, land the little
Hinchetts"
Perkins knew that his wife was
watching the reception from behind
the living room curtains and that his
standing at his domestic hearth de-
pended upon his carrying the matter
off with the air Of its being quite what
he had expected.
Come right in" exclaimed Perkins,
heartily. as the children began pulling
the geraniums out of his wifes flower
boxes beside the steps. Glad you
brought the dog. He'll be company
for our dog. Let me take your suit
cases."
"Oh, there's hammock" Mrs. Hin
chett exclaimed, making a dive for it..
I'm just worn out with the long trip
from our place and the railroad drive
and then the walk up here in the sun.
You won't mind If lie down a min
ute. will you?"
Lillian isn't very strong" Hin
chett explained.
Certainly mott" Perkins told her.
Go right ahead, Mrs. Hinchett, and
get rested. That's what we're here
for"
She tumbled into the hammock and
Hinchett went down into The front
yard to encourage Bruno in digging
up the pansy bed that Mrs. Perkins
had been working over all season. AS
Perkins walked into the hall with thS
satchels his wife seized him.
why didn't you tell me these peo-
pie had children?" she Kissed into his
ear. 81 could have gone away or got
scarlet fever or something. You know
that I've nobody to help me with the
homework. And I was planning 60
make jelly today"
"Hinchett held out on me-" muir
INJURED Perkins. "Ie never mentined
the kids. For the love of Pete, go and
talk to EN-"
And that woman in the hammock
is the one you said would help me
make jelly IL let them come today"
his wife said wltheringly.
Maybe she will" countered Per-
kins. You haven't asked her yet"
Then Mrs. Perkins coaxed up wei
coming smile for the guests and went
out to meet them, murmuring words
Of sympathy for Mrs. Hinchett, whose
fatigue threatened to become per-
manent. About that time the Perkins
fox terrier arrived from an excursion
into foreign fields When the two
men had pried the bulldog loose from
the fox terriers neck Perkins took his
dog into the basement and chained
him to the furnace.
While Mrs. Hinchett, from the
depths of the hammock, was explain
ing to Mrs. Perkins how badly she felt
most of the time and how quickly she
succumbed before exercise Of any
kind, Perkins took Hinchett down to
show him the village hall, and the
other sights of which the residents OF
the suburb are justly proud. He want.
ed to get away from the atmosphere
of the berries, which his wife had
stocked up with to make jelly that
day. When they returned an hour or
boy had set fire to the barn. which
had been saved by a remarkable dem
onstration OF energy on the part Of
his mother, ably assisted by Mrs. Par
kins, in pumping water and passing
buckets
Dinner was not exactly a joyous
meal, inasmuch as Mrs. Perkins kept
thinking of new things to say to her
husband after the Hinchetts were
gone, and Hinchett whiled a way the
hour with detailed description of his
counting days up to the moment when
Lillian shyly concented to be his.
Then before the men had finished
their cigars after dinner the Hin.
chetts' girl fell out of a cherry tree
and broke her collarbone trying to get
the only two cherries on the tree
I'm afraid Wen have to go home
with her." sighed Mrs. Hinchett.
"Oh, must you go?" Mrs. Perkins
asked, while Perkins dashed upstairs
for the suitcases.
When the guests had been safely
placed upon the train Perkins turned
to his wife with both hands held aloft.
Never again!" he said fervently.
THAT week end thing isn't what it's
advertised to be-"
His wife smiled grimly. Wen have
to hurry home" she said. You have
a hard days work ahead OF you yet
making jelly"
But it's late" protested Perkins.
1T will be a great deal later before