The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-08-14
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HOW MURDOCH
FOUND OUT.


down this street." said young Muir
doch to himself at o'clock on Thurs
day afternoon. II am not going 20
Dulcie's. I've done everything ex-
cept put the proposal in plain words,
and she has taken pains to show me
at every turn that my case Is hope
less. There's no use causing her the
distress Of actually refusing me. The
thing for me to do is to keep away.
Look how she acted when I was
Dragging up Alice Harvey's domestic
ability the other night-testing her
TO see If she'd care. She chimed in
as If it were a positive relief to have
me notice some other girl. Ah!"
A CLEAN lighted his eyes as he
glanced at a window in Dulcies
house, but his face hardened as he
tramped on.
what could merry little creature
like Dulcie want with a big, clumsy
fellow like me, anyway" he demand
ed of himself. THAT dream is over.
I'm not going in"
Having arrived at this decision, he
turned and mounted the steps to Dull
cie's house.
1t seemed an unreasonable time
before the door opened. Tlen, to his
intense surprise, appeared Dulcie her
self, covered from neck to toe by a
long-sleeved pink gingham apron
She seemed to be out OF breath, and
there was an ostentatious trail of
-four across one Of her pink cheeks.
"Oh, how do you do?" she cried.
Excuse my appearance, please. It's
Thursday, you know, and the maid s
out. Just step into the library. and
I'll go and make myself presentable. :"
"Presentable." Murdoch blocked
her way and smiled down at her with
an elated expression hard to trans
late. You never looked so charm
ing to me in your life before. What's
in the oven, anyway? Bread or pies?
Let me come out into the kitchen and
help"
Dulcie gave a cry that suggested
dismay. "Oh. no. | couldn't, That
is, everything's done. I'll just go
and
mo, don't go, And don't take off
that apron, please. | had decided
never to say this, but"
Then, without waiting to take the
chair she offered him. he manfully
asked the great question.
From the opposite side of the IL
brary table Dulcie listened, with eyes
downcast. You had decided never
to say this" she murmured without
looking up. What changed you?"
A twinkle relieved Murdochs SOL
emnity. THAT kitchen apron and
the -four on your cheek" he con-
fessed
Dulcie's eyes blazed at him.
"There! Just what I've thought since
you talked about Alice Harvey the
other night. Your idea of getting
married is to secure a cook"
My idea of getting married" Muir
doch returned stoutly, lis to secure
you"
Suiting the action TO the word, he
started around the library table. but
Dulcie sidled swiftly along ald the
barrier still intervened.
Wait! Listen TO me," she COM
manded imperiously. You're making
a mistake | don't know how 70 cook
I've been too busy with my music
/ began TO suspect, from the queer
way you acted, that you were afraid
l hadn't all the necessary qualifica-
tions for a wife and ] ran and put on
this apron and dabbed this -four on
my cheek after s. you coming Just
to-to see if"
TO land me for the fun OF throw
ing me back into the water. Murdoch
finished TOR her with sudden grim
ness.
NO, Not that a. all, Oh, dear,
can't explain just WHY did It.
Wait Wait, Didn't you hear me
tell you that can't cooke" she pro-
tested, wondering what in the world
had suddenly become OF the large
library table.
Who cares IL you cant?" was his
blissful answer.
But you said It was the kitchen
apron made you ask me-
Good reason why. Didn't I see
you at the window ia that light Glue
silk thing as / came up the steps and
when you opened the door all in this
other rig didn't it give me courage to
think-what Id never dared think
before-that you cared what
thought? 1t wasn't the cooking that
made me speak-it was the caring!"
Il think l can learn" Dulcie whis-
pered.
ITO care7-
sNo tn cook