Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-12-25
A Double
Mistake
By SARAH BAXTER

was standing before a mirror IN ner
dressing room.
.Tell him I'll be down directly"
The visit was not unexpected. Miss
Rivers mother, a widow, had some
time before written her daughter that
she had decided to marry again; that
her fiance was not by any means an old
man, but full Of life and spirits. He
would be useful to them both. His
name was Roger Popenjoy, and he
was quite we'll off. The mother, who
was not given to long letters, deemed
this quite a sufficient explanation for
the present and closed by saying that
Mr.. Popenjoy would be In the city
where they lived and would call that
very day to make the daughters ac-
q~uaintance.
When her toilet had been satisfac-
torily arranged Miss Rivers went down
stairs to meet her future stepfather.
She was surprised to see a man about
thirty years old and with all the airs
and graces of a man of the world. Her
mother was only forty, but Angela
never dreamed that she would marry
a man ten years younger than herself.
However, good breeding required that
she show neither surprise, disappoint-
ment nor any other emotion. She adj
yanced, extending her hand graciously.
Mamma wrote me that you would
call today"
Indeed. I expected to call soon, but
l was not aware that there was any
especial appointment as to the date"
Have you been in the city long?"
"Oh, yes. / live here"
Miss Rivers was surprised at this.
She supposed that her mother had met
her second fate in the city where she
was visiting. The young lady would
have liked to ask how long he had
lived in the city Of her home and why
she had not met him in society, but
this would have been to imply that he
was not of the select social circle. the
social circle to which the Riverses
belonged.
i've been living here only a month"
he said. II came here to go into bust
ness"
I'm so short a time you could not
have made many acquaintance. l
shall have the pleasure of introducing
you TO some of my friends"
THANK you very much
"Of course. considering the relation
ship, we shall have a great deal OF
freedom In going about together. We
won't need a %chaperon."
mot at ALL
"Only j wouldn't like mother to be
Jealous" This was said archly and
with a smile.
I'm more afraid of father as to
that"
"Father?"
Yes. father." looking at her with
surprise.
How old is your father?"
How old is my father? Haven't
you been told how old he is? Why.
he's ffty-fve."
II confess l haven't heard anything
about him"
That's singular. l should have
thought he would have told you ev-
erything."
II haven't ever seen him."
The young man looked at her with
opening eyes.
What kind Of a match do you call
this, anyway" he asked presently.
Il think it a very good match. So
long as mamma is pleased / am"
"Oh, your mothers consent was nee
essary. OF course it was. How stu
pid OF mel"
81 should think 1t was"
at this moment there was a ring at
the doorbell. The maid answered the
and preceded a visitor into
the drawing room, at the same time
bearing a card on a salver. Miss Riv-
ers took it up and looked at 1t won.
deringly. On it was the name "Mr.
Roger Popenjoy." While she was still
staring at it an elderly gentleman en-
tered.
Morning. father" remarked the Mr..
Popenjoy, who had been announced
earlier.
Morning, my boy. Happy to find
you here. Present me to-
"Your fiancee! How can that be nee
essary?"
Miss Rivers looked on and listened
with Amusement. The last comer adj
vanced toward her with outstretched
hand and said cheerily:
"Your mother wrote you. / believe.
that / would call"
Miss Rivers looked from one to the
other Of the two gentlemen for some
moments before replying.
Mamma wrote me that her fiance,
Mr.. Popenjoy, would call, but she did
not say that there were two iances.
Can it be that mamma has forgotten
she is no longer Of an age to engage
herself to two men at the same time7"
Dad" cried the younger nan didn't
you write me to call on your lancee.
Miss Rivers?'
~ asked you to call On my fiancee,
Mrs. Rivers"
tfT ~1~fsf A-1lao~l AH~1I~ 80 fho