Middletown transcript., 1902-02-08
The Improperly Of Dolly.
i.How you can torment / iellovr'
BY HELEN-H1cKS.

HOW you can tOrtnen lcitOWs
Listen, have changed my mind,
/ will 60 over to the rooms with you
to see the bear rug. We cannot go
anywhere that folks will see us; there
has been talk enough; butaI do not
feel bit like going home yet-to mo-
.notony and Jack. At least there was
never any monotony with 5oti, Hass !"
Il thought that was because Of you.
should think you could stir things
up anywhere, Dolly Dot"
"I-I am a model Of conventional dis
cretion nowadays, except when ! get
a longing for lobster outlets and peep
at forbidden bearskins. Come"
The rooms were almost directly across
the way. They we're warm and cosy
and Dolly fluttered from one well-re-
membered old treasure to another.
feYou've got better light on that
picture Of the Hunt than we ever could
manage. How well it looks. And oh,
here is the old ivory stein. What q
beauty. 1 always dotted on that. You
might have given it to me, Van, when
we broke up. What is this? Oh. the
boys sleeping chamber. May peep?
What a cherries place! But you've
kept my pictures. Goodness, how many
Of them? Surely, never sat for so many
as that. What conceited person used
to bel But where is the new skin?'
And then came ring at the door and
the sound of feminine voice.
"Heayensl Who is it! must not
be seen," whispered Dolly, drawing the
curtains. 'sGo out and see what she
wants, and do get rid of her soon. i
will never get into such scrape again"
ssMrs. Dalzell!n gasped yansittart, as
he went out into his sitting-roon, and
confronted the pretty, foolish-lookine
little woman who stood in the middle
of the floor, looking awkwardly about
her.
"You said 1 should see your rooms
sometime, so I came to-day. I am 80
miserable; he is making me so unhappy.
He has taken it into his head to be ieal-
Gus Of you lately"
"Absurd!' said Van, with all the more
emphasis because he knew Dolly was
reveling in every word. "You should
not have come here alone. I meant to
give you tea, or something, later or"
st am tired of being discreet, tired
of my husbands complaints, tired of
just looking things into your eyes when
there are lot of stupids present"
"But I did not mean anything + :
gasped Van. He wished he had never
firted with the silly creature. 1t had
only happened because there seemed
nothing else to do, no one else who paid
any attention to him, and she was
always glad to see him.
'You did not mean anythingr' She
stared at him, bewildered. Then she
gazed helplessly around the room. Sud-
denly her face changed, her whole fig
ure stiffened. ta
"You have another woman herep she
said.
Vansittart's eyes followed her gaze,
and there, upon the top of the bookcase,
was big, brown muff, Dolly's muff,l
where she had laid it when she first
came in. Dolly was always dropping
her belongings down anywhere.
81 am disturbing you. will CO."
Van kept his face grave, but he thought
that was decidedly the best thing she
could do, and followed her to the door.
"A ring of the bell arrested them both.
''It is some one to see you. must
not meet themp she cried, in alright.
"You will have to go in here" said
Van, desperately. 'The other rooms are
at the end of the hall, and Fellowes
already has the door open" He thrust
her in with Dolly.
A man burst through the hall. "My
wife is herep' he screamed, explosively.
"Where is she?"
"Your wife!''
"Do you mean to deny her presence?
Why, here is her muff," seizing the big,
brown ball of fur.
81 beg your PARDON" came sweet,
silvery voice, and Dolly stepped through
the portieres, being careful that they
closed behind her. ''That is my muff;
please do not run away with it."
"Who is this woman" glowered the
infuriated husband.
"Tell him who I am" urged Dolly.
'This lady is my wife," said Vansit-
tart, quite gently. 4
"And you live here as bachelor?''
my husband does not always live
here; he finds it q convenience to have
rooms downtown. Tonight he is COM
ing home with me. am sorry You are
shocked at meeting me in his rooms"
"Dollyp exclaimed Vansittart, but i
she gave him a look that made him
silent.
81 beg your PARDON" said the intru-
der, and he went out more quietly than
he had entered.
Dolly drew aside the curtain, and the
woman came out, her face crimson, and
her eyes frightened.
Il hope you will come and see me
sometime. like to welcome my hus-
bands admirers"
But the foolish little woman only In
clined her head as she hurried away.
At last they were alone.
'sDid you mean it?' "Cau really
go home with you and see JackP"
Dolly nodded. There were tears in |
her eyes, but it was the same fiippant
voice when she spoke again.
II couldn't see you left here to firt
with such a fool as that woman, and
she wasn't even pretty. Van, old man,
you need me-"
As they went uptown together she
said: Il am SO glad we agreed to separate
quietly and not get divorce. Now we
shall be saved the bother of getting mar
ried all oyer.''