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

bedrooms. Mrs. TOrrey put II into
its first words, but il had been brew
ing in all four minds.
I'VE must go TO housekeeping"
Mrs. Torrey said. George, we will"
Mary, you're jewel-shake
hands," was Mr.. Torrey's reply. He
had been waiting for this a weary
while. Across the table two study
books were slammed down.
Mama, honest? oh, that's good!"
from Maurice.
20 goody!" from nine-year-old
Alan. The entire family, then, had
been waiting.
Yes, we've boarded long enough.
/ think we've been pretty patient.
Now well rent house and I'll make
YOU three boys some popovers! And
rou can bring your friends, George,
ind the boys can entertain theirs
sometimes. Why, it's nearly four
years since we came East, and here
we are in a boarding-house still"
well, it sha'n't be so any long
err" said Mr.. Torrey. "Well go to
housekeeping tomorrow"
Mrs. Torrey smiled leniently.
That's like man." she said. IF
we find house in three weeks we
shall do we'll"
She was a small woman; an air
o. fragility sat upon her lecomingly.
Her big husband. adoring her with
out disguise, resolved to shoulder the
responsibility Of moving.
1t was six o'clock the next night
when the four Torreys sat down at
their end of the long clearinghouse
tea-table.. There was subdued jubil-
alton in George Torrey's face, but
he ate his supper without disclosing
the cause of it. 1t was not until he
got into the sitting-room upstairs
that he broke forth.
WELL" he said, rubbing his hands
together genially, I've engaged a
house. Didn't take me long, either. 4"
"George!" But his wife's tone es-
capped him in his self-gratulatory
mood. He beamed at his wife and
the boys impartially.
Yes, | had it all down fine inside
Of fifteen minutes. Takes me to go
house-hunting. / hadn't been on the
car two minutes before / ran plump
on it in the advertising column in
the Times: To be let-pleasant
house, nine rooms, sunny, convenient,
good neighborhood' - everything
there in black and white, you see!
Here's luck!' / said to myself, but
better was to follow. ! glanced out
of the car window, and there l was
on the very street-yes, pretty near
ly opposite the very number! Took
me about three winks and a half to
stop the car and hunt up tha. house,
1t suited all right, and lefore an
other ten minutes I'd engaged it, and
tomorrow WE'LL"
GEORGE" Mrs. Torrey's tone was
now impressively noticeable. 1t was
distinctly calm and clear-but notice
able. There was patient tolerance
in that one word-there were pity,
kindness, affection in it, Mr.. Torrey
stopped rubbing his hands together.
George, you are exactly like a
man-but, there, suppose knew it
when l married you. But | never
| looked ahead TO your engaging a
home for your family in fifteen min
utes! That proves your sex conclu-
siyely enough! You never thought
of closets and back yards and expos
ures and pantry shelves, of course. "
The tone was gathering gentle sar-
casm now. cor whether the win
/ dows faced to the south, or-any-
thing. My dear, engaging houses is
a woman's work. 1t never occurred
so. / have cut out some advertise
ments in all the papers I can find,
and tomorrow / shall make a little
beginning. or course II will take
considerable time-more than fifteen
minutes" she concluded, in a fine
climax OF irony.
But, Mary"-Mr. Torrey was re-
covering slowly. Jubilation had given
place In his honest countenance to
surprise, chagrin, disappointment,
meek acceptance. But, Mary, I've
engaged the house" Only a rare
presence of mind tripped him up
there, on the verge of adding that
he had paid down a months rental
to bind the trade"
Il think / shall try the one on
Liscomb street first, and work grad
ually downtown" remarked Mrs.
Torrey. musingly. She was sorting
over some little newspaper cuttings
as she mused. There was in her face
and attitude the air of a general on
the eve of great campaign. There
was heroism, too. as Of one who fore
saw personal sacrifice and discomfort.
She sighed little foreseeingly.
Well. Ill-well. go ahead. 90
ahead, my dear" George Torrey
laughed out in the sudden relief of
tenderness. He had realized sudden