The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-17

w
rich cousins, the Drews, in the city she
met Ralph Meldon. He asked permits
sion to call upon her at her home, East
Bay.
Ralph Meldon did not get down tc
East Bay for several months after
that. AT last he closed his rooms and
ten miles distant from East Bay.
The next day numbering stage car
ried him over to East Bay and depos-
tied him before the postodice. III
pleased Ralph to walk down the crook
ed village street and pick out the
house I'm which Mary Smith lived.
A brown church stood nj the corner
where an intersecting street made n
sharp triangle. Next TO the church
was tiny white cottage powered In
honeysuckle vines and ivy. Tulips
and hyacintbs made gay the brown
earth borders on either side the neat
path that led to the front door.
Instinctively Ralph turned In at the
gate and strode up the path. IL
was not until his hand had lifted the
brass knocker that he remembered to
look for the conch shell on the porch.
The door opened, ard neat maid
servant looked curiously at his town
cut garments.
as Miss Smith at home" asked
Meldon confidently.
"Yes, sir: walk right in
Ralph followed the girl into n dark
ened parlOr, where she left him. The
stuffy little room with its rose gar
landed carpet, marble topped tables
and grim rows of chairs did not
breathe eloquently Of sunshiny Mary
Smith, but Ralphs heart beat faster
at the sound of a light footstep out
side the door.
Presently the door opened, and a
lady stood before him, tall and gaunt,
with small severe features and frown-
ing black brows. Her black hair was
drawn into a hard, uncompromisine
knot on top of her head. and the thicii
lenses of her spectacles gave an add
ed fierceness to her black eyes.
She bowed stitiiy as Meldon arose 10
his feet, and she surveyed his gloves
and stick with open disapproval.
81 don't want my life insured" she
snapped, opening the door suggestively
Meldon REDEEMED under her insulting
1 tone. Really, madam" he was be
ginning when she silenced him will
a gesture. '
Neither do | wish to buy set o.
"The Worlds Greatest Literary Lights,
nor The European Encyclopedia mol
any other books for which you are tn,
agent. | am very busy today" She
opened the door wider, but Meldon die
not stir.
"You are mistaken, madam. i an
not an agent for anything whatever
l merely called to see Miss Smith"
II am Miss Smith," was the tart re
ply.
"Miss Mary Smith, should have ex
planned"
II am Miss Mary Smith"
"Then | have made mistake II
/ the house / hope you will pardon
the intrusion" said Meldon quietly ~
he passed through the door.
Its common enough name" re
Joined Miss Smith less acidly as he
visitor went down the steps. She lool;
ed admiringly at the tall, well setul
figure as he stepped briskly mp thu
street "IIc must be looking for Ma.
Smith. / dare say he wants summe
board"
Ralph smiled to himself as he locke,
at the next cottage to the one from
which he had been almost forcibi.
elected. 1t was quite as attractive n
the other one, and il. too. had a larG
conch shell on the front porch.
In response to his knock pale, tire,
looking girl came TO the door.
81 am Mary Smith," she said in an
swer to his carefully worded inquiry.
"Im afraid I've made another mis-
take" said Ralph, with pleasan
smile as he turned away. II am look
ing for Captain Smiths cottage
Captain Smith lives next door," In
terrupted the girl. You'll find him q
home, for he has just gone in"
"Thank you" said Ralph relievedly.
AS he walked up the next nea
graveled path Ralph Meldon was pair
fully aware that smith" was not a
uncommon name in East Bay and tina
sea captains were as thick in the vi
lage as the proverbial bees in barre
of sugar. A half hour before ther
had been but one Mary Smith in th
world. Now Mary Smiths confronte
him at every turn or every door
At last he would see the Mary Smit
his Mary he had boldly determine
TO call her one day At this poin
In his reflections he mounted the step
and came upon white whiskered oil
gentleman swinging In canvas ham
mock on the porch. The polishe
boots. the blue cloth suit with bras
buttons. the keen gray eyes undo
bushy eyebrows, denoted the seafarir
man. He raised himself In the ham
mock and peered inquisitively up q
his visitor.
captain SMITH, quericd Meldon.
"Iere!" beloved that old salt, Sc
Ting a blue cap on his snowy hair.
'My names Meldon. had IN
pleasure OF meeting your daughter q
Mrs. Drew's last winter. and l nske
permission TO call and see her" Ralp