The Press., 1908-01-15
DorOthy's Dilemma.
 
By cECILY ALLEN.
1907, by P. c. Eastment.

''Yes, mother" replied Dorothy me chanically without glancing up from the time table from which she was endeavorfng to extract information re- garding the trains to Oakdale.
 And plenty of moneyT
 'sMoney-and my check book. Real ly, mother. you'll be asking me next, as you did in my old Sunday school days, whether have clean handker- chief" She tossed the time card aside in despair.
 '"There is no such train as a 3:06."
 'I just knew it" walled Mrs. Dal- rymple in melancholy sort of tri- umph. 'I never should have tried to take Carleton's message over the phone. A telephone does rattle me SO"
 Dorothy crossed the room and patted her mothers cheek reassuringly.
 Q "There, there, mumsey, don't fret. am now at the age of discretion. If you misunderstood Carleton's invita- ton no great harm will be done l know my way home, but I am sure 1t must have been for this afternoon, for. the golf tournament is on tomorrow, and they said all along that they want ed me to be sure to see it."
 The house telephone announced that Miss Dalrymple's hanson was at the door, And down to the hanson fitted Dorothy, her mother attending her to the very door of the elevator.
 "I can't help feeling anxious about this trip. dear" she murmured. T all ways do get things twisted over the telephone"
 Dorothy handed her bag to the obse- quious colored boy and gave her moth CT farewell peck of a kiss.
 "Mumsey. If you don't stop worrying about me we will both have nervous prostration. Remember, I've been in New York now three months and have cut my wisdom teeth. Goodby, and send my love to daddy when you write" .,
 Admiring eyes followed Dorothys slender. 1.-the figure out to the waiting hanson. The clear eyeG, whole souled' western heiress was extremely popular with the hotel staff.
 "Western brains, breeze and bullion, but eastern breeding" the key clerk remarked to the stenographer. And the white faced stenographer sighed and wondered how it would feel to have her face kissed by prairie breezes and her lot frightened by western made dol lars.
 Dorothy, all unconscious of the feel j.. hgs ofsenvy and longing she had ex cited iu another's breast, leaned back in the hanson and thought how differ ently this trip had been planned only a few weeks before The Carleton Nor gans, both golf enthusiasts. had ar ranged to entertain a house party at their Oakdale home during the golf tournament. There were to be eight conSenial souls under a roof tree ia nous fors grateful shadows, conducive to matchmaking. To be sure, Dorothy did not play golf. did not even under stand the mysteries of the game; but, then, neither did Jimmy Morgan, broth CT of her host Jimmy said one enthu- siast in the family was enough. Some body had to stay sane and play more important games. At the time he spoke the game uppermost in his mind was the world old game of winning hearts, or, more properly speaking, a heart the heart of Dorothy Dalrymple And for a time it had seemed as if no congenfal house party with a tactful hostess was essential to bring matters to a climax.
 Things were all coming his way when the inevitable dam swhich will crop up in the course of true, loves stream turned and twisted his plans in such a fashion that he sat at his desk one morning reading over and over Miss Dorothy Dalrymple's chillingly polite regrets to his invitation for a little din- ner and theater party. It mattered not what evil spirit had whispered unjust things in Dorothy's ear Certain insin- nations circulated among his friends that Jimmy Morgan would have good use of Papa Dalrymple's generous bank account made that young man stiffen under her curt note like West j. Pointer before the officer of the day He would ask no explanation, and she offered none And here was the day of the house party which she had alternately dread ed and anticipated for one long week We'll. at least she would show Mr. Nor gan that a western girl did not wear her heart on her sleeve. "Oakdaler shouted the conductor Just aS ShG -ANdNueu NlAS lduudUlE uS- cision.
 She stood on the platform amid the bags which the porter had arranged at her feet:~ Various carriages and cars ranged up beside the depot. but there was no sign of a messenger from the | Carleton Morgans Yet she had made the 3:16 train, the nearest hour to the | one named by her mother, 3:O6.
 One by one the carriages, traps and cars filled with residents or guests. | More than one curious glance was aim- ed at the tall. well clad figure of the puzzled girl. and then as the last pri- ! vate vehicle rolled away she summon ed a small boy and had her luggage . carried 10 the village hack.
 "Out to Morgan's? One dollar each E way" said the willy Jehu, carefully re F training from mentioning the fact that he had seen the Morgans. outfitted with a suspicious number of bags. leaving Oakdale by the 10:34 train that very morning
 And in his ancient vehicle did Dor Orthy arrive at the aristocratic door of the Carleton Morgans. there to be met by an outwardly placid but inwardly peFturbed butler.
 NO;. Mir. and Mrs. Morgan. were not ' at home. They had gone to Southamp- ion tO SDaud the week euu with Mrs