The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-06-07

lne next morning but one an ey.
cited little woman appeared at
George Torrey's place OF business.
why. Mary-why. my dear!" that
gentleman exclaimed. distressed at
once by the palpable signs of trouble.
I've lost il, George. Ny lovely
little house! Look out OF the win
dow-don't look at me-or | shall
cry. It's all 10 do over again-all-
ALL"
There, there" he soothed her.
Tell me all about it," And Mary,
grown suddenly weak. told all
Some one had engaged IL already
lit wasn't TO be let at all. but the
child didn't know. suppose / got
my slips mixed, and there weren't
any dates. anyway"
The child? Slips? Dates?" Had
househunting gone 10 her brain?
20 dear, yes. how stupid you are!
Can't you understand? The newspap-
er slips l cut out. That one must
have been week or two old The
woman said some one engaged the
house a while ago, and she forgot to
tell the child. She was away and
she-O dear. the woman was away.
and the child showed me over the
place and never knew IL vas engaged
already. And, o George. Wen board
till we die-I never can begin again!
| could never find another beautiful
little house like that, never! There
was tho loyeliest set OF drawers for
table linen. And the back plaza
and the perfectly splendid great clos
et-big enough 10 sleep in-and
hooks everywhere-"
Mary, you take the next car home
and go TO bed. Don't get up till
come. Then Wen go round TO that
that little place l-er-hunted up,
you know. 1t belongs to me for a
good fortnight yet / didn't let on to
you, but | paid a months rent down.
Maybe you'll think it's better than
boarding, anyhow. Cheer up! Well
measure for carpets and things, and
have a fine time buying them! You've
got to let me run things now; you're
all done up"
Yes, yes" she murmured, meek
ly. You can do anything you please.
George-anything. The fight has all
gone out of me. I'm ready to board
or keep house anywhere.
ITS a pretty good little place, now
| tell YOU" he hustled cheerfully,
getting her under way for her car.
Don't you do any more worrying.
Leave things to me-"
They went together that afternoon.
She was still too worn and discour-
aged even after her hours of rest.
TO take much notice of directions or
streets, but allowed herself to be led,
lamblike, by the cheerful George.
She kept remembering on the way
more and more charms OF the lovely
house she had found and lost.
I'VE could almost have kept house
in that closet" she lamented. And,
o George Torrey, the parlor mantel!"
Never mind! Never mind!" said
George, with splendid courage. Just
wait till you see my house! Here we
are" And lamenting still. she suf-
fered herself to be led in.
The rooms were bare, but full OF
cozy possibilities. In the one they
entered first lay bars Of red-gold
sunlight from the Illuminated west.
Mrs. Torrey gazed about her listless-
ly.
George"
The listlessness suddenly took
swift wings George! Oh, wait a
minute-wait right here! I'll be
back in a moment"
She hurried from room TO room
came hurrying back. She was laugh
ing radiantly, sheepishly. George!
George!" she cried. ITS my house!
My lovely little house! DO you sup
pose / don't know the parlor mantel
and the coal-bin and the closet! /
recognize everything now. It's my
darling little house!"
No such thing" he retorted. Il
discovered this house myself-it took
me less than fifteen minutes"
"And me two weeks. George, |
give up-house-hun is mans
work. might have been making
popovers here this very minute! -