The Press., 1905-01-04
did you come absolutely alone Y'.

That's the nice part" She fastened wreath of green leaves around the nec6 of the slumbering Billie. II was tired of everybody, and, if you must know the exact truth, I ran away to keep from being married for my money. l had an idea that match making friend was concocting a scheme to deprive me of my liberty"
 Ferroll showed a sudden interest.
 ''We have bond of sympathy" he said, watching his creditable perform ance at making smoke rings in the calm summer air. "I have an aunt in Newport who was absolutely deter mined should visit her this summer. She, had picked out a rich old maid who owned a lovely cottage, and had 1t all planned that I was to go to see and to conquer said spinster. So, you see, came down here to keep from being forced into marrying for money"
 T used to know some people in New port. Whats your aunt's name? she asked. with pretense of idle curi' osity.
 "Mrs. Fenlon. She has been there for the last three years only" And his observation being concentrated on his newest smoke ring. he failed to see the crimson that flushed her face when he mentioned the name of her own next door neighbor at Newport.
 
 Billie's mistress sat under the tree by the creek one day until she had fin ished her book, and still Ferroll had not appeared.
 She leaned over and patted the dogs head.
 Its the first time in three weeks that he has not been here first, Billie," she said.
 Billie gave a snort that either ex- pressed ridicule for the anxiety in her voice or disapproval of having his ears rubbed the wrong way; then he sud denly sat up to listen, and in few minutes Ferroll came down the path.
 For the first time he came without his fishing tackle. He threw himself down on the ground beside them and scowled into the dogs welcoming eyes. |
 Billie, 1 want you to know that I'm an egregious idiot. Perhaps you will l ! of egregious, but I assure you it's the | very worst kind of idiot"
 Miss Winchester raised her eyebrows | in sympathetic surprise.
 Suppose you tell us how you became ! aware of your mental defects," she | suggested.
 He pulled the dogs head over on his knee.
 Billie, l dare not tell how I dis | covered the fact of my idiocy, Last | night when l left the creek was a | happy man. had determined to come l town here this morning and ask you | how you would like to live in house with a doctors sign on 1t. had faint hope that your mistress would hate to give you up and would come, too. to look after vou you know, But, Billie, that hope Is as dead as a door, nail. had letter from my aunt this and she mentioned casually oh, yes, darn casually-that she was glad had postponed my visit, as Miss Julia Winchester was not at home and she would not have me miss having a trial at winning her money for any thing.'
 The woman sat perfectly quiet while he continued his condolences.
 "Now, she would always think I was after her money, you unsympathetic brute, and, to make matters worse, nave kept her amused for, three weeks with jokes about the old maid at New port. Billie, do you think there is a lying woman that would overlook be- ng called an old maid?'
 She reached over and took hold of 'ne of the dogs maltreated ears.
 Lend me an ear, Billie. You ought o be we'll trained dog, for have pent hours on your education. Get ID and express nicely to the gentle nan your overwhelming desire to live n house ornamented by doctors ign" Then she managed to force her head way from Ferroll's shoulder long nough to add another sentence: You might state that your mistress las fondness for egregious idiots. Billie" .'