The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-02-20
An Invitation
By BETTY K. KENDALL
%, 1874. Western Newspaper Unlon.l

since When are such subjects too
frivolous for your earsY queried Bes-
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 a I-don' t-care-what-happ
tone.
didn't you have a new gown for
the occasion?"
"Yes, and I'll wear 1t If only to show
some people that l can't be stunned by
their audacity."
"But IL you're not going with
Frank, who is?'
BELLA Johnson"
Bessie, when a young man talks
to you about a 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.
mo, and l simply can't understand
It," admitted Bessie.
"Are you sure?r
Positively. Bella and l 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 "Entre Nus affair." Bella
must have had some inkllng, as she
didn't appear surprised and only said:
l thank YOU; what time will you call
for .meT
'For a 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 90 with him,
so knew could rely upon his taking
me. ave left 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 a giantess when
you're with him."
well" said Alice, ut came to me
like a flash that wouldn't give either
one of them the satisfaction that
l couldn't go, and anyway a 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, cts
better to know II now" kept ringing
In Allce's cars. She hated to face the
truth that any man could SO lightly
throw her friendship aside after all his
professions of sincerity.
"Ill not have any ones sympathy"
she determined. AT lthe dance I'll be
the gayest Of all"
"Why, Alice" exclaimed her friend
4 few days later, chow much better
YOU look than the last time l saw
you; you are fairly radiant. 1t must
be your hat. It's so becoming"
A faint color rose in Alices cheek.
"Don't blame 1t all on my hat" she
said "giye me credit for a portion Of
my good looks
81 just saw Bella and she failed
completely to appreciate Franks
charms" continued Bessie. land she
FEVER 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 20 with young
man who was constantly noticing an
other girl. Why do you think he asked
her and then was so rude?"
Alice smiled.
promise you'll never tell"
Gle was an unwilling victim. To-
ward the end Of the evening Frank
came up to me saying: Hope you en-
joyed YOURSELF
ooh, immensely" l replied.
Doesn't your back ache from dane
ing with that midget" he asked in o
maddenlngly sympathetic way 1
mot a bit" answered. Edwin is
splendid dancer"
"Then you prefer that dwarf's atten-
tons to mine!' he exclaimed in jeal-
Gus rage
"Just as much as you prefer Bella
TO me-" | replied.
"But | don't and never WILL" he pro-
tested, looking at me tenderly. 81
asked you for tonight, not her"
"You asked me? How can you de
llberately say that when I heard you
invite herT
didn't | look at you, when / said
I'm going to take you to the dancer :"
"Then I laughed and laughed until
l could not laugh any more"
Until that moment never thought
about 1t. 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
"Oh, how disconnected Bella would
I be If she knew"
"She never will. The best part of
our quarrel was the reconciliation"
TITS always been my pet aspiration