The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1910-11-26
IN THE GROTTO,
BY N. QUAD.
ECopyright lSee. by Associated Literary
Press

II took place quite suddenly; but.
Things always take place quite sud
tenly at those places or not at all.
They observed each other at the din.
ner table; they went out sailing in the
same boat In the afternoon: In the
evening they found themselves side by
side on the veranda listening to the
music and looking out on the moonlii
waters Somehow they introduced
themselves to each other. and after
that Fate held them In the hollow of
her hand.
Minnie Lee was there under the
ehaperonage Of her aunt. Homer
Ware, being twenty-four years old,
was acting as his own guardian. While
this was case Of love at first sight,
neither Of the principals told all they
knew at the first. second or third
meeting. They spoke of uncles, cous.
FMS and aunts; they referred to music
and the drama; they spoke Of London.
Paris and other foreign capitals. 1t
would have been In bad taste for the
young woman to even hint that she
was an heiress or for the young man
20 give list Of the stocks and bonds
sordid did not enter into the affair in
the least. 1t was the romantic alto
gether.
The young man was In time intro
duced to the chaperon. "In time" In
this case meant within three days aft.
or the first meeting. You have got to
hustle things along Mt a summer resort
or get left. The chaperon was wom-
m Of forty, either an old maid or
widow, and, while not severe, she was
q woman of the world.
Two weeks passed like day. They
always pass swiftly at the summer re-
sort. II they didn't the landlords
couldn't present their bills so often.
During the second week ii became pat
have under discussion were very much
In love and that an engagement was
topping on the brink. No one threat
ened to use club to halt proceedings,
however. Even the chaperon seemed
10 favor It, Therefore things were
going like June day when Fate made
mp her mind to take hand In. There
were grottoes in the hotel grounds
half dozen of them. Some were
double grottoes. like two family houses.
and others only single. IL a loving
couple made an early start from the
dinner table they might pre-empt one
Of the single grottoes and hold II |
against all comers until an hour after |
midnight. Ii alfthe single ones were
found occupied the double ones came
into play. They were divided by u
stone wall. but they were intended to |
convey sound instead of deadening 1t.
On this certain evening. when the |
moon was round and full and white |
and soft and when the hotel band was
trying to waken love In other hearts, !
our couple were a minute late In leav-
ing the dining room and had to rent
half Of double grotto. The other side |
was not yet occupied, and they had an
hour to themselves. Over 5000 words
Of love can be spoken In an hour. The
couple had got up to 1924 when the
ether side Of the house was occupied |
by a man and woman. In a very
businesslike voice the man started of |
by saying:
$50 you are sure it's the same pairf"
ooh. l cannot be mistaken" replied |
the woman.
You saw them ut Atlantic City in
Apru?"
Eyes"
"And then at a hotel In New York?r
"As told you, and know that they |
Jumped their board bill in both places.
know that the supposed aunt borrow
ed money OF two or three guests at the
hotel In Atlantic City and went away |
leaving them unpaid. have the |
strongest suspicious that the girl Is a
divorced wife and Is being used az a
stool pigeon TO pluck such fools as the I
one who Is sweet on her now. The
aunt's room Is next to mine. and last I
night ! heard her saying something !
about striking some one for n thou
sand dollars. She must have referred
TO him. Yes, I'm sure they are cou-
pie of sharpers."
And what about the felowf
what know got from Betty. and
she got 1t from another lady's maid.
Some one has found out that he Is iiv-
Ing on the charity Of an uncle and
hasn't got hundred dollars to bis
name, though he Is putting up the big.
test kind Of front"
"well, It's not our affair" said the
man.
But 1t is in why. Such deadbeats
ought to be exposed. The women VIII
no doubt jump their board bill here
swell, let 'em jump. The landlord
must look out for himself. And I'd be
rareful to say nothing to other guests.
Come on. lets take stroll" h