Holbrook argus., 1912-11-12
Their Good
 Excuse

I've heard that the Mathesons are going to give large card party next week Friday" remarked Mrs. Allen to her husband.
 Been inyited?" asked Allen, not looking up from his paper. "No, the invitations aren't out yet"
 Well, 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 cant bear those stiff. tiresome parties Mrs. Matheson is always giv. | 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 lire?"
 Then send an excuse. Say that I'm i'll or that your Angora cat is under the doctors care because of an attack of the pip"
 Don't be silly. Tom. This is se- 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- CT l was telling the truth or not if l said you were i'll? No, we've got to have some real reason for declining"
 We 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. 1 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 a party at the Mathesons? Have I 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. Ooolittle's bromide "reminiscences of ner single trip to Paris? Why the Doc littles, my dear?
 You know very well that we owe | ta1i in frs 1 Doolittle is quite interesting and that story MT. Doolittle tells about the moose he missed is really exciting" . t'Yes. the first twenty times you hear It. After two dozen repetitions my hair has ceased to stand on end at the crit teal moments" Well, anyway, like them"
 "No accounting for tastes. my dear If asking the Doolittles to dinner will satisfy soul craving of yours. ask 1 them by all means. Never mind me.
 Don't be ridiculous, Tom. You know I'm not crazy over them, but 8: long as We have to have some one. think we may as we'll have them" "Oh. very we'll" replied Allen. When he left the house 8 few min utes later he dropped note of invi tation into the nearest post box ant grinned.
 Three days later he asked his wife Are the Doolittles coming?"
 "Yes. Mrs. Doolittle telephoned sl enthusiastic acceptance. She has hs' some of her Paris photographs en larged and she's going to bring then over to show us''
 "Has Doolittle had any photograph taken of his moose story?'
 rom. you ought to be ashamed" !, 'T am. my dear; but I'd rather b ashamed than hear that story again By the way, did you remember t send your regrets to Mrs. Matheson? l "No."
 "Why not?'
 Well, it's awfully strange. Tom. an i can't understand it at all-we're no f invited by the Mathesons."
 "Not invited, And the sacrifice o' the Doolittle altar is all for nothing? C ''But I cant see why they didn't ir l. vite us" persisted Mrs. Allen.
 The night of the party after the Doc Titles had taken leave, Mrs. Ale y gazed dolefully from her front vii | dows. Just look how gay it is owe
 there. Tom" she said. After our duI
 evening the lights and laughter ar U really alluring. It appears to be a & unusually lively affair. I honestly car
 not see why We weren't asked y We weren't; that's the main thin !, to be thankful for" I'm not bit thankful. I'm greatl
 disappointed"
 Why. thought you never wante y 10 go there again" d 'I didn't. but I don't like to he lei