New-York tribune., 1909-06-20

pleased to 'ande. %
Punch
somebody speaking close by. I was going to get
up and clear out. not being in the habit Of Htseu
ing to other folks affairs but the very first words
I heard showed that twas best. for the fssl-
ings of all concerned to lay still and keep on with
my nap.
"Oh. no - says Mabel Seabury. dreadful nsrvou.
and hurried like; oh, no, Mr. Van Wedderbprn
please don't say any more I can't listen 70 YOU.
I'm so sorry"
"Do you mean that-reaI1y mean it?r asks Van.
his voice rather shaky and seemingly a good detI
upset. My dear young lady, I realize that I'm
twice your age and more and I suppose that I
old fool 10 hope; but I've had trouble lately
and I've been very lonely. and YOU have been so
kind that thought did hope-I-can't youg'
No" says she, more nervous than ever and
shaky. too. but decided No On no, Ira
all my fault I wanted you 10 like ne; I wanted
you to like very much But not this way
Tn-Im-so sorry. Please forgive me"
She walked then. fast. and toward the grove
and he followed, slashing at the weeds with his
cane and acting good deal as II he'd Ike to pick
up his paythings and 20 home. When they was
out OF sight I set up and xinked. large and COM
ttehensive. at the scenery. It looked TO me Tas
was going TO collect Jonadab's quarter
That night as I passed the Ulac bushes by the
gate somebody steps out and grabs my arm.
jumped looked up, and there gIarins down al me
out of the clouds friend Jones. from Provi-
dence.
''Wingate." he whispers. fierce. who is the man,
And where is he?''
Easy" I begs Easy on thar arm I might
want TO IL again What man"
That man YOU wrote me about. I've come down
here to Interview him Confound him! Who is he?'
oh. it's all right now" says L There was al
old rooster from New York who acting too
skittsh TO suit me. but 7 guess lis ali OF. His
being a millionaire and a stock jobber was what
frrSr AL Hes 4 f7-rdv Or
SO. name OF Van Wedderburn
What" he says pinchiug arm till I could
all but feel his thumb and finger meet What?
Stop joking I'm not funny tonight"
It's Joke" says T. trying 20 put ny arm %
gethsr again Van Wedder5urn is his name
Course you've heard OF him. Why, there he IS
now"
Sure enough there was Van. standing Ike
statue of misery the front porch OF the main
hotel the light from the viader shining full OF
him. Jonesy started and stared
is that the man. he saws. choking up. Was
he sweet Mabel
'Sweeter'n a moIasses stopper SAYS z But
he's going away in a day or SO You don't need
to worry
He commenced 10 laugh. and I thought he'd never
stop.
what's the joke I asks. after year or 50
OF this foolishness- Let in, won't y7ue Thought
you want funny tonight"
He stopped long enough 70 ask one more Ques-
ttOn. Tell Tor Ine LOcd sane says nc"
Did she know who he was2"
"sartin,' saws I So did every other woman
round the place. You'd think if
He walked of then. laughing himself into
Mt. Good night. old man." he SAYS. between
spaSms. See you la,er- No. don't think shall
worry much"
II he hadn't been so big carIated Id have rsksd
a kick man hates 70 be made a. fool Of and not
know why
4 whole lot Of the boarders had gone on the even
ing train and house Van Wedderburn was
the oniv one left He and Mabel and me was tAs
full crew at che breakfast table the folerng morn
ing The fruit season was quiet one done al
the talking there was, every time -he broker anu
the housekeeper looked az each other they tlFnsa
red.
Finally twas chopped hay time and in CONES
the waiter with the tray And again We had a sur
prise just like the back in July Percy "aH'
on hand. and Jonesy was
But the other surprise va Mt nothing 70 this V
The seabury girl nightly set back 0l' @.
Van was paraIyzed. His eyes and mouth oSSA~
and kept opening
Cereal. sir asks Jones. petite as ever -
Why, why. you-you rascal hoIlers Van wv
derburn What are you doing here.
II have Il few days vacation from my poSI..-
at Providence. sir answers Jcnes. i III "''''-
present
why PCbert~' excIaimS Mabel Sea5ury
Van swung around like he was on pivot
DO you know him. he pants. Wild as Gus
and pointing.
Twas the waiter himself that answered
she knows me. father he says 'ln taC''
is the young lady l told you about last SPFiIS' -
one intend marry -.
Did YOU ever. sec the tide 60 out over the Ials-
Well. that's the way the red slid down c1 old vs. &
bald head and across his cheeks But II came -,
again like an earthquake wave He turned 70 -, -
bel once more. and if ever there was plea1'
Don't telI' IN a mans eyes. twas In MS
Cereal sir2'' asks Robert Van NeddeFoutI' '
Jonesy' -,
Wen, l guess that's about all Van 9'A1''
ii enough sight more graceful than YOU O. sNF
under the circumstances lie went straigh- " =
his room and never showed uD Till supper 80
Then he marches to where Mabel and MS -" w."
on the porch, and says he: -
Bob" ne says. If you don't marry TINS sV -
lady within month III disown YOU Tor so' =
time You've got more sense than l thoUs
Blessed il see who you inherit Il from! say ~
kind of To himself.
Jonadab amt paid me the quarter yet ne a.
the bet was that she'd land millionaire anu
Van Wedderburn. afore the season ended. ana
did; so he hggers that he the bet Rim -
.'Jonesy'' and Mabel are on their honeymoon ~ ~
wonder II she's ever told her husband about --t
I heard in the bayberry bushes. Being the eAN
sport. for a woman that ever see, IN s@-i-''
she amt said a word about it.
IN TWO WORDS.
They had seated themselves at a lunch eounls.