Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-10-27
A MISTAKE
LOUISE M. ADDISON.

saddest human defect. At all times
it is embarrassing. In some instances
1t is criminal. For example take the
case Of my cousin, George Whiffietree.
When he left, about twenty years
ago, for parts unknown, we were
heartily glad to be rid Of him. he
was a tall, stumbling, dreamy sort OF
a fellow, who divided his time pretty
evenly between fishing and experiment
ing with machinery of various kinds.
Never did anything worth while, II |
remember Never gave us any warn
ing that some day--but l am getting
ahead of my story. Anyhow we we're
glad to see the last of him. The only
one who regretted his departure was,
1 believe, my brother Al, WHO has al
ways been rather sentimental, and ac-
tually shed tears when George went
away. / understand, too that they
corresponded more or less regularly afa
terwurd.
Now, / have always maintained that
the only way to get along comfortably
in the world is to associate with the
proper people, And in order to do this
1t is impossible to burden oneself with
unimportant and unadorable relations:
They are a handicap. When l am
alone with them don't mind recognize
ing some of my poorer, less fortunate
relatives; but in the presence of people
of standing l cannot be expected tc
greet them with enthusiasm. II, fol
lowing my theories, / made very
natural mistake, the fault is not SO
much mine as it is my cousin Georges,
and is entirely due to his deplorable
lack of tact.
My wife and 1 were giving a dinner
to a few carefully selected guests.
Every thing was going on wonderful
~ well. The food was delicious, the
wines excellent since had spared
myself neither pains nor expense In
procuring them. And old Judge Gruff,
whose favor was particularly valuable
to me, appeared in the best Of humor.
And on this particular evening Cou-
sin George decided to inflict his pres
ence on me, after an absence of TWEEN
ty years. l confess l was much an
noyed when the butler whispered that
a person calling himself George Whit
fletree was in the library and insisted
on seeing me. With difficulty con-
cealed my irritation, excused myself
to my guests, and walked into the next
room, where / found George; a little
grayer, a little more wrinkled than
of yore he was, but, if possible, dream
Ter and shabbier than ever.
OF course spoke a trifle sharply.
And didn't notice the hand he held
out.
"Sorry, George, but / haven't time
to do anything for you tonight. Have
company to dinner. Cook will give
you something to eat in the kitchen.
If there's anything you want come
around in the morning, and" sf
He looked at me with steady stare
that irritated me still further before
he answered: ~, sf,alsis .uofs
Thanks, old boy, but. I'm afraid l
won't be able to come around in the
morning" 81 gt4aa.,Fe a.$ 5afaao
Sorry. Good night" And that was
the last / saw of him. 4z asi4 -
1t was quite early when / was awak-'
ened the next day. Ny brother AL
wished to speak to me over the phone.
r'Well what is it?"I asked Grossly,
for I was tired after the dinner Of the
previous evening. lfeg srolrs0a3a sfes
20 Say, Jim," AL was saying, George
is back from California; fIq
ln"Well, how would that interest me.
He had the nerve to come here last
night in the midst Of a dinner was
giving to Judge Gruff, and" o.
/ could hear AL laugh before he an
swered. "Say, you bag of wind, you
pompous, empty-headed son-of-a-gun!
Do you know Judge Gruff means
precious little to George Whiffletree?
The Judge knows him and is going to
cali on him If George has time to see
him." haffifI cEa19laS
"What are you talking aboutT' I
demanded
II mean what say. George is worth
a couple of millions and you'd better
watch your step. He's a pretty impor-
tant person where he comes from.A
But" stammered, "he was dressed
so shabbily and he didn't say a word
about %F@
about being rich, hey? / should
say mott But he's got the dough, just
the same. 1t may interest you to know
that I'm going back with him. He's
giving me a real job, with real money
attached to it."
OF course it is too late to mend mat
ters now, and my wife is very angry
with me. 1t seems that George ac-
cumulated vast fortune through
some invention or other, and that he
is acquainted with some pretty good
people out West. However, 1 can only
repeat that if l have made a mistake
it is very natural one, for which
Georges lack of tact Is chiefly re-
sponsibie.
Advises Walking on Toes.
ILL.,