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

Bah he declared that never before had
he known real happiness. He swore
that the anniversary OF that blessed
day which ended his bachelor loneb-
, 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.
"Si I'm sorry for you. Tomorrow
you 90 to serve your life long term
OF regulation Farewell independence.
Farewell a Jolly night at the club.
Farewell cocktails: they'll faint your
breath Farewell cigars; they'll make
the curtains smell Goodby, ST. The
! matrimonial prison doors win soon
close behind you"
You dried up old bach" was Din
gees reply, tomorrow viii 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. 1 shall
on that day remain ut home from bust.
ness and devote 1t to celebrating my
escape from such crusty old bachelor
hood az you represent"
When Mr.. and Mrs. Dingee were
| driven away after the wedding fes-
, Invites, followed by showers Of rice
and old shoes, 1t looked az II his prom
ises would be kept II ever there was
happy man 1t was Silas Dingee.
| One year passed. Mr.. Dingee had
been made ever by his wife from a
bachelor to a married man. He had
| learned to live for some one besides
himself. The first anniversary Of his
wedding had come round, the dny that
! he had vowed he would celebrate above
all others.
AS Silas Dingee shrugged on his over
coat that morning preparatory to maxi
ing dash for the nearest subway sta
ton his pretty wife spoke from the
dining room door.
"If I'm not at home when you come,
dear
Going ont this afternoon7" inter-
rupted Dingee peevlshly.
"Just to Mrs. Wright's for bridge.
honey" she soothed him. "rf I'm not
/ here the moment you arrive Just get
I bite TO eat from the refrigerat tor and
read your paper until come. Itwon't
take me- fifteen minutes to get dinner
after | arrive-steak and mushrooms
Silas-it's midas afternoon OUT"
Seems to be always HiIda's after
noon out and yours, too" grumbIed
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
peculiarlties 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 band OF
pinochle enthusiasts, On the evenings
when he knew Maud would be late in
coming home Mr.. Dlneee usually went
from his Office to his club and remain
ed there until his wife's frantic teie-
phone messages assured him that she
was home md that dinner was whiting.
On such occasions he usually called
a taxi and sped home on the wings OF
love ana 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 stenographer
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 Il or not Is not
part OF this tale, but at 4.3o, when
Mr.. Dingee closed his desk, ne was
feeling in high good humor with him.
self and the world.
/ ne NHu luite loEScttpn All ADCut Tie
I lonely apartment he must return to
and stopped to buy some vioaets for
Maud. While he stood there whe
should rush up to him with hearty
4 greeting but Tom Finch, Msud's Bos.
ton cousin and a particular chum Of
Silas Dineee's
Just going up to your place" 10
marked Tom.
Mighty glad to see your cried DIN.
, gee heartily. "Maud's ont this after.
noon at some whist bat or other. but
/ she'll be home by $50. We can have
, bite TO eat as soon as we get there"
Good I'm hungry Haa,a little ac.
cident coming down The buffet car
! and one coach derailed. Nobody hurt
Haven't had bite since 10 this morn.
, ing"
, Nun alive, hurry!" Dingea hustled
Tom into a taxi, and they whlrled up.
town.
IT'S 0 now. Maud will be bnma IN
a few minutes said Dineee as no
opened the door with his latchkev.
But the rooms were dark upt,l ha
switched on the lights and revealed