The Dickinson press., 1914-01-24
His Blunder
By GREGORY CHS ON

Miss Martindale and did a lot OF spoon.
ing. with the usual result. However,
the affair was not brought to a finish,
and Woolcott vas obliged to take q
thousand mile trip for the purpose Of
making a proposition. He was pre-
pairing to do so when the lady wrote
him that she would be at M. short,
ly and would be happy to receive him
there. Since NJ. was some 900 miles
nearer than her residence, Woolcott,
concluded to see her there instead.
Miss Martindale wrote that she
would be at the Cliffs, meaning that
she would visit a family Of that name.
Woolcott took this to mean that she.
would stop at a hotel. On alighting at
the stationh asked a man who was
in a hurry where he could find the
Cliffs. The man pointed to a hand
some house or a hill near by. He
found the baggage agent and, pointing
to the house, told him to send his
trunk there; then he set off to walk the
distance. On arriving he. opened the
front door. entered a spacious hallway
and saw a gentleman reading a-news.
paper before an open fireplace.
"The Cliffs. I believer" said Woolcott.
The gentleman looked up at him
over a pair of glasses, somewhat sur
prised. and replied in the affirmative.
"Are you the landlords" asked Wool
colt. = :
A twinkle came into the gentleman's
eye, and he replied that he was the
proprietor. ~
II would like a room in your house
for a few days" continued the travel
er. "Have you a young lady staying
with you Of the name of Martindale?''
A light seemed to break in upon the
gentleman's brain. "Miss Florence
Martindale? Certainly. She arrived
a few days ago. But she's out in an
auto just now. She will not return till
late tonight. Be seated and I'll call a
servant to show you to a room"
Howard Cliff, banker, entertaining a
few friends at his country residence,
had sent themo of in his car, remaining
at home himself. He went himself for
the butler, instead Of ringing for him,
to tell him to show a$gentleman to his
room who supposed he was in d ho-
tel and who was not to be told he was
in a private house. Then Mr.. Cliff re-
turned to the guest, followed by. the
butler, who took him upstairs. While
Woolcott was making a toilet his bag
gage arrived and was sent up to him.
When he came downstairs he found
MI. Cliff In the library.
"We have very few guests at pres,
ent," said the supposed landlord. you
see. ours Is a summer house, and we
shall close up for the winter within a
few days or a week. 1t depends upon
how long l can keep those who are
now with me. You will have to dine
alone, for all have gone on the auto
party"
81 don't like that,r. said Woolcott.
IF you are alone may we not dine
together".
Certainly"
what wine have your"
MI. Cliff mentioned several kinds Of
wine, and his guest selected cham
payne. He asked for a wine card, but
the host told him it was unnecessary.
Woolcott RECALLED his host with one bot
tie and called for another. The dinner
was delightfully."- served, and altogether
Woolcott found the landlord a very
agreeable companion. Judging by the
number. of. foreign places he was ia
miliar with, Woolcott thought that he
must have kept hotels all over the
world. Mr.. Cliff suggested that, since
the auto party would not return till
late, perhaps Woolcott would not sit
up for them: Since the latter did not
relish a meeting with the lady to whom
he had come to propose before others
he said he thought he would go to bed.
When he went down to breakfast in
the morning he met a. genial party,
| every one Of whom had been coached
with regard to his reception. Miss
Martindale had been. Mortified at the
blunder he had made. She had ,ex-
pected him to stop at a hotel and call
upon her at her friends. But Mr.. Cliff
pleaded with her to permit her friend
to remain in ignorance Of the situation
temporarily and continue to be enter
| Gained by the Cliff family
Miss Martindale advanced with 9
smile, not unmingled with embarrass
ment, but refrained. from mentioning
the mistake. All. sal. down together t.
breakfast, and Woolcott thought what
a charming place it would be for him t
make his proposal.
He had ample opportunity, for the
members Of the family kept out Of til,
couples way, having some suspicion Q.
the young mans errand. During tht
afternoon the two took q long walk
and when they cameGback Woolcot
looked very proud Of himself. At din
ner he remarked to- Mrs. Cliff that b,
had never before stopped at SO charm
ing a hotel. u
aHotelg exclaimed the lady, feign
ing surprise.
aaMr. .Woolcott.'' said the host, ".lshay
to- thank you for making a mistake q
taking my house for a hotel. Had o1
II not done SO Ttshould r1otshave hadath