The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-11-10
MR.. VAN TWILLER'S ALIBI

The snow had been falling for several
minutes in little eddying gusts, and al
ready an appreciable number of flakes
were collecting on the cape of Miss Dor
othy Dempseys storm coat as she turned
into Fifty-fourth street at swinging
pace On her head. framed by soft
halo of brown hair in which the drops
of moisture glistened here and. there, a
dark English walking hat had slipped
coquettishly to one side. Her cheeks
were brilliant from the cutting wind,
and her eyes shone with exhilaration as
she battled against the storm
To Insignificant BERTHE Carey, advanc-
ing from the opposite direction. she
appeared like delightful vision; de-
light considerably influenced, of course.
by the fact that she belonged to the right
''set" of visions. or BERTHE, being so little
a man. would not have looked u second
time. Indeed, it is doubtful whether
anything short of Miss Dorothy's geneal-
ogy ON the maternal side would have
induced him to give up his daily game
of dominoes at the club and wheel about
= TO join her promenade with such urbane
oblivion to the GOODNESS of his reception.
And it is not likely that at any other
time Miss Dempsey would have resented
his intrusion quite so hotly; but. unfor
tunately for him, her memory still
retained with vigor a graphic description
detailed to her only the previous evening
by her Cousin Jack, during which, excit-
ed to unusual emphasis by Carey's last
faux pas. he had gone so far as to declare
him "a consummate ass, not fit for
decent society" Dorothy, having agreed
with him in spirit if not to the letter.
felt that she was justified in taking
strong measures on this occasion
To walk down the avenue in his COM
pany. ut an hour when all her dear
-Four Hundred friends would be
abroad and glancing curiously from
their brougham windows or over their
shoulders was reflection upon her
taste and discrimination which she WAS
not ready to endure Accordingly be-
fore the preliminary greetings We're
fairly over, she was racking her brain for
some way of dismissing him. In vain
she meditated a dozen clever feminine
maneuvers that. under any other cir
cumstances or in any other locality
would have been practicable II was
Carey himself who finally provided her
with the means of escape.
'Awfully jolly, this unexpected pleas
ure of stroll with you. he murmured.
ignoring the gait that was rapidly reduc-
ing him to breathlessness.
Yes. indeed. returned Dorothy, with
false serenity, "only it can't be a very
long one, as l. intend making call in
this block. This with unblushing ef-
frontery although well aware that she
could walk on. to the North river with
out finding name ON her list
"A mutual friend?" inquired Carey
Il think hot.
This must be the house, then. since
It is the last one
Miss Dempsey gave hasty, surrepti
tious glance at the window curtains and
evidently found some reinsurance in
their design
Thanks. yes. | suppose you will be
at the Greys Good afternoon.
'Oh. the Greysl" cried Carey, fred TX
fresh recollections: haven't you heard:
Then, if may, will wait and see i
your friend is in, if not we can con
tinue our chat
Now. Miss Dorothy being an indepen
dent and somewhat peremptory young
lady, and having gone to all the troubl,
and risk of this subterfuge. was any
thing but pleased at turn which left he
unwittingly outwitted. But having gon
SO far it was necessary to play the fare
out, and. ascending. the steps with
good deal of suppressed indignation, sh
pressed the bell The door was promptl
opened by neat capped maid.
''Is DIR. Robinson in@' she inquiries
glibly, improvising the first name tina
came to her.
.'sl believe so, ma'am. will you wal
inY
For an instant Dorothy wavered i
total dismay. This was contingenc
for which she found herself completed
unprepared Then. as her glance rove
from the waiting Carey below to tn
girl who had stepped Hospitality bacl
her resolution Was talzens to. go in an
explain. on meeting the doctor. that b
was the wrong man. seemed the sl,npies
and most natural way ont of the diff
Guilty and it would rid her of Care,
which was the main thing,
The room into which she wssssiIshere
gave her. rs first iinpres on. a sens
tion Of cheer and comfort and goo
taste II was fitted up as nall Office
half library. and n fire on the heart
shed it's unstable light on two iarg
chairs. drawn mp in a snggestively cor