The Morris County chronicle., 1902-08-29
OIL AND WATER.
By WALTER A. TICE.

"Kenilworth house. Situated on top OF
the highest mountain in jackson county.
Superb view No mosquitoes. Lake,
stocked with fish, near hotel. Excellent
golf links Fruit and vegetables raised on
our own farm. For terms, address Thomas
Kenilworth, BushwicE.' -
All three read the same advertisement
on the same morning, ON the same elevated
train, though none knew of the existence
of the others. And all three were leaving
August l on their annual vacations.
On August | the three found themselves
at Platte Junction, with a l5-minute wait
in the boiling sun Dunning carried his
fishing tackle, Putnam his golf clubs and
Miss Driscoll sketching outfit. The l5-
minute wait ran into four times its length,
and the three passengers inevitably con-
doled with each other. During the stage
ride from Bushwick depot to Kenilworth
house the acquaintance ripened rapidly. By
the time they piled up before the mountain
inn each man was asking what in thunder
the other fellow had come for, and Miss
Driscoll, being wise in her day and gem
Grafton, could foretell that there would be
something more exciting on her hands dur
ing the next fortnight than making water
color sketches
The second day she made a sketch-in-
colors of the lake, and Dunning lost interest
in the speckled beauties-until the sketch
was finished. The fourth day she painted
q picturesque corner of the golf links, and
Putnam might have charged up to profit
and loss the sum he had paid his caddy for
the mornings work. The fifth day it rained,
and Miss Driscoll very appropriately might
have shut herself in her room to paint a pair
of bleeding hearts. But, being a healthy,
well-balanced young person, she merely
laughed at what she termed ''the antics of
those two boys" and made herself popular
with the shut-ins, huddled dismally in the
parlor, whose barrenness no one noticed on
clear days. She organized games for the
children, charades and tableaux for the
elders, and, turning the lights very low after
supper, she spun deliciously curdling ghost
tales to an appreciative audience.
Dunning and Putnam retired, vowing that
if the other fellow had any sense he would
see that his presence at Kenilworth house
was not necessary to either general or in
dividual happiness. But the next day be-
ing clear of sky and dry under foot, the
three started out as usual. Dunning carry
ing her tin paint box, Putnam her port
folio As for the young woman, she swung
her unburdened hands lightly and smiled
sympathetically at the birds darting back
and forth above their heads.
'That's all very well,' remarked one of
the gossips from the vantage point of a
wicker porch chair. ''That Driscoll girl
will find she can't dangle two nice chaps
like those from her chatelaine much longer.
One or the other will bring matters to a
climax soon"
In just one respect Madame Gossip erred.
Both men brought about the climax, oper-
ating, so to speak, within ten minutes of
each other. 1t happened the night of the
hop, and spoiled the evening for Helen.
They were both such charming chaps She
had not thought seriously of marriage She
was happily fixed in business way in the
great, bustling city. She was not sure
whether she really wanted to marry and
absolutely certain that she did not dare Sc
lect the man. Like defiant little pagan,
she told them both that she did not know
her heart, but would try to read the signs
written therein before she left Kenilworth
house. Whereupon she proceeded to turn
the matter over to Fate, murmuring care
lessly, "And may the best man win"
And Fate, in punishment of her fool
hardness and distinctly feminine frivolity,
took hand in the matter promptly. The
very next afternoon Helen laid aside her
sketch with gesture of despair. Her labor
must cease until she could drive into Bush