The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-07-23
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.

O4A - I'LL 1N LII AO .
''It cost so much nowadays to sup
port wifer' cried impertinent Bryce
Thorne, casting sly glance across the
table at Ola Fiske. ''Td propose to
somebody 1 know of this night, if it
were not for her expensive habits
Pooh! she wouldn't have you,"
laughed Ola, scornfully, her own
dainty tea-gown rather giving point to
what Bryce had said. "She'd think it
altogether too great task to be bur-
dened with such a husband as you
would make. Think of the cigarettes
you fumigate the house with, the to-
bacco you devour, and-and every
thing"
That's it, Miss Ola; give it to him"
put in Phinnie st. John, who had a
firm belief in what his mother often
told him, "Phineas. you've got the
stuff in your pockets to carry you
through" and therefore did not care
how empty of ''stuff' his head might
be.
''Cigarettes!'' repeated Bryce, MAX
ing pair of big, round eyes at Miss
Fiske. Cigarettes! Better say some
thing about tea. That's the third cup
you've taken this evening, Miss Olivette
Fiske."
Il don't care it it is" retorted Ola,
with careless serenity. Tea is fash
ionable nowadays, and how much do
you imbibe of it yourself, Mr. Thorne?
You drink far more tea than I do,
doesn't he, Mrs. Doane?n
Mrs. Doane's smile was perfectly nom
committal; she was that rarity, a land
lady who pleased all her boarders,
smiling as sweetly on Phinnie st. John
when she said to her, with charming
clearness, Il can sling as much fod-
der down my trunk as the next man."
as upon Mrs. Livelign, who was lady
so perfect that no one dared address
her for fear of making an error in
grammar, or committing a breach of
etiquette.
Mrs. Doane, do I drink as much
tea as Miss Fiske?" appealed Bryce,
who seemed much hurt by the accusa-
ton.
II really do not know stammered
Mrs. Doane, who would not for worlds
express an opinion concerning any of
her boarders' appetites.
"Of course not-nobody knows it,"
resumed Bryce swelling up pompously.
''Miss Olivette, consider that YOU
have slandered me foully, while you
why, you haven't even the face to
deny that you have drank three cups
of tea this eveningn'
Bryce Thorne, I'll pledge myself to
leave off drinking tea if you will. I'll
wager napkin-ring that you will
break YOUR pledge before do.''
Hear, hear! A beta betr' cried
Phinnie st. John, jubilantly.
''I'll take you up on that. I'll bet
a ring that you will take the first
draught."
"a napkin-ring, I said," returned
Ola, coloring slightly.
VERY well-you all heart" cried
Bryce, turning to a table full of smil-
ing boarders. s'Watch the pantry,
Mrs. Doane.'
Not L. returned she. eff Ola
gets hungry she can go to the pantry
any time she likes
Cant I?n exclaimed Bryce in great
astonishment.
''Of course" assented Mrs. Doane.
by Jove! you'll both need watch
ing!'' cried Phinnie st. John. "And
as l have nothing to do, I'm the one to
do it.''
Dear me, Mrs. Doane, sha'n't put
paddock on the pantry door?' sug-
gested Mr.. Shylock, who was a car
penter, bowling politely to his land
lady.
After this Ola was obliged to take
water at all the little tea-parties where
she was invited, and her pretty tea
gowns seemed almost mockery to
her.
Bryce Thorne and Phinnie St John
followed her about, too, telling the
story TO everybody; and her friends
were laughing, knowing well how
much she loved a cheering cup, and
how delighted the two young men
were with this opportunity of lingering
ia the wake of pretty Ola.
ooh, you'll see me around with
napkin ring hanging to my watch
chain, before long" Bryce would
say. 81 don't care thing about the
the stuff, you know
''And Phinnie watched and watched
until he grew weary, and began to
lose faith in the ''stuff'' in his pockets,
fearing that it would fail to bring him
all the prizes of his life after all.
Gus intelligence to them at luncheon.
"I'm obliged to go away this after
noon. Some of the rest of you will
have to watch our two tea-drinkers.
Nobody volunteered, and Phineas
did not seem in the least disappointed.
Ola was a copyist, who did her
work in her own room, and, toward
dusk, her manuscript all daintily finish
ed she sauntered down into the sit
ting-room.
No one was there. Mrs. Doane was
missing, too, and Ola, could not re-
sist great temptation.
III go down into the kitchen and
make me cup of tea," she laughed to
herself. ''My head aches so from that
everlasting writing, and Bryce Thorne
will never know
Ten minutes later the teapot was
steaming away gloriously upon the
range, and the fumes of Olla's favorite
green beverage pervaded all the air.
Horrors! There was a sound of rush
| ing footsteps along the hall.
1t could be nobody but Bryce Thorne,
! for no one else could get away from
| business at that hour.
Ola had just time to thrust the tea
pot back into the dark corner where it
was usually kept by Mrs. Doane.
The door opened, and Ola, from the
corner where she had taken refuge,
could see Mr.. Thorne peering cautious.
ly around.
He entered, and, advancing to the
cupboard, he thrust his hand into the
very corner which held the teapot.
'Gurgle -gurgle-gurgle."
! And then:
ooh. NV Eauli I've taken it red