The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-07-08
THE FORGOTTEN PARTY
BY J. J. MCCARTNEY.

| kett was t0rmented by some vague
idea In the back of his brain Of some.
thing left undone. Struggle as lie
might, he could not get II into con.
crete form. Yet trying to forget II
only irritated him the more.
In the midst OF his luncheon a light.
ming flash cleared his head and with
a sickening chill he knew what he
hadn't done. He had forgotten to 20
to the dinner party which Celia Ren
had given the evening before.
He had not the ghost of an excuse.
because he had not been dead at the
time. which would have been the only
valid excuse In the eyes Of hostess.
He had simply absented himself from
the affair because of an inexplicable
lapse of memory. For an instant he
wished that he dared telephone the
explanation that he had been knocked
down and rendered unconscious by an
automobile and had just come to- Man.
ifestly II was totally impossible tc
call up Celia and airily say; Excuse
me for thinking 30 little Of your invi
tation that it slipped my mind!'
The fact was that he thought lot
Of Celia's invitation. Indeed, he was
beginning to realize that he was going
to think lot Of Celia. He had scarce.
ly begun 20 do so as yet, because their
acquaintance hao hardly advanced be
yond the formal stages, but he real
lied that his captivity was inevitable
and he was more than resigned to the
prospect This made the scrape In
which he now found himself all the
more tragic.
He had heard Of men who had for.
gotten dinner parties and had been re
stored to human society and federation
onl" efter weary years Of contrition.
This tedious process did not appeal
TO him. He was afraid that In tho
meantime some one else would run
away with Celia. He racked his brain
for more speedy solution of the dim.
Guilty.
Celia was no weak, gentle, doormat
variety Of girl. He could imagine Just
how her wonder at his nonappearancn
had grown to surprise, then to wrath,
and how her wrath was growing hour
by hour.
" was without aoub. a most difficult
situation.
The average man would have tried
to placate the injured hostess by a
bushel Of roses or ten pounds Of candy
contrite note or desperate cali in
person. Young Plurko.t showed his
really superior intellect by the fact
that he did not do any Of these things
For few days he did absolutely moth.
ing. This required self-restraint, for
every hour that Celia hated him was
blight. But when the next Monday
evening came around he att'red him.
self carefully in the prescribed soci
ETY. raiment and sailed forth.
, On his way he ran into Smith. Hell
To-" said Smith. ARE we going on,
among them tonight"
Yes" said young Plrnkett, cheer
fully. IL am going to dinner party
at Celia Bells"
oh" said Smith. is she entertain
Ing again? | went to a dinner at hel
home last Monday night"
Did your murmured young Plum
kett, interestedly. and passed on.
With a firm step he mounted the
\ steps to the home of Celia and the Wig
! orous peal of the bell sounded no,
like the summons Of one In terror. Ad
mitted to the reception hall, he waited
In all his immaculate splendor After
! a while Celia came in. She advanced
with the outraged dignity Of an Of
Tended stage princess and when she
said Good evening in a questioning
tone young Plunkett felt like an unwel
! come book agent Yet he chung grim
ly to the purpose with which he hat
started out.
Am the first one?" he asked
cheerily.
Miss Bell was puzzled enough to re
lax her frown a bit. First one fol
what? don't understand" she
said
Young Plunkett's face was a picture
Of ingenious amazement. why. arenr
you giving dinner party this eve
ming" he demanded.
Miss Bell sat down Imply. 81 an
not!" she informed him. 81 gave one
last Monday night, however-and
don't believe you have seen fit to ex
plain why you were not present"
Last Monday night" cried young
Plunkett. Why, you've made an aw
full mistake OF some sort When yor
invited me you said distinctly "a week
from next Monday night! DO you thinl
. for an instant could have misunder
stood an invitation from you? Why
I've counted on this evening for days
and now you tell me that you hat
the party week ago! don't under
stand, really"
} For a moment Celia stared at him
II ever there was a disappointed ant
reproachful individual on earth 1t was
young Plunkett at that instant