Evening star., 1906-03-11

glance. Then he asked Miss CaTa1nel II ne
hadn't called the trick, and she said he had.
Then, says he, perhaps you will tell us
why you came to America?
Sure" says she, or something that meant
the same. I've come over after my best
feller I'm going to marry him and with
that she slips arm around ROllys neck, as
cool as though they been a moonlight
excursion with the deck lanterns turned off.
Mr.. ConsuIs face goes as red as a flremans
shirt. Mama Van Urban puts up her long
handled eyeglasses and stares at Miss Padova
ike she was tryin' to see through her into the
last of next week. Papa Van Urban side-steps
as if he saw trouble comm his way. Sis Van
Urban was just breathing hard and putting
q torty-dollar iv'ry fan out of business between
her fingers. When | see that | remembers
wat the old gent had told me about Rolly's
being booked to be married.
Great upper cuts!' says l to myself.
That's the girl"
Then | looks at Ro1lv He hadn't budged
or turned a hair. He Just stands there, with
the Sicily lady patting him on the shoulder.
However unexpected, says he the
honor is all mine" And say, you'd have
thought he meant every word of 1t.
Ahem" says the consul, steadyin' himself
with a grip on the curtains. Perhaps it
would be best to make some explanation.
We'll he tackled the job He says as how
It was likely that Miss Padova, being a Count
ess at home. had some ideas on the courtn
q ne that might seem queer to US. Over
t4ere when a Countess went out of her class
SIZE didn't have to wait for the chap to make
tie first move. 1t was etiquette for her to
So. Come along, honey; you re mine!" and
W., him off to the priest. She d sized Roily
W. tnat way, not KNOWN he was a good deal
OF a rooster himself, with real money enough
to buy up whole rinkful of Dago Counts.
And now" says the consul, before this
goes any further, perhaps it would be best for
the Countess to have a talk with my wife.
Wen take her home"
Well, they settled it that way and l was
mighty glad to get her off our hands so easy.
But Rolly says goodnight to the Van
Urbans / notices the thermometer below zero.
Next day the consul shows up at the studio,
where | was tryin to interest Rolly in new
whipsaw counter. Young man, says he to
Rollv, givin him the right hand of fellowship,
after what you did last night I'm proud to
know you. And I'm happy to state that it,
all off with the Countess"
Then he went on to say how Miss Padova
when she tumbles to the brash kind of a play
she'd made, and finds out who the other girl
was, feels like plush Christmas box at
January sale. She turns on the sprinkler,
wants to know what they suppose Rollv
thinks of her, and says she'll go back to
Sicily by the next boat.
Well send her back to her father Satur-
day" says the consul and you may rest as
sured that the incident is closed.
was lookin' for Rolly to open bottle or
so on that, but he didn't. For pleased man
he held in well. Poor little GIRL" saws he
About that time the studio door opens and
in comes Rolly's old gent, lookin' about as
calm as a hot-chowder kettle with the lid on
"Rolly" says he not sparrin' any for an
opening but jumpin' right in, here's ring
Of yours that's returned, with thanks"
Rolly takes the spark, shoves it in his vest
and remarks: That simphfes matters a
lot"
Does chr" says the old man. squintin at
him through those X-ray eyes of his. But
it doesn't make matters very clear to me-
Now what sort of young woman was it that
YOU sprung on the Van Urbans last night?"
The right sort, sir, says Rolly, cor else
she wouldn't have been there"
Sounds well enough" says the old man:
but who is she, who's her folks, and all
that"
Her father" says Rolly, planting himself
firm his pins and stickin' his under Jaw
CIT Z" is native of Sicily who lives on d three
acre farm that's worth probably about two
hundred dollars. As for the Young ladv.
she's the one | tried to tell you about She
picked me up in the hills of Sicily one night
last summer when | was wandering around
lost and in danger of breaking my neck or
being shot"
Very fne!" grunts the old man But Van
Urban says that she gives out that she has
come over here to marry you What right has