ity."

"No, no, that's too warlike," protested Mrs. Honey; "I will draw up a
pacific invitation, and we will all sign it."

"I won't," promptly objected Mrs. Wildfen. "At least, I won't put my
name first. That would look as if I had flung down my arms and
surrendered unconditionally."

"What then _shall_ we do to preserve our dignity and get them back?"
piteously asked Mrs. Plowden. "Rob and I had no quarrel, and I want
him--bigamist or no bigamist."

"Mrs. Plowden! I am shocked! and will no longer remain under the same
roof with you!" exclaimed Miss Fithian. "Edna, I am going to order Jim
to hitch up the sleigh and drive me to the depot. I shall go to cousin
Melinda's."

Mrs. Rutherford made a feeble show of urging her to remain until after
dinner, but she replied: "No, no; I will not sit at table with your
hypocrite and that woman's bigamist."

Said Mrs. Rutherford coldly, "Then I fear that we will have to be
deprived of the pleasure of your society."

As soon as order was again restored, after Miss Fithian's unregretted
departure, Mrs. Honey took up the interrupted theme. "Suppose, then,"
she said, thoughtfully, "as no one seems willing to sign first, that we
draw up a 'round-robin' which we can all sign, without either seeming to
lead."

"I won't," again objected Mrs. Wildfen--"not until I know what a
'round-robin' is."

"It is a paper to which signatures are affixed in a surrounding circle,
so that the precedence of all is equal."

"Oh, I'll sign that!" "So will I!" "And I!" responded the other wives.

This then was the form in which Mrs. Honey drew up the invitation, and
the signatures were affixed.

* * * * *

EDNA RUTHERFORD. HARRIET ANN HONEY.

XMAS.

You are invited to Dine
AT THE
Rutherford Mansion,
THIS CHRISTMAS,

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, AGREEING TO AVOID ALL
REFERENCE TO PAST DIFFERENCES,
PROVIDING YOU WILL DO
THE SAME.

5 P.M.

LYDIA WILDFEN. GERTRUDE PLOWDEN.

* * * * *

When completed, and addressed "To the gentlemen in the pavilion," it was
handed to Sam for delivery, and he went off chuckling over the success
of his ruse in attracting attention to his foray upon the
luncheon-table. In a short time he brought back a verbal acceptance of
the invitation.

Mrs. Honey had constituted herself leader of the feminine discontents.
When they were marshalled in the dining-room, awaiting