Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-29

Friday morning 1 happened to meet
Harry Benson on the street, and l
asked him when he and Marie were
coming into town.
Very soon" he said. But you
city people don't realize how delight
full the country is in the early win
ter"
I'VE don't get a chance to- l re-
love the country all the year round if
I were so lucky as to have subur-
ban home. I become extremely city
worn and often long for the delicious
quiet of a little place like st. john"
Then why don't you come to see
US? The latchstring is always out.
"Always7 Would it be out to-day,
for instance?" asked, half in fun.
"Of course it would" said Harry.
| You Just come along and see II II
| isn't"
"Well, I'll do it," cried. 81 have
a sheaf of engagements, but I'll cast
them all aside for nice little visit
with you and Marie. Don't telephone
| her I'm coming. 1t will be jollier to
surprise her"
| take and I promised to meet him at
the station.
Marie was waiting on the porch
| when we walked up from the village,
and she certainly was astonished to
see me.
When 1 was taking off my wraps
she said: Pm awfully sorry, Lucille,
| that it happens that Harry and 1 have
an engagement for this evening,
which he forgot when asking you to
come out here to-day.
Don't bother about me, Marie. /
shall be contented with a book"
But it's a dinner, and 1 haven't
prepared a thing for dinner at home
| tonight. Our bridge club of twelve
| I a
| could take you. but 1 know our hos
] tess can't possibly seat an extra one,
! SO I don't like to suggest 1t.
Don't think of such thing. I'll
get along all right, I'm sure. can
| banquet royalty on eggs and bacon
! don't know anything nicer than q
| good omelet.''
"Tn run right down and attend to
| it." said Marie. LAS soon as you're
ready to come to the dining room"
! house frock 1 had brought and was
still manicuring when 1 heard a tea
| bell ringing.
why, Marie, did you cook my din
ner yourself?" 1 asked when l saw
| SOW flushed she was.
always do when we're dining out
You'll excuse me, won't you? 1 have
to dress"
| Yes, certainly I replied. but
| was not alone any length OIL tlInei IN
| asmuch as Harry joined me in few
/ moments.
This doesn't seem like a square
deal" he remarked. II feel like an
| old blunderer," l said, laughing, be
cause, if you are, 1 must be blund-
eress, and I'm not the least bit sorry
| I came"
just then Marie came into the room
saying that they must fly or they
would be late at the party.
| 1t was not until 1 had finished eat
| ing and taken up a book to read by
! the open fire, which Harry had lighted
for me. that 1 realized 1 was alone in
the house. The thought was not
| cheering, but l tried not to think OF
it and endeavored to lose myself il
my book, which was one of Poe's.
| had heard David Robinson say thai
any one who had not read Edgar Al.
Ian Poe was not grounded in Ameri'
can literature. so 1 selected The Muir
ders of the Rue Morgue" from the
Benson's library.
| l was absorbed in this for two hour:
or more and then as 1 rose to replen.
ish the fire the shadowy room seemed
gruesome and I heard strange noises
1 looked out of the dindow, but the
night was too dark to disclose any
thing, and I pulled down the shades
and took up my book. By this time
to be frank, l was ''jumpy" and
could not get my mind on the stories