The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-12-30
sssssssssssssssssssssssssss
When Your Friends
Have Cars

you, SACldtuSu Lie young WOludu III
the extremely fashionable garb as she
held her skirt with care while she
boarded the stFeetcar. Yves, / know
look perfectly silly in all this gor-
geousity. I'm on my way to the Pen
and Palette League reception, where
I'm to pour chocolate, but, honestly,
if had known was going in a
street car l certainly would have
worn something less perishable and
considerably more restrained"
The young woman in the extremely
fashionable garb looked down wryly
at the pale amber ruffles Of her gown
which flowed out beneath her white
wrap in delicate waves. The elderly
woman expressed her sympathy.
"You see, continued the much dres-
sed one, Il fully expected to go in the
| Blakely limousine, but while / was
standing in the window with every
preparation completed II for / never
like to keep my friends cars waiting
-Kittie Blakely telephoned that, ow-
ing to a headache, she had decided
not to go down to the league after all.
OF course, she hoped, very politely
that it wouldn't inconvenience me.
There's no use showing people
with cars what ones real opinion of
their reconsideration is. But wouldn't
you think that, after she had invited
me warmly to drive down with her,
she would have sent the car for me,
even if she didn't go herself? Such
an idea never crossed her mind, I'm
sure. 1t was too late for me to change
my dress, for / simply must be on
time; and. besides, you know have
to go into the next apartment to get
my hooking done when Joe's down
town. So, having been in once to
bother my neighbor with the compH-
cations of this costume, / wouldn't
have had the. cheek, even if had had
the time, to ask her to help me get
out of it so soon.
Sometimes, for the sake of my dis
position, actually wish that none OF
my friends had cars, for I'm always
allowing myself to feel annoyances at
the things they do and don't do with
their automobiles. Altho I'm really
grateful for many kindnesses, I've
certainly had enough trying expert
ences to qualify me to write book
of Don'ts' for the owners of cars. For
instance, if had an electric wouldn't
do, at least hope l wouldn't do, what
Miss Ripley, a member of our French
class, did yesterday.
''You know how stormy it was, and
was so hoarse that Joe hated to have
me go out, but of course didn't in
tend to give up my French lesson for
a little cold. So set forth on foot,
and when / arrived at the house
where we meet, Miss Ripley came
sailing up blithely in her luxurious
electric. She lives just around the
corner from us. She said to me as we
met on the doorstep Why, might
have brought you Just as well as not.
if had only thought of it. What was
/ to answer to an inanity like that?
/ couldn't very well regret her
thoughtlessness aloud. nor could
maintain that preferred walking in
storm / merely smiled and secretly
hoped she would remember to take
me home. But she didn't. She took
one of the wealthy members Of the
class who had come in taxi, and who
was just about to telephone for an
other, when Miss Ripley gayly urged
her to go in her electric.
Il naturally feel now that nothing
less than an engraved invitation would
induce me to ride block with her.
And feel very much the same about
tho Bakers. The night of Joe's frat
ernity reunion dinner / dined at the
Bakers. Mrs. Baker had said when
she invited me that Mr.. Baker would
sec that got home all right, SO went
over with no misgivings. When at
half past nine said thought ought
to be starting home, never suspected
that when Mr.. Baker went out to get
the car, which he drives himself, he
would not take me to my own door.
When we arrived at the loop, and
Mrs. Baker said she would sit in the
machine while Mr.. Baker put me on
my street car, l wonder if they OBJ
served any lack of sincerity in my
thanks. Joe was simply furious
when he found out that came unes-
corted.
''But Of all the trials I've had my
ride with the English girls was the
most excitingly disagreeable. Ruth is
exceedingly proud Of having learned
to drive her brothers big touring car.
and she and Belle came around one
lovely day and asked me to take a
spin into the country. Twas delighted
to go, because never dreamed that
quiet Ruth was a speed maniac Yet
that girl drove so fast after we got
out of the city that begged her to
slow down. / was frightened. She
laughed and Jew along at break
neck speed, and the result was that
we were arrested up in a north shore
suburb, and / happened to be the only
one who had any money to pay the
fine. / looked upon 1t as loan. but
think Ruth and Belle must have con-
sidered 1t contribution to the cars