The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-09-05
The Stolen Cottage.

| iH'9 "OuIu stdy uHtll tHc CLOCK ran
| down.
And now these irresponsible young
| people found themselves In rose col
Ored Bohemia, which was all the more
| enchanting on account Of their educa-
tion from infancy on respectable con
ventional lines. They went where they
pleased, they did what they pleased,
turned night into day and day into
night Their chafng dish suppers were
reckless abandon Of convlyial fast
ing. All the prohibited dishes Of their
childhood were cooked and eaten. For
tunately their menu was n simple one,
and did not include the Injuries and the
air OF that exempt country gives one
an appetite that ls not fastidious They
made the most Of everything, for they
would be silent and their lease expire,
or that the owners of the cottage would
come and turn them out.
But no such event occurred. The
clock licked on serenely, although they
packed up at the end of eight days to
move on, but there was no cessation
In the steady tick-tOck Of the tlmckeep-
or on the mantel. SO they decided that
n was a thirty-day clock, ana waited.
When the month was up that clock
had not stopped
No, the clock did not stop. One
morning Lillian was lifting golden
spheres OF fried mush from the chaling
dish, and Fred was making the coffee
for breakfast, when n loud knock
sounded on the cottage door.
"The family from New York;" cried
Lillian.
THE fattcd calfw said Fred who
caught the profile of masculine Ro-
man nose
When they opened the door pair OF
firm arms embraced them both.
MY children" exclaimed Lillian's
father. "why did you not let us know
you were here2 We would have flown
To you on the wings of love"
you've been long time about IT,"
said Mrs Harmon, with dignity, as
she reached over her fathers shoulder
to recognize her mother and sister,
who were bringing up the rear.
1--WE have been jolly happy, sir" re-
marked Mr. Harmon, coolly; there
isn't any good thing we've wanted, is
there, Lip"
Nothing but your approval" Lillian
said graciously; she thought il prudent
TO let by-goncs he by.gOncs.
AS soon as they could get n moment
TO compare notes the two agreed not
to tell the old folks the story of the cot
tage.
They would have to hc educated up
TO IL before they would believe II" said
Lillian, land we won't tell them about
the clock, either. Why. we could never
convince them that IL hadn't been
wound up or that there wasn't any
key.
The family stayed a week and made
II evident that the calf awaited the
young people whenever they chose to
return and attend the banquet Before
they left the old gentleman stood he
fore the mantel with pleased express
sion on his race and his hands under
his Coat-tails
II see you have one OF those ami
versary clocks. Must have cost you
something snug?"
"oh, not so much" mumblcd Fred
indifferently.
IT'S a beauty" continued the pater.
touching the glass case with apprecia-
tive fingers. IL saw them nj the expo
sition in Paris and now Chicago is full
of them, | understand. Their main
value Is that they only need winding
once year"
The two castaways looked at each
other, then they giggled, and pulled
themselves together in time TO say
goodbye with becoming gravity. Aud
they promised to finish their outing
and go home soon, promise they will
undoubtedly keep. Chicago Record.
Herald