Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1910-09-15
JIMMY'S
OPPORTUNITY,
A Very important Conversation
That Settled Matters.
BY HARRIET LuMMIs SMITH.

I
Jimmy Fitzgerald was downcast-
Everybody was against him. he told
himself. and in that sweeping general
| izatiou he included even Carroll. For
| If 1t had not been for CARROTS con-
nivance. her tame submission to the
maneuvers of interfering relatives. the
words which had ,rembed on his lips
for three dragging months would have
been spoken long ago
! From the standpoint OF disinter-
ested spectator Jimmy was ready to
admire the cleyerness which so far
| had circumvented him Good team
| work" be denominated it, The in
| genious air with which Grandmother
| Reynolds would appear to claim Car
rolls assistance In regard to a dropped
stitch in her knitting just when jim
my was bringing matters to eli
max and Carroll was turning a most
becoming pink was only equaIed by the
childike innocence with which Car.
| rolls small brother would rush bawl-
! ing into the library with a bloody
! handkerchief held 10 his nose. inter
| rupting au eloquent outbreak begin
ming since the first hour / saw you r
In Jimmys estimation this was all
| the harder TO bear because he was so
| perfectly eligible Character ana pros
| poets alike were beyond question The
most serious accusation that could be
! brought against the match was that
| both OF them were young. Carrolfs
sister, Marie. was OF the opinion that
/ an engagement would be absurd. aud
! Jimmy thought he knew why. If
! George Freeman. Marie's latest ud.
| mirer, had been as eager to propose as
! Jimmy was the latter young man felt
| positive thar no obstacles would be put
/ in his way
/ With n dupIicity foreign to his usu-
ally frank naturc Jimmy lost no op.
portunty OF expressing to Freeman tho
admiration with which Marie inspired
| him. II the older sister were on e en-
| gagged or, better still married. Jimmy
! believed there would be hope for him
Meanwhile the family opposition
\
/ which kept Iimmys great avowal uu-
| spoken. If he suggested walk. either
4 Mrs Reynolds declared that CARROTS
/ cold would not permit her TO venture
/ out or Marie invited herself to accom-
| pany them: If the theater. chaperou
1 WAS necessary Whole Souled cooper
alton on CARROTS part would have re-
| lieyed the situation but the girl knew
SO we'll what Jimmy wanted that her
modesty Shrank from giving him any
thing bun the most negative assistance
Accordingly Jimmy decided that she.
too was against him aud gave MIN
self up to thoughts of unutterablc
gloom.
He called one afternoon wearing an
expression of grim determination
which, If be had known it, put the con
spirators on their guard He was usn-
cred into the family living room. and
Mrs. Reynolds entertained him till Car
roll came down. Jimmy made a few
inane comments on the weather. his
eyes devouring the pretty girIish dg-
ure seated demurely in the opposite
coruer
IT'S too fine a day for the house.
said Jimmy. suppose we take lit
tie walk"
Really, Carroll dear" said Mrs.
Reynolds before Carroll could reply.
lit won't do for you to leave the house
Mrs. Baker is likely to want you any
moment We have a dressmaker here.
Mr. Fitzgerald" she continued. turn
ing TO Jimmy with her most charming
smile.
Cant we sit on the piazzag sug-
gested Jimmy Carroll agreed to the
suggestion. But, as it proved. her
small brother Boz was in possession
Of the hammock. and he remained for
two hours, enlivening the occasion by
describing the exploits of the bail
team.
An ear splitting whistle in the rear
Of the house relieved them at length
of Bob's company. Without delay
Jimmy plunged into the subject up.
permost in his mind.
Carroll there's something want
to say TO you
Carroll Mrs Baker is ready for
you" said AIaries voice behind the
parlor shutters That she had been
waiting there biding her time. Jimmy
could not doubt Then the gate click.
ed, and Mr. Reynolds came up the
walk. lie settled himself in the chaIr
Carroll bud vacated. and he and Jimmy
talked politics till dinner time
The young man refused an invita-
ton TO remain TO dinner. He went
away with a lowering brow ana
heavy hcaR. But at half past o that
evening the telephone bell rang. in
,crruptng game Of bridge going on
IN the den. Carroll, who was nearest
TO the insjstent instrument pushed |
back her chair and went TO answer
the summons
"HeIlo-hello. oh. yes. this is Car
roll" She turned a pretty. flushed |
face toward the three at the card table
please don't talk for q minute
rant hear"
The next minute she heard very dis.
tinctly, for the room had beceme abso-
lutely still, and the voice at the other
end Of the wire was clear and penetrat.
Ing.