Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-11-08
THE MEDDLER
By EARL REED SILVERS.


"Are you and Oliver Crowley en-
gaged?"
Miss Mary Robinson looked squarely
into the eyes Of Ruth Hempstead her
niece, when she asked the question,
and the younger girl blushed.
"Of course we aren't" she answered.
"What makes you think so?'
I'm only thinking what everybody
else in town is talking about" Miss
Mary remarked bluntly. eff you aren't
engaged, you ought to be-"
Cant two young people just be
good friends without bringing in the
question of marriage?" she parted.
"Good friends, yes!" Aunt Mary
snorted. "But it's got beyond that
point with you two.''
"Well, what can I do?" There was
hint of helplessness in the girls
voice, and the older woman softened.
II don't suppose you can do any
| thing" she answered. eff he intends
to propose at all I can make him do it
in two days." she announced.
''In what way?"
81 want you to have friend of mine
come to see you tonight"
ooh, I can't; divers coming!"
"Well, phone him tonight and tell
him you have another engagement"
"But I haven't" Ruth protested.
''You will have. I'm going to bring
Dick Slower up to see you"
"Who's hep =
"He's a young newspaper man from
New York who's spending few weeks
in Glenwood getting material for a
story. I've met him q number Of times
in the office, and I've always intended
to have him up for supper. So We'll
make it tonight"
Cali right, I'll phone to Oliver"
There was a note Of excitement in
Ruth's voice. "My, but he'll be sur
prised!" she added
That afternoon Aunt Mary paid a
visit to the office of the GlenwoOd
Record, the only newspaper in town.
AS society editor, it was her duty to
write the personal news items.
She remained at the office until four
o'clock, when young man with smil-
ing eyes and curly hair entered.
''How are you, Miss RObinsOn?" he
asked pleasantly. lizard at it?'
"YeS' She smiled back at him. II
want you to com home to supper with
me tonight"
''Td be delighted. What timer"
"Six o'clock"
At six o'clock to q dot he presented
himself at the Hampstead front porch.
He acknowledged Aunt Mary's intro
auctions to Mr.. and Mrs. Hampstead,
and then turned to Ruth.
give seen you SO often that | feel
as if I know you already" he said.
give been here for a week, now"
The girl liked the way he spoke !;
she liked his smile and many other
things about him; and as the evening
wore away, she forgot about Oliver
Crowley and the i'll grace with which
he had received her telephone call.
"You must come again." she urged
when Dick took a rather reluctant
leave. 'I'll introduce you to some of
GlenwoOds young people"
Ruth thought about. him quite often
during the next day, and deep down in
her heart she admitted that she was
sorry that it was Oliver, and not he,
who was coming that night.
But Oliver came, carrying under his
arm the weekly edition of the Glen
wood Record, which had just been is
sued.
"There's something I'd like to speak
to you about" he said.
Ruth's heart leaped. He was prOba-
bly, going to say the words she had
wanted him to say for the past six
months.
''Have you seen today's copy Of the
Record?' he asked.
"No," she answered, 'T haven't had
time yet"
"Then read this"
She took the paper from his hands
and read the item he indicated.
cit is rumored that a certain young
newspaper man from New York has
been visiting one of our young ladies
on Maple avenue" the paper stated.
"HOw about it, Ruth?'
The girl blushed scarlet.
I'm glad that you are having other
men come to see you. have been mo-
nopolizing you for the past year or so,
and I feel that I ought to stop it. I
have a mother who wants me to live
with her always, and Tm-T'm not
ready to get married YETI
"Oh!'
Ruth was taken back by his frank
statement She didn't know what to
say.
$50 I won't be over so much after
this" he finished. II hope you'll under
stand!"
'"Yes, I understand" The girls voice
was cold, and Oliver, recognizing dan
ger signs, soon took his departure.
In the library Ruth went directly to
Aunt Mary.
"Well," she announced, "your news