Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-03-01
His USUAL BAD LUCK
BY JULIA FRYE.

that she lifted from her trunk little
vindictively. "You may observe, sis
ter, dear, that this creation doesn't
show any signs Of hard wear, nor do
any of my other dancing frocks. II
you'll pardon the trite remark, | have
returned home a sadder but wiser
Girl. have learned few wholesome
truths, though / must admit that !
found them rather unpleasant at first.
'Tn just give you q little account
Of my visit to the city and then It
won't be necessary for me to point a
moral,
Looking back now, feel like smil-
ing at the pitiful egotism which led
me to half expect a phalanx of young
men at the train to meet me. Some
how, got the idea from the fiattering
remarks Of at least half dozen OF
those who honored our porch with
their presence last summer and pre-
vious summers that my advent in the
city would be to them source OF the
keenest delight. Strangely enough,
therefore, my arrival created not even
a ripple of excitement.
'If It hadn't been for dear old Mrs.
Gray, there wouldn't have been one
friendly face to greet me as stepped
OF the train. Even she was fuller of
her own affairs than Of mine. She
said she had some errands TO do, and
asked me II l would mind going with
her to the shopping district. or
course, l said I'd like to go with her,
but after we had passed a whole af-
ternoon pricing toweling and kitchen
ware in the Easements of three de-
partment stores, made up my mind
that when ! wished to see the shops
I'd try to go without Mrs. Gray
81 was glad when we got to her
apartment finally, to find that my
trunk had come, for l was anxious to
put on something pretty for the eve
ming In case there should be callers.
| might Just as well have taken my
ease in the negligee that Mrs. Gray
suggested, for our evening together
was uninterrupted / began TO think
that maybe some of the cards / had
sent to my summer friends--summeI
friends is such good name, dear, for
those careless young men who grace
our tennis court and swimming beach
and decorate our porch during the
heated season--had gone astray. SO ]
decided to call up Ted Harris and tell
him l was In town.
His mother answered the phone.
She said Ted had told her that ] was
coming and she thought he expected
to see me the next week. He was SO
busy socially, she informed me. that
he had very little time. Indeed, he
was leading cotillion at the Fort
nightly assembly that very evening.
81 thought Teds mother rather fe-
line, but the cotillion sounded good to
me, and / had fascinating mental
picture of myself moving through the
mazes OF that delightful dance two
weeks later ] remembered how Ted
was always descanting upon the per
lection of the floor and the beautiful
music at his club, and / was sure h.
would want me to dance there once
at least was awfully glad my eve
ming gowns weren't In the least BIZ
country.
We'll. to relieve yoss curiosity a.
once, let me tell you that Ted called
me up the next day and was mos
cordial He told me how glad he
would be to see me and how sorry h.
was that he had every evening taken
for weeks In advance That was just
haA lar. ha
he said / must surely have luncheon
with him downtown replied that
would II could, but that my time was
very full. He said | simply must
squeeze the luncheon In and he'd cal
me up In a day or two and arrange q
date.
That, my dear, was the last of Ted
] heard from him no more and prob
ably will not again until he appears
upon our veranda bright and smiling
some morning next summer, amiablJ
ready to enjoy our boat or our auto
mobile or even the early apples II
our orchard.
After ] had been in town a weel
Clayton Rogers called me up and said
he'd been trying to get around TO Sc,
me, but that he was rushed to pieces
with business. I'd like TO get up O
theater party for you he told me.
gasped with suppressed surprise ant
pleasure. But he added. Tn coins
east tonight / thanked him warmly
'The Todd boys called one eveniEl
just before left They talked Of tbs
delights OF our country home and TOLD
me how eagerly they were anticinat
ing their next summers vacation
They invited me--now, sister, dom
get excited--to walk around the lake
with them some cool day next Au
gustl OF course, accepted with
alacrity.
John Boyd actually took me to 9
lecture and Mr. Slater gave me merry
GUS shock by inviting me to the thea
ter But he chose the evening of the
day was leaving the city John How
ard and Mr. Bentley weren't heart
from at all
Il had o good time, though. for Mrs
Gray is active In all sorts OF interest
ing things, and went to her club anC
her chrFch and helped little Will
her numerous charities and learned {
lot. But | think the most iinportan
lesson learned was my true value al
. winter friend and as a summer
f~lerd DO you know, dear I'm awful!
get back to nice old Tom, wh'
aems to like me all the yea
- nfeBRo Daily News
woDderful thing to be ma
"a everybody will trust-includin
the grocer and the butcher.