The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1913-03-05
The FORGOTTEN PARTY
BY J. J. MCCARTNEY.

An Tuesday morning young Pan.
kett was tormented by some vague
idea in the back Of his brain of some
thing left undOne. Struggle as hi
might, he could not get 1t into con
crete form. Yet trying to forget It
only irritated him the more.
In the midst of his luncheon q light
ming flash cleared his head and with
q sickening chill he knew what he
hadn't done. He had forgotten to go
to the dinner party which Celia Bell
had given the evening before.
He had not the ghost of an excuse.
because he had not been dead at tho
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 it was totally impossible to
call up Celia and airily say; Excuse
me for thinking SO little of your invi-
tation that it slipped my mind!"
The fact was that he thought q lot
Of Celia's invitation. Indeed, he was
beginning to realize that he was going
to think lot of Celia. Ne had scarce
ly begun to do 30 as yet. because their
acquaintance had 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.
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. He racked his brain
for a 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 nonappearancs
had grown to surprise, then to wrath.
and how her wrath was growing hour
by hour.
1t was without doubt . most dimcult
situation.
The average man would have tried
to placate the injured hostess BY .
bushel Of roses or ten pounds Of candy.
. contrite note or a desperate call IN
person. Young Plunkett showed his
really superior intellect By the fac4
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 attired 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 out
among them tonightf"
Yes" said young Plunkett, cheer
fully. Il am going to . dinner party
at Celia Bells"
Oh" said Smith. els she entertain
ing againf I went to . dinner at her
home last Monday night"
did your murmured young Plum
kett. interestedly. and passed on.
With q firm step he mounted the
steps to the home Of Celia and the viz.
orous peal Of the bell sounded not
like tho summons Of one in terror. Ad-
mitted to the reception hall, he waited
IN an his immaculate splendor. After
. while Celia came In. She advanced
with the outraged dignity Of an Of
Tended stage princess and when abe
said Good evening in a questioning
tone young Piunkett felt like an unwel-
come book agent Yet he chung GRIM
b to the purpose with which he had
started out
"Am I the ffrst onef" he aaksd,
cheeri1y.
Miss Bell was puzzled enough to N
lax her frown a bit. First one for
whatf I don't understandi" she
said.
Young Plunkett's face was q picture
Of ingenious amazement. why, aren't
you giving a dinner party this eve
ningf" he demanded.
Miss Bell sat down Imply. II am
not!" she informed him. II gave one
last Monday night. however-and I
don't believe you have seen At to ex-
plain why you were not present"
Last Monday night" cried young
Plunkstt why. you've made an aw-
IND mistake Of some sort When you
invited me you said distinctly = week