Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-01-27
An Invitation
BY BETTY K. KENDALL
., l9N, Western Newspaper Union.

ti''iouS l'I ANui tdIs ! qucilcd pts-
sic, raising her eyebrows and look
ing up from her fancy work, "Espe-
cially when in all your finery and glory
you most likely will lead the grand
march with Frank"
Nothing of the kind" answered
Alice in re-what-happens
tone.
Didn't you have new gown for
the occusionT
Yes and I'll wear ii if only 10 show
some people that can't be stunned by
their audacity"
But if you're not going with
Frank, who lisp
Bella Johnson"
Bessie, when n, young man talks
to you about dance and asks your
opinion on all details, and then at the
eleventh hour asks another girl, do
you think he can ever Justify his con
duct? asked Alice.
NO, and simply can't understand
it," admitted BESSIE.
Are YOU sure?'
Positively, Bella and met Frank
on the street He came towards Us in
his usual cordial way, and stopped TO
say to Bella, I'm going to take you
TO the Entire Nus" affair Bella
must have had some mixing. as she
didn't appear surprised, and only said !:
i thank YOU; what time will you call
for me?'
For moment | felt the keen insult
that he should invite her in my pres
ence. and then | said I'm going with
Edwin Upton You know Edwin is
always Fostering me TO 20 with him,
so | knew could rely upon his taking
me. We LETT Frank at the corner,
and though | was the one to be offend
ed he doesn't even bow to me when
we pass each other by"
Edwin is much shorter than you
don't you feel like giantess when
you're with him?'
Well" said Alice, ut came TO me
like flash that wouldn't give either
one of them the satisfaction that
| couldn't 90, and anyway little man
with loads OF money is better than no
man at all"
That's philosophical enough, my
dear but don't get bad case OF
gloomS over it, If Frank Is SO tickle
and changeable in his affections, It's
better to know 1t now than later"
After Bessie left the words, 'it's
better to know 1t now" kept ringing
In Alice's ears. She hated to face the
truth that any man could so lightly
throw her friendship aside after all his
professions of sincerity.
"TIl not have any ones sympathy
she determined "At the dance I'll be
the gayest Of ALL"
"Why, Alice" exclaimed her friend
few days later, "how much better
you look than the last time | saw
you; you are fairly radiant IL must
be your hat Its so becoming
A faint color rose in Alice's cheek.
"Don't blame ii nh on my hat she
said give me credit for a portion of
my good looks"
II just saw Bella and she failed
completely to appreciate Franks
charms" continued Bessie land she
never was so bored in all her exist
ence. that she was the only girl whose
partner did not send her corsage
bouquet, and he never even was con-
| cerned whether her program was
filled or not. In fact she said there
was no pleasure to 90 with a young
man who was constantly noticing an
other girl Why do you think he asked
her and then was SO rudef"
Alice smiled.
promise you'll rever tell"
''He was an unwilling victim. To-
ward the end of the evening Frank
came up to me saying Hope you en-
joyed Yourself
ooh, immensely" ! replied.
Doesn't your back ache from dane
ing with that midgetT' ne asked In a
maddeningly sympathetic way.
"Not bit" | answered. Edwin is
a splendid dancer"
"Then you prefer that dwarf's atten-
lions to mine p he exclaimed in ieal-
Gus rage.
"Just as much as you prefer Bella
10 me-" | replied.
"But I don't and never viii" he pro-
tested, looking at me tenderly. Il
asked you for tonight, not her"
you asked me- How can you de-
liberately sag that when | heard you
invite herr"
Didn't / look at you, when | said
I'm going to take you to the dancer
"Then ] laughed and laughed until
/ could not laugh any more"
until that moment ] never thought
about It. He's cross-eyed, and when
he looked at Bella in his own heart
and soul he was in reality staring at
me. That's where all the trouble came
up"
ooh. how disconnected Bella would
be II She knew"
"She never viii. The best part Of
our. quarrel was the reconciliation"
Its always been my pet aspiration
to see you two married, said Bessie
"Well, your wish viii soon come
true"
"Alice," asked Bessie, won't II be