The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-02-22
A Letter Writers
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by JAMES c. HllLWELL.

Dolly, dear, there Is gentleman
In the sitting-rOOm who wishes TO see
you. What shall you do? OF course
know that you are not presentable;
how could you be, while engaged I'm
washing windows? But he seems so
anxious to see you, / could not say
no. There. I've dropped his card
somewhere. Well, no matter. But
If you will, Dolly-just step in and
speak to him"
Aunt Jane paused TO take breath.
There was timid quayer, a half de-
precatory tone in her voice, too, as
though she knew that she was asking
a great deal, but had still resolved
to do her duty courageously.
The room at whose open door she
was standng-thc best in the old
fashioned farmhouse nesting among
the Pontiac Hills-looked at present
as though no power could set IL
straight again. 1t was so provoking,
Her pretty niece. Dolly Thorpe, from
the metropolis, had come TO spend
the summer with Aunt Jane; and
hardly was she comfortably settled
when a telegram had arrived from
Dolly's father requesting Aunt Jane
to receive, for a few weeks, a par
ticuar friend of his own, who wished
to try the effect Of the fresh air
upon somewhat delicate constitu-
tion.
The telegram had been received the
day previous, and, just at that par
ticular juncture, Aunt James one SER
want had given notice, and taken her
departure. There was no help for
it. The work must be done somehow,
and the best room put in readiness
for the expected guest
Dolly Thorpe was standing upon n
stepladder in the CHEEKY apartment
known as "the spare ROOM" busily
engaged in cleaning the windows.
She was a pretty girl, with roguish
brown eyes. and mass Of curly
black hair. She had been interrupt
ed In her work several times already
that morning, and this last summons
seemed the one drop too much for
her overflowing cup OF vexations.
Each demand upon her time and
patience Dolly had met and faced
bravely, for Aunt Jane was just re-
covering from serious illness, and
was hardly able to get about the
house. Tomorrow the new servant
would come, and Dolly would be
freed from her arduous duties
In the meantime the expected
guest, whose name her father had
not taken the troTble to mention.
being simply referred to in Mr..
Thorpe's telegram as "a friend of
mine"-they knew not whether the
expected guest was male or female
was liable at any moment to drop
In upon them.
All this time Dolly had been stand
ing upon the stepladder, gaping down
into Aunt James appealing face. with
intense dismay upon her own, and a
piece Of chamois in her hand. She
wore a blue calico gown tied up
above a pair of little feet i'm not alto
gether irreproachable, slippers; a
pink cap surmounted her curly head.
Yet she was simply charming.
thought Aunt Jane.
Just step down n minute, dear"
pleaded that individual meekly.
Sitting an inward groan. Dolly
turned round, but catching the skirt
of her gown upon the ladder as she
did so, she was left for brief space
suspended like Mahomet's coffin The
bucket of soapsuds upon the top OF
the stepladder grew uneasy, and
came down to see what was the mat.
ter; and the scene that followed car
be better imagined than described.
In the midst of the excitement
while Dolly was struggling with the
refractory stepladder. which had sud
denly collapsed. converting the bar,
floor into miniature lake, in which
TO use her own expression, she wa.
getting along swimmingly," a tai
form appeared in the open doorway
pair of merry gray eyes took H. the
scene, and a musical voice, strLgglins
hard to stihe a burst of laughter
asked sweetly:
Can l be of any assistance
Why" in mock astonishment, IF /
isn't Dolly Thorpel"
Jack" with a shrill little shriel
OF dismay. Yes. it is l. How d,
INV my syrup Aunt Jane
servant has taken French leave
somebody had TO do this"
WAS it really necessary that al
this should be done?" asked JAG
Bentley, with lurking mischief in hi
voice.
Dolly fared up in an instant. Ho,
dare he laugh at her?
You know what mean. Jus
lift that side of the stepladder. Jacl
and be quiet. There Thanks ap
fully. / shall get out of it somehow
feel like the immortal youth VIII
stood on the burning deck Jack!
suddenly emerging from the gener;
confusion, and holding out two whit
hands in greeting. her bright ey,
shining like stars, I'm so glad 10 sc
you. Did you drop down from tt