The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-09-28


masculine figure with a big Panama
hat swinging in one hand and q genial
emile of greeting on his bronze face.
Hello, Aunt Celial" doomed out
hearty voice. "Don't you know met"
"Why-ee, it's Oliveri Oh. Phemie
it's my nephew. This Ii Miss Havens
Oliver. she-I've-"
1--WE come"to stay awhile with Mist
Bennett" interposed Picnic, quietly.
her cheeks dsep-fushed and her eyer
downeast.
"And I've come to stay for good,'
said Oliver Bennett, decisively. Eyes
street Going to quit my rowing and
settle down now. Aunt Celia. amt you
glaa?"
Picnic sat alone in her room few
minutes later. Her worst fears were
realized; she had indeed made a great
mistake. Not only was she not need.
ed now In Miss Benefits home, but
her presence would be undesirable
And, when the elder woman had told
her story, what would this stranger
think Of her acceptance of his aunt's
bounty? How might he misconstrue
her m0tives7 Well, she would have
to stay awhile and see what happened.
What happened was that Oliver
Bennett took complete possession OF
the little cottage and it's gentle occu.
pants. Never before had their lives
been 80 full, SO gay, so interesting
When they were not "farins forth on
pleasure bent" he was telling them
vivid tales of the strange places and
people he had seen and the wonders
of his travels.
Picnic thought 1t was the excite
'ment of these stories of adventure
that made her heart beat faster when
In the presence of this fascinating
newcomer. At no time. however, could
she overcome the feeling she had that
he secretly resented her coming to the
house.
Sometimes she caught him looking
at her In way she could not under.
stand. He seemed to be probing be-.
meath the surface of her social man.
ners and questioning her inner helf.
At such times she felt almost guilty.
The climax came on Saturday eve
ming, just three weeks after Phemie's
arrival. She was coming in through
the rear doorway when a bass voice
drifted down the hall from the piazza
where Miss Bennett and her nephew
were sitting.
"But, Aunt Celia, this talk of adop.
ton is nonsense. You don't want her
to stay here with you after all I've
said! I'll speak to her tonight, my.
SELF"
Poor Picnic grasped the railing
with trembling fingers and the hot
tears gushed to her eyes. The blow
had fallen-this was the end! Oliver
Bennett himself had pronounced her
sentence. Well, she would not wait
for him to speak to her. She would
escape such humiliation.
Quickly her small trunk was packed
and preparations made for hasty de-
: parture. She wrote a brief note to
Miss Bennett. and, fastening on her
gray turban and cape, stole down the
rear stairway again, out into the
shadows of the summer night.
Tears blinded her so she could not
see the obstacle in the path against
which her flying feet carried her. A
pair OF stalwart arms caught her as
she staggered from the impact.
"Ginger! Running me down, eh p
cried masculine voice. Whats your
hurry? Why. Miss Ravens, what's the
matter? Wait. wait. little woman, you
can't run away from me like this.
There's something in the wind, and
I'm going to know about it."
"You can't" sobbed Picnic, wildly
struggling to escape. "Let me go
I'm going away. knew I'd be misun.
derstoodl You-you don't have to ad.
wise her no. to adopt me. Oh, please,
please let me go!"
Oliver Benefits wits were working
quickly. He drew the trembling fig.
ure he held to-a nearby seat and
spoke soothinsly, but firmly.
Miss Havens-Phemie Havens-
listen to me. You didn't hear all ]
said. told my aunt she shouldn't
keep you here because IL wanted to
adopt you myself! There, the cats
out of the bag. You're the finest lit.
tie woman I've ever seen, to my no.
ton. and I'm going to marry you If
you'll have me. was waiting for q
chance 70 tell you, but, Of course, II
you want to run away-if you want
to gO-nOw-Phem1e Won 90 RIGHT
along and I'll live here with Aunt Ce.
liza and Pickwick."
He opened his arms wide, and Phe.
mie-well, after an instant of dazed
silence, Picnic just gave a happy,
futtering, long-drawn sigh and set.
tied back without a thought Of the
new pink rose on her turban.
IL guess I'll stay-Oliver!"
Copyright, 1912. by Associated Literary