Norwich bulletin., 1917-10-19

Cousin Fannie's delight at being in- vited to a house party at the Dering's on Hope Lake was really naive. With her usually rather gauche self depre- citation she said that she thought she ought not to go, as she was sure it would be a rather dressy affair. But mother insisted upon her accepting the invitation and I offered to lend her my last years best sports suit. which is still remarkably good looking.
 Father took me aside and said that he wished to finance the little trip You get the railroad tickets. please, Lucile," he said. and give them to her. Then there will be no argument about the matter. Fannie certainly needs and deserves a holiday in the country"
 Indeed she does and I think it's dear of you, daddy, to furnish it. Don't you think it would be nice to give me a little money to buy her something pretty to wear up there in the coun- try"
 something extra.
 Just as if a woman didn't always need something new to wear" l re- turned laughingly, and father drew some bills from his bill book and hand ed them to me. I went out immediate ly and bought a beautiful silk sweater. I secretly slipped it in to Cousin Fan nie's trunk as a gay little surprise.
 q certainly think it's strang that we don't hear from Fannie" remarked mother three days after she had left for Hope lake. Fannie is usually punctillous about writing I hope she arrived safely"
 Well, here's letter from her now" said father, who had met the postman on his late afternoon round. What does she say?"
 Mother opened the enevelope and after reading a few lines gasped. Why, she had a fearful time getting to Dering's. Mercy. Lucille! You bought her ticket to New London instead of London and that's in the opposite end of the state, she says. She got up there at half past in the evening. and nobody knew anything about Hope lake. At last the, station agent sue ceeded in looking it up for her. and the poor child had to stay there all night and get up at o'clock in the morning to catch a train out when the next noon she arrived after changing cars several times. Lucille. how could you have been careleSS!
 Its awfully easy mother, to con fuse London and New London. l don't think I should be blamed when the legislature allows town in the same state to have such similar names. It's really perfectly stupid
 "Of course nobody else is stupid" remarked father. with unusual acidity.
 Well. I don't see that it's such catastrophe" I returned Il should have considered it just lark. Cousin Fannie had a much longer trip than she otherwise would and saw a great deal more country.
 And developed such sick head ache that she couldn't write the first day she was at the Dering's," added 1 mother.
 Well she is all right now, so why discuss it any longer? 1 might write a note to her telling how sorry am-"'
 .I wish you would Lucille, my dear" said father. more genialiy.
 All right daddy. I'll be glad to-" l assured him, but before I had time to write the next day I received a note from Cousin Fannie inclosed with the i green sweater.
 T think this must have been placed in my trunk by mistake" she wrote. | "It is much more your style than mine Lucille. I know you love this emerald burn hair. but I shudder to think how | sallow I should look in it, so I'm send ] ing it back to you. feeling sure it was i mean for you and not for n1e.'' l
 It happened that 1 was gong to a golf tournament at the Linden club 1 that afternoon with Jerry Voshell, a l delightful man I have recently met: Of course I was glad to have somehing | stunning to wear. father whistled surprised and admir- Ing exclamation. Where did you get that gorgeous garment?" he asked.
 "CfA this is the sweaer you gave to | Cousin Fannie She fancied that it was too bright for her. and sent it home. Poor dear, she has such mouselike .aste."
 'eKnowing that, why didn't you se- eet something less famboyant?" fath- er persisted.