The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-15
Mr.. Dingee's
Dinner
Story of a Marriage
Anniversary.
By CLARISSA MACkIE

3 By CLARlSSA MACklE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The day Silas Dingee married Maud
Ball he declared that never before had
he known real happiness. He swore
that the anniversary Of that blessed
day which ended his bachelor loneli.
ness would be more to him than all
the holidays in the calendar together.
A cynical friend at his farewell bach
elor dinner the night before had said
to him:
ISL. I'm sorry for you. Tomorrow
you go to serve your life long term
Of regulation. Farewell independence.
Farewell jolly night at the club.
Farewell cocktails; they'll faint your
breath. Farewell cigars; they'll make
the curtains smell. Goodby, 81. The
matrimonial prison doors will soon
close behind you"
You dried up old BACH" was Din
gees reply, tomorrow will be the hap
piest day Of my life. And let me tell
you whenever the anniversary Of my
wedding comes round I'll have some
delicate memento for the dear girl who
is to furnish that happiness. I shall
on that day remain at home from bust
ness and devote 1t to celebrating my
escape from such crusty old bachelor
hood as you represent"
When Mr.. and Mrs. Dingee were
driven away after the wedding fes-
tivities, followed by showers Of rice
and old shoes, It looked as If his prom
Uses would be kept. II ever there was
a happy man 1t was Silas Dingee.
One year passed. Mr.. Dingee had
been made over by his wife from q
bachelor to married man. He had
learned to live for some one besides
himself. The first anniversary Of his
wedding had come round, the day that
he had vowed he would celebrate above
all others.
As Silas Dingee shrugged on his over
coat that morning preparatory to max.
ing dash for the nearest subway sta.
don his pretty wife spoke from the
dining room door.
III I'm not at home when you come.
dear
"Going out this afternoon?" inter.
rupted Dingee peevishly.
"Just to Mrs. Wright's for bridge,
honey" she soothed him. IF I'm not
here the moment you arrive just get
a bite to eat from the refrigerator and
read your paper until come. 1t won't
take me fifteen minutes to get dinner
after l arrve-steak and mushrooms.
Silas-it's Hilda's afternoon out"
Seems to be always Hilda's after
noon out and yours, too" grumbled
Dingee as he kissed his wife farewell
and departed.
AS he opened his newspaper on the
train he was still thinking of his dis
like of being alone 1t was one of his
peculiarities that he was restless
mortal indeed when Maud was away
from the apartment. Maud was an
inveterate card player and belonged
to two bridge clubs and a band of
pinochle enthusiasts. On the evenings
when he knew Maud would be late in
coming home Mr.. Dingee usually went
from his office to his club and remain.
ed there until his wife's frantic tele.
phone messages assured him that she
was home and that dinner was waiting
On such occasions he usually called
a taxi and sped home on the wings OF
love and rubber tired wheels.
Today everything went wrong. In
the mail he found several misdirected
letters, which had been returned to
him. One of them was an important
matter, which involved the loss Of con
siderable money.
So he discharged the careless stenog
rapher, scOlded his chief clerk, scared
the office boy into state of humility
and lunched at his club.
After luncheon things went better
He telephoned to Chicago and found
that he wouldn't lose the money after
all. When the fearful stenographel
came for her money he gave her anoth
er trial. and the office boy was EN-
boldened to ask for raise In his pay.
Whether he received 1t or not is mo-
part Of this tale, but at 400, wher
Mr.. Dingee closed his desk, he wa.
feeling in high good humor with him
self and the world.
, He had quite forgotten all about tn,
lonely apartment he must return t.
and stopped to buy some violets To-
Maud. While he stood there VIII,
should rush up to him with heart,
greeting but Tom Finch, Maud's Bos
ton cousin and a particular chum O.
Silas Dingee's.
Just going up to your place." re
marked Tom.
mighty glad to see you" cried Din
gee heartily. "Maud's out this after
noon at some whist bat or other, bu
she'll be home by $50. We can hav,
bite to eat as soon as we get there"
Good! I'm hungry. Had little &C
cident coming down. The buffet ca
and one coach derailed. Nobody hurt
Haven't had bite since 10 this morn
ing"
Man alive, hurry" Dingee hustle,
Tom into taxi, and they whirled up
town.
"It,s novp Maud ,,,;r =. 49,