Free press., 1907-10-19

IOuuu t1aI JQe fui0 WOIhSU NSA1 anu,
being a person quick TO seize and
adapt to his own plan of life any
good idea that came his way, he had
not hesitated to include method
among his treasures OF theory.
When he grew up he refused to join
the dancing club made up 0of his
friends because il interfered with his
evening lesson in Spanish. Likewise
the card club fell l~on the date of his
monthly debating society and he
passed by its allurements. This pos
sibly explains why he had reached the
age Of 80 before ne really took COM
prehensive look at Adeline Simpson.
The years during which Adeline had
fiuttered and shone in the dances and
parties attended by ali the young folks
James Orvis had lived unknowing be-
cause he had been otherwise engaged.
having seen at last how amazingly diff
ferent she was from all other young
women, Orvis found that e was suf-
fering from chronic convulsion of
the heart, which totally upset him,
methodical as he was.
Il suppose he said to himself. after
three cigars and a period of fierce con-
centration, Il am in love. Come to
think of it, it is remarkable that l
haven't fallen in love before On the
other hand, it isn't, either, because as
things have turned out l couldn't fall
in love till 1 found the right girl and,
of course, Addie is the right girl.
wonder whether she would like a trip
to Japan better than a trip to Europe
for a wedding journey"
All of which shows how innocent of
the ways of women James Orvis was.
For he had called on Adeline only
three times and she was supposedly
ignorant of the trend of his emotions.
That he was in love with her was suf-
fcient for him-he was going to mar
ry her, naturally, and it never occur
red to him that she might have diff
ferent ideas.
Methodically he set about revealing
to her his state of mind Wednesday
evenings he called with a twe-pound
box of candy. Friday nights he invit-
ed her to attend the theater. Sunday
afternoons he always came with an
automobile to take her riding.
The first time he found another
caller there on his Wednesday evening
he was surprised. When, the second
Sunday after. he pulled up in front of
Adeline's home just as she and a dis
gustingly handsome individual were
starting away in an electric runabout,
Orvis went home in a real rage.
How was I to know you were COM
ing?' Adeline inquired in some indig-
nation when Orvis took her to task.
But, insisted the still perturbed
long that | thought of course you'd
know
Il don't take things for granted!"
flashed the stubborn Miss Simpson,
giving her admirer food for thought.
He had planned how he should pro
pose to her. After pursuing his Wed.
nesday, Friday and Sunday plan for
six months he intended on a Wednes-
day evening, over the box Of candy,
first to inform her of his business
prospects, next that the life insurance
doctor said he was good for so years,
then OF the suburban house he had
bought as an investment some time
before. Finally he would inquire if
she would be his wife.
Never to this day can he understand
how it happened that on a Monday
morning downtown in a pouring rain
he should have been swept by an in
sane rebellion at the sight of Adelfne
under the tenderly protecting umbrel-
la of the handsome unknown of the
electric runabout.
The expression of fNHZa.T $yS
the Il u k n owns tns\XS4[A III
face was positive SZ/]7zzzS <sfA Y
ly aSinine, in the EzyzIkE%s/E EsAi
opinion of James ssA#zEzs Sal
Orvis, who by 4 E.t4<IsSE
brutally rude coup EEIS&s ~
swept Adeline Esl1zz sss.sssI