Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-10

Social Debts


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
'Dsar," said Mrs. Westc0tt dramat'
1eAlly to her husband as she took the
newspaper, out Of his hands 10 COM
~ him 10 give his undivided atten'
ton to her. we've got to entertain!
That's all there Is to it,"
,"Well, why have we?' demanded
Westcott.
why, I'm simply ashamed to look
sonr friends in the face, and actually
the Ruggleses and the Squires will
think We are stingy They've lived
here nearly year and I've never even
had y luncheon in all that time! Think
Of 1t. And receive invitations almost
every day. But there's one comfort
don't go any more So really don't
owe lot of people more than the in
yitstfon itself"
Westcott listened helplessly, trying
IL vain to catch glimpse OF the head
lines in the newspaper that his wife
held. Yes he said, in most desul-
tory manner, feeling in duty bound TO
make some remark in the pause.
Yes. that's IT." went on Mrs. West
colt. We'll entertain. Wen do some.
thing big, too. Come. help me PLAN
She beanied on him as she threw the
newspaper behind her. regardless of
its landing on the floor,
But" demonstrated her husband,
weakly, these big affairs are rather
All expense, aren't they?'
"Oh, why didn't think Of ii be
7 fore!" Mrs. Westcott asked, ignoring
his remark. There. they've been
I. gone only two months and I've owed
them something SO long. could
Z have had it week. say, after they
sailed and She paused in rapt
contemplation.
why, my d. ar" interpo ed West
colt, sur rised oy the peculiar trend
Of his wites remarks. 'YoI say you
wish you could have given it a week
after they sailed! assume that you
mean the Rankins. But why week
after they sailed. Why was that time
any better than the present.
"Why. you see,' Mrs. Westcott
rgaxed on him in pity for his lack OF
cofnpre hension, you see, could have
invited them
i Westcott took a deep breath. He
looted al his wife earnestly while his
brain tried to fathom the mystery.
"You wanted to give ii early so you
could invite the Rankins to come to
It week after they sailed. All, yes
30 ciear---so---so- We call 1t
l iueid?"
"Oh. bother" Mrs. Westcott ilnpa-
tently exclaimed. Why can't you I'M
derstand things? | always have to eA'
plain every thing to you. II invited
them then they'd owe me an invita-
tion. Id have paid what | owe them,
but they couldn't come because they'd
be sailing for Europe at the time
Westcott eyed his wife in admira,
ition.
Are you going Toto run the whole
party on the same principle" he que
yied, respectfully.
"Well, we'll issue about twice as
many invitations as the house can
hold she explained, the fire Of vic
tory in her eyes. There are the
Browns. They're going TO Florida this
winter. heard that they leave in
about a week. That's five, for I'd
have to have the girls, too She
looked at her husband eXultantly.
"Oh, and there are the Warrens and
the Smiths. They're going hunting
together this fall somewhere up north
and they'll go gone month, know!
That's seven with Mr.. Warrens sis
ters.' Westcott pulled out an enve
llope and put down the figures.
Then there are the doctor and his
y mother. He told me the other day
THAT she wasn't at all well and he
thought he'd take a run out West to
20 with her to his sisters in Califor-
MIA. could invite them"
And there are the minister and his
wife and his son and daughter" put
In Westcott, with proper pride in his
offering. He's going to accept that
church in Rochester. SO we can in
yite them"
X. Mrs. Westcott glanced at her .hus-
band to detect any fraud in his air OF
/ frankness, but he was adding the
names to his list enthusiastically.
There are twenty that cant come" y
he counted, finally.
Mrs. Nestcott sighed deep sigh
Z OF thanksgiving. That's all right.
them she said. Now, well just ask
our own immediate friends in to tea
h that night and have a good time.
ThQll be eight or ten altogether
and, thank goodness, most Of my OBJ
i legations will be paid",
Then she handed his newspaper to
him smilingly.