The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-17
SIX GIRLS AT ONCE.
By WILLIAM EARLE BALDWIN.

When Copely received six different in
vitations for the leap-ye assembly from
six different girls, he ascribed IL more to
his popularity than anything else.
1t was only when his friend Hunting
ton dropped in later in the morning that
he had the faintest idea that he was being
sold.
~ daresay you are a very popular man."
said Huntington, In his drawing fashion,
"but no man would get so many invita-
tions at the same time. They are clearly
trying to sell you"
"They " referred TO the girls who were
getting up this dance. 1t was to be
leap-year affair. Each girl might invite
a man, call for him in her carriage, and
take him to the dance.
81 don't see why they should sell me-"
said Copley, jumping up and pacing up
and down the room. 81 haven't done
anything that should be laid for in that
way" he added, as he lodged the chande-
lier. Copiey's six-feet- three were very
inconvenient.
He sat down and opened . bottle OF
mineral water.
"See here, Hunt" said he, presently,
81 know what I'll do about it. "Pll fix
them IL 1t is a SELL" He thrust his hands
into the pile OF envelopes and paper.
"Here are Invitations from Miss Til
linghast, Kittie Ganesvoort, the Brook
field girls-of course it is a sell; two sis
ters in it. I'll accept every beastly one
of themp'
Huntington laughed. SNAKE compli-
cations" he observed.
"Well, rather. That's what / want"
"How'll you get out of it?"
"How'll they get out of it?"
"They'll all know you've accepted
them ALL"
"What do 1 carer" asked Copley, reck-
lessly. "They wanted some fun; I hope
they'll get it,"
Copley sat down and wrote for some
time. 81 guess that will fix them," he
said at length.
Huntington came up and took up one
of the sheets from the table.
Mr.. Copley presents his compliments
to Miss Tilling hast, and has much pleas
ure in accepting her invitation for the
leap year assembly December i, at Hun
newell Hail.
"Um," commented Huntington; "very
stiff"
"Had to be-" said Copley. "Don't
know her very well. How's this?"
"My dear Miss Ganesvoort," began the
second, :" shall be delig hted to accept
your very kind invitation for the leap
year assembly. IL is a pleasure that |
never looked for, and it was most kind Of
you to ask me"-
"Let's see another?" asked Huntington.
"Here's the one to the eldest Miss
Brookfeld."
"Dear Miss Brookfield," read Hunting
ton. "You are very kind. / shall have
much pleasure in going to the assembly
with you December l."
"Here's another" broke In Copley.
any dear Miss Rensselaer," Huntington
began, ~ shall have much pleasure =
"Bahp he stopped suddenly. "To
tell the truth, Copley, / think you will
have n great deal OF pleasure"
Here is one for Bessie Brookfield."
"Ive seen about enough" protested
Huntington.
"Pm going to mail two OF them to- day
and the rest in instalments," said Copley.
/" rather think they will carry dismay
into the enemy's camp"
eyes" said Huntington, dryly.
Copley wondered how he was to get out
OF 1t when the night of the dance came.
All Of the girls had seen him, and each of
them had said she was coming for him at
s:15 with the exception of Kittie Canes
voort.
81 will be around for you, Mr.. Cop
ley" she had said, at a little after 8.
You Will be ready then, / suppose?"
- don't know" laughed Copley, for a
number of other girls were near at hand,
and he wanted to make them think he
was not nearly so ratified as he really was.
" suppose may have the woman's priv
ilege of prinking as long as / like. A girl
once kept me waiting a half hour, and /
may take this opportunity for revenge"
Please don't be very revengeful," said
Kittie, as she looked up with her blue
eyes. They were very pretty blue eyes,
Copley thought, and there was a bit of
mischief in them at the time.
He thought over this conversation as
he was dressing, and he broke both shoe
lsces and struggled for about FIVE min
utes with very refractory collar but
ton and a very copiously starched collar.
He had instructed his man to tell him
the moment Miss Ganesvoort came for
him, and he had planned to be dressed
promptly at s o'clock.
There was an ominous sound OF rolling
wheels just then, and Copley drew back
the curtains and peered cautiously out.
Was it a funeral procession?
Just turning in at the gate fthe drive
way was a carriage. Close behind was a
second. Up the road, following one upon
another, were three more carriages.
Copely groaned. He rushed to his
case. The brandy was all gone.
lie looked in the glass and saw that his
face was very pale. Then he sank down
into a chair, regardless of the fact that
be was crumpling the tails of q hitherto
immaculate dress coat.
The pitiless thud of the horses hoofs
came ~ plainly from below. The sound
Of the wheels on the gravel was very evi-
dent.