The Press., 1912-01-03
Too Much Annabelle She Outstayed Her
 Welcome By CLARISSA MACKIE Copyright by American Press Asso-
 ciation, 1911.

|
 and looked across the table at his
 pretty little wife.
 Married three months, and this is almost the first Sunday we have had
 to ourselves" he declared. Mice tC
 be alone, isn't 1t, dear?"
 Violet flushed uncomfortably and avoided her husbands loving glance
 ''It is lovely to be alone, Gail, but I'm afraid you are going to be very much disappointed'- She paused signifi cantly.
 Gail frowned. "Well, who is it this time? Has my Uncle Frederick an nOunced that he will not enjoy his l Sunday dinner unless he eats it with us, or has your Aunt Hannah decided to shed the light of her presence on us for another fortnightY'
 Neither one, Gail. Don't be so un- kind I can hardly tell you, for, al though you have never met her, you have taken such a dislike to her very name"-
 "Not Annaheller' calculated Gail.
 Violet nodded defiantly. 'T don't think you ought to speak of my cousin in that manner. I am sorry if have ever. said anything about her that you | could misunderstood, for really An nabelle Drage is very sweet girl and so clever! Why, Gail, am such a stupid little thing am sure you will be ashamed of me when com pared to such a brilliant person as Annabelle."
 MT. Irving nodded. "Very likely" he said ironically. When is she com ingT
 "She says" opening the sheets and rustling them nervously, 'that it will be more convenient for her to arrive on the 10 train and-er-that as it is your day at home she assumes that you will meet her.'
 "Ill be there," said MT. Irving, with a grim smile.
 'T thought I would give her the large front room," said Mrs. Irving. "An- nabelle is so fond of colonial furniture, and the little white bedroom is too tiny. It will not hold half the books she will bring, dare say"-
 How long will she stayT put in her husband feebly.
 'I don't knOw-a month perhaps. Now, Gail, please don't look so hor- rified. I am sure you will enjoy An nabelle, and when she leaves you will miss her as much as I shall. You are so much more clever than I am that I know you will find my cousin con- genial. shall stay in the kitchen with Nora and cook the most fascinat- ing things while you and Annabelle read Shakespeare and TennysOn and talk learnedly about all those things. Won't that be perfectly lovelyY' Vio- let beamed at him over white hands clasped under her rounded chin.
 "Great! Fine! Only, you see, dar- ling, don't care for Shakespeare, and I've never remembered line of Ten nyson except that one, Tn the spring young mans fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love- read that when I first met you, and, of cOurse"- The remainder of this conversation had no reference to the coming of Annabelle Drage.
 At 1 o'clock Mir. Irving walked slow ly-nay, reluctantly-to the little sub- urban railway station to meet the un- welcome guest. He had heard so much about his wife's Chicago cousin that he was quite prepared to believe that her coming to his little home would reyolutionize his new happi- ness.
 Anything but a highbroww he la- mented. q can stand any sort of girl except the one that sets up to be a-a- who is it?-ah, yes, Portia. By love, her mere proximity is influencing me! Pm talking about one of Shakespeare's women" he smiled bitterly as he paced the station platform.
 Looks like a storm" remarked the agent pleasantly.
 Were going to have very bad weather" commented Irving gloom ily-"rain, hail, snow; outlook yer! gloomy. think it's going to be hard winter"
 The roar of the approaching train drowned any response the agent might have cared to make. Gail Irving went to the coach from which a solitary woman was descending; was con- scious that an avalanche of trunks and bags were being hurled from the bag gage car behind him and as the train 'creaked into motion again found him. self staring at a rather good looking young woman, carelessly attired, who gazed back at him with frank inquiry in her bright dark eyes.
 "Violet's husband, am sure," she said cordially, holding out gloved hand
 "Yes, I'm Violet's husband" repeat ed Gail with parrotlike precision That's my only mark of identity" he added cooIly. q am pleased to vel come Mrs. Irving's cousin. Hope you had . nleasant iournev I'll take vonr trunk check and have it sent up to the house."
 Here they are," and Miss Drage thrust a sheaf of checks toward him, seven in all"
 ''Sevenv' echoed Gail helplessly. star ing toward the platform where the avalanche of trunks had become a mountain. "Ah: of course. I'll have them sent to the house. You don't mlnd waking the distance; US only quarter of mile.''
 "I should prefer to walk if it were ten miles," said Annabelle easily. | Hurry up, please; it's cold on this platform"
 T beg your pardon" uttered Gail hopelessly as he turned away.
 During the short walk to the low | roofed cozy home the Irvings had built | Miss Drage uttered not q word. Gail did not break into the reverie that ! seemed to envelop her. She walked | with a free, mannish stride that was | very obnoxious to Violet's husband. | He liked little, soft, feminine women with bronze brown hair and dark blue eyes. Annabelle Drage was tall and thin, with an almost too erect carriage.
 ss~tS fa-