The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-17
The F0RGOTTEl! PARTY.
ey ]. J. MCCARTNEY.

NV ''oS wa Ai-Si-tNc ~ SO.ic NdSue
Idea in the back of his brain of some
thing left undone. Struggle as he
might. he could not get it into con
crete form. Yet trying to forget Il
only irritated him the more.
In the midst of his luncheon light
ming fash cleared his head and will
. sickening chill he knew what b,
hadn't done. lie had forgotten to &
to the dinner party which Celia Bel
had given the evening before.
He had not the ghost of an excuse
because he had not been dead at tn,
time. which would have been the onl,
valid excuse in the eyes of a hostess
He had simply absented himself from
the affair because of an inexplicablt
lapse Of memory. For an instant hi
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 1t was totally impossible to
call up Celia and airily say: Excuse
me for thinking so little of your invi.
tation that it slinrcd my mind"
The fact WIS that he thought a lot
OF Cclia's invitation. Indeed, he WAS
beginning to realize that he was going
to think a lot CT Celia. lie had scarce.
~ bc.un 10 do - as yet, because their
acqLain'anca lid hardly advanced be-
yond q" fcrnal Sizes, but he real.
Zcd tat his captivity WIS ineyita BILE
and II Was more than resigned to l.. /,
prospc t. 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
only after weary years of contrition.
This tedious process did not appeal
to him. He was afraid that in the
meantime some one else would run
away with Celia. lie racked his brain
for more speedy solution of the din.
Guilty.
Celia was no weak, gentle. doormat
variety Of girl. He could imagine just
how her wonder. at his nonappearance
had grown to surprise, then 10 wrath.
and how her wrath was growing hour
by hour.
It was without doubt most difficult
situation.
). The average man would have tried
to placate the injured hostess by
bushel OF roses or ten pounds Of candy.
9 contrite note or desperate call in
person. Young Plunkett showed his
really superior intellect by the fact
that he did not do any Of these things.
For a 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 attired him
self carefully In the prescribed soci, i
city raiment and sailed forth.
On his way he ran into Smith. "Hel. !
To-" said Smith, ARE we going out
among them tonight"
Eyes," said young Plunkett, cheer.
fully. II am going to . dinner party
1t Celia Bells"
Oh" said Smith, rs she entertain.
Ing again! went to a dinner at her
home last Monday night"
did your murmured young Plum,
tett. interestedly. and passed on.
With firm step he mounted the
steps to the home Of Celia and the Viz.
orous peal Of the bell sounded not
like the summons Of one In terror. Ad.
nitted to the reception hall, he waited
In all his immaculate splendor. After
. 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.
" to the purpose with which he had
started out.
Am I the first one!" he asked.
eheerily.
Miss Bell was puzzled enough to 70.
lax her frown q bit. First one for
what! I don't understand" she
Daid.
roung Plunkett's face was picture
II ingenious amazement. why, aren't
Fou giving . dinner party this eve
.1ngf' he demanded.
/
Miss Bell sat down Imply. ri an
Dot!" she informed him. II gave one
Ast Monday night however-and T.
Ion't believe you have seen 1t to a.
lain why you were not present" |,
Last Monday night!" cried young {
'lunkett. why. you've made an Az.
ri mistake of some sort. When you
nvited me you said distinctly 4 week s
Fom next Monday night Do you think
Or IN instant could have misunder. .
TODD an invitation from you? Why.
We counted on this evening for days q
and now you tell me that you had =
he party a week ago! I don't under. I
land. really" '
For a moment Celia stared at him. s
ever there was q disappointed and e
sproachful individual on earth 1t was 1,
oung Plunkett at that instant. s.
Celia wavered-then she fell. %