The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-10-19
MRS. GERLOCK'S OUTING
Observation-Disclosures
BY Il. l.. YOUMANS.

q determine; but il was iact
that she had never married.
She was fairly good-looklng, win
figure above the average In graceful
development. well educated, refined,
and comfortably situated In the mat
ter Of money.
She had several friends who called
upon her from time TO time, but their
acquaintance never went any farther
than the platOnic stage. This may
have been her fault and 1t may not.
Such appeared TO he the case, however.
and while il did not seem 10 bother
Miss Moore TO any material extent
IL occasioned considerable comment
from her friends She was not over
inclined to go into society, as one
would imagine n woman Of her means
might be- and this was another pc
culiarity to which her friends gave
n good deal of thought. Hence, when
she one day made the announcement
TO Mrs. Gerlock that she intended to
90 to Ocean Grove for two weeks
that lady was much surprised.
She told all the women she met that
afternoon about the sudden decision
of Miss Moore TO take an outing, ana
the good ladies, young and old, far
and ugly, who belonged TO Emma's
immediate circle held an important
consultation before evening to discoy-
er If possible, the motive for her In
tention.
Depend upon IT," said Mrs Gcrlock,
ems got some big scheme in view.
Shouldn't wonder but she thinks shell
get a husband before she comes back.
Maybe she'll catch preacher who
knowsf"
"Who. indccdw said Mrs. Wolrcrs.
Goodness knows she's old enough to
marry She's only a year younger
than my John, and hc has ten chill
dren."
"Do you know I've mind TO go 10
the Grove myself for a week or two"
continued Mrs Gcrlock II need n
rest, and this will be a good time to
take IT,"
That's capital idea said Mrs.
Wilson. "You can keep your eye on
En- and tell us all about her when
you return. Depend OH IL, she'll marry
the man with whom she goes In bath
ing | did. John proposed TO me while
we were in the water and ] accepted
him. | had no sooner done SO than "A
big wave came along and Knocked him
down, carrying hip from me. | told
him then that | was glad IL did not
take him away for good, but often
since we have married have wished
to the Lord IL had"
For moment following this rather
unexpected remark no one vcnturcd To
speak, but finally Mrs. Gerlock asked:
Doesn't he treat you well, then"
"Oh yes, | suppose so; but you
know that married life Is not all it
might be-"
"Thcn you think she'll marry the
man she goes u swimming with,' said
Mrs. Gcrlock, returning to the original
subject
81 do; you wait and see"
"All right. III remember that when
we get TO Ocean Grove"
Mrs Gerlock kept select board
Ing house, and il was i'm her parlor
that this asscmblagc had gathered
Two of the ladies', Mrs Wilson and
Miss King, boarded i'm the house. while
the others Were friends; all present
knew Miss Moore
Ii must be said that Mrs, GCrlock's
house, besides being select, was also
a little different from the average. She
set good table and provided plcn-
tifully for it, You were not restrict
ed to two small slices of bread an
ounce of butter, fcN. burnt pota-
toes, and n small piece of tough steak
for breakfast in the morning. There
was plenty Of tender and juicy sirlon.
an abundance of nicely Drowned po-
tatoes, well-hrewed coffee, golden but
ter and hot rolls As n natural con
sequence, Mrs. Gerlock was fairly
prosperous, and did not hesitate to
leave the business in the care of her
servants while she went with Miss
Moore to Ocean Grove.
They arrived there early on Sunday
morning, and after some difficulty
found board and lodgings with n Mrs.
Jones, at whose house both ladies soon
became popular, Miss Moore specially
so. Two of the male boardcrs. John
Ward and George Drake. soon gave
her ample opportunity to prove that.
however much OF an old maid she
might he, she was pretty well ad-
vanced In the art of fooling the men,
She did not encourage one more than
the other. and many a pleasant drive
fell TO her lot in consequence.
One afternoon they were all sitting
on the broad veranda II was n hot
day. but down in the surf number
of bathers could be seen. and they
looked very comfortable in the cool
water.
Have you been i'm the water vet.
Miss Mooref" suddenly asked John
Ward
"No; I don't care much for IT," she
replied
That's too bad. It's a delightful af-
ternoon for a plunge i'm the surf, and
l was going TO suggest that we all
go In together"
George Drake heartily approved OF
the idea. and the two men brought
their persuasive eloquence 20 bear upon
the women with such good effect that
at last. Notwithstanding Miss Moores
objections, they were on their way
TO the beach
When they were ready TO enter old
ocean John Ward approached Miss
Moore and asked permission 20 give