The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-02-22


presentable. Go and put on a dry
dress!"
But" she inquired. ruefully. who
is to finish the room? IL is a point
Of honor with me TO carry out an
undertaking. and then--I'ye prom
ised Aunt Jane"
"All right. I'll help you. What
is to be done next"
You don't mean it,"
For Jack was pulling off his coat.
and looking quite fierce. as though
longing to set to work in real ear
nest.
Well" pursued Dolly. "if you
really want to"-Jack made wry
face--"I will not stand In the way
not for the world. Go to work II you
like. No doubt work Will do you
The greater part is done, anyhow.
We have only TO mop up the floor.
lay the rug, put in the furniture.
hang the curtains. and"
Stay. Enc =, enough, And
for whom are these preparations
intended, for some one is expected
| feel it in the air."
Dolly laughed.
"Quite a swell. no doubt. You
see, We don't really know. but sus-
pect that it is one Of the storncr sex.
Papa just telegraphed TO A.nt Jane
to expect a friend of his to-day"
Jack Bentley turned the empty
pail upside down. aud coolly pro-
ceedcd TO seat himself upon the in
vertcd edge.
dolly, how long have you had the
pleasure OF my acquaintance" was
the apparently Irrelevant question.
She laughed gayly.
Exactly three years and six
months" she announced. dcmurcly.
land | must confess | don't know
anything good OF you" But the ten
der light in the merry brown eyes be-
lied her saucy words.
Jack continued loftily:
81 pass your insinuations by with
the contempt they merit. Rose Of
the world, did you ever promise to
marry me--circumstanccs permitting
.or-did you not?"
She crept a little closer TO his side.
Il am afraid I did" she said.
softly. But. oh, Jack! papa would
be furious If he knew. He will
never consent-because
Because | am as poor as the pro-
verbal church mouse, and he intends
that you shall marry Horace Dilling-
ham, the rich merchant"
Jack"
"It Is true, dear-quite true. Now.
listen to my tale of woe. | am here
here to stay! | am your Aunt
James expected guest. Are you will
ing. sweetheart"
willing? Oh. Jack"
Not another word; but somehow
he seemed quite content.
please explain" she ventured.
timidly. after pause Of golden si-
lence. 4ss
Jack drew from his pocket an open
letter, addressed TO himself. aud
placed it in Dolly's hand.
II began my Dear Friend" and
ended Yours as ever" ("Quite ten
der" Jack declared, in parenthesis).
RUFUS THORPE"
In this letter Mr.. Thorpe, Dolly's
father proceeded to advise his dear
friend" TO make n trip at once tn
hillside, in the Pontiac Hills. to his
sister-in-law' house .-- Miss Jane
Dean-slyly insinuating that his
daughter, Miss Dolly, would warmly
welcome him there.
Dolly's face assumed 4 look of be-
wldermcnt as she read her fathers
letter. What did it all mean"
"Why. Jack, what has changed
papa so? He used to be so violently
opposed to YOU, you know. cannot
understand it at all"
Il can" Jack answered, grimly.
"He wrote this letter TO Dillingham;,
and one to me at the same time. only
mine was of an entirely different ma
ture. | imagine. In his haste he
made common mistake; he inclosed
my letter in the envelope addressed
to Dillingham;. and vice versa The
invitation to Mr.. Dillingham;, in which
no name was mentioned. was received
by me. What could | do but 'ac-
cept?"
What. indeed?" laughed Dolly.
And now that you are here, we will
just have splendid time"
Taken into their confidence. Aunt
Jane could not find it in her heart
TO object, for Jack was in every way
unobjectionable. save that he was not
wealthy. Yet he held a good posi-
tion in a prosperous firm, and his ad-
vancement was only a question OF
time. after all.
Mr.. Rufus Thorpe was over
whelmed with CONSERVATION one day,
while sitting in his office, by the
apparition OF the two young oulprits.
with the astounding announcement
that they had been quietly married
that morning.
Il won her under false pretenses:
but she's mine, all the same" the
young rascal unblushingly added.