The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-02-10
CHAPTER ~.
Might Have Known II.

The minute | had consented | re-
gretted 1t. After all, what were jim
my's troubles to me? Why should
help him impose on an unsuspecting
elderly woman? And IL was only put
ting of discovery anyhow. Sooner or
later, she would learn OF the divorce,
and-Just at that instant my eyes fell
on Mr. Harbison-Tom HARRISON. as
Anne called him. He was looking ON
with an amused. half-puzzled smile.
while people were rushing around hid
ing the roulette wheel and things of
which Miss Caruthers might disap-
prove, and Betty Mercer was on her
knees winding up toy bear that Max
had brought her. What would he
think? 1t was evident that he thought
badly Of us already-that he was con-
temptuously amused, and then to
have to ask him to lend himself TO the
deception!
With a gasp ! hurled myself after
Jimmy, only to hear a strange voice
in the hall and 10 know that | was too
late. was in for il, whatever was
coming. II was Aunt Selma who was
coming along the hall, followed by
Jim. who was mopping his face and
trying not to notice the paralyzed ST.
lence in the library.
Aunt Selma met me in the doorway.
To my frantic eyes she seemed TO
tower above us by at least foot, and
beside her Jimmy was a red, perspir-
ing cherub
Here she is," Jimmy said, from be
hind a temporary eclipse of black
cloak and travelling bag. He was on
top of the situation now, and he was
mendaciously cheerful. He had not
said, Here is my wife" That would
have been a lie. No, Jimmy merely
said. Here she is" If Aunt Selma
chose to think me Bella, was it not
her responsibility? And if | chose to
accept the situation, was it not mine
Dallas Brown came forward gravely
as Aunt Selma folded over and kissed
me, and surreptiticusly patted me
with one hand while he held out the
other to Miss Caruthers. l loathed
him.
usual from James, Miss Caruthers,
he said. with his best manner, but
this-this is beyond our widest
dreams"
Well, it's too awful to linger over.
Anne took her upstairs and into
Bella's bedroom. II was a fancy of
Jim's to leave that room just as Bella
h,1 lnf IL dc nj 60
vors hanging around and a pair of dis
carded slippers under the bed. ! don't
think il had been swept since Bella
left it, ! believe in sentiment. but |
like IL brushed and busted and the
eobwebs off of it. and when Aunt Sc
lima put down her bonnet. ii stirred
up a gray white cloud that made her
cough She did not say anything, but
she looked around the room grimly,
and ! saw her run her finger over
the back of a chair before she let
Hannah, the maid, put her cloak on IT,
Anne looked frightened. She ran
into Bellas bath and wet the end OF
a towel and when Hannah was chang
ing Aunt Selnas collar-her conces
sion 10 evening dress-Anne wiped
of the obvious places on the furniture
What's that young woman s
name?" she asked me sharply, when
Anne had taken the towel out to hide
X.
Anne Brown, Mrs. Dallas Brown"
replied meekly. Every one replied
meekly 10 Aunt Selma.
Does she live here?'
"Oh, no." ! said airily. They are
here to dinner. she and her husband
They are old friends Of Jim's-and
mine"
Seems 10 have a good eye for
-dirt," said Aunt Selma and went on
fastening her brooch. When she was
finally ready. she took a bead purse
from somewhere about her waist and
took out a half dollar She held II up
before Hannah's eyes.