The Mermaid of Druid Lake and Other Stories Part 9

SHE--Indeed! And do you think it is too late? (Pause) What did you say?

HE--I didn't say anything. I was thinking. Listen, Genevieve, what's the use of our going on like this? I see now I was pig-headed to send that note. It was cruel to you. I'll never forgive myself.

SHE--I'm glad you're coming to your senses.

HE--I don't blame you for being angry, Genevieve, dear.

SHE--Oh! Carroll, how could you be so unjust?

HE--I'm awfully remorseful. Can't I come tonight and tell you more?

SHE--Why, certainly, you old goose. I'll forgive you.

HE--I'm so glad, Genevieve. But, tell me, dearest girl, you don't care for Jack Smallwood.

SHE--No, you silly boy. He isn't worth your little finger.

HE--Thank you, sweetheart. Goodbye.

XII.

(Wednesday, June 4.)

SHE--Madison 7-9-3-1-y, please. Is that you, dearest? Oh! Carroll, I'm all so topsy-turvy I don't know what I'm doing. But I just couldn't go to bed without talking to you again.

HE--You know I'm glad.

SHE--And I----Oh! I'm so full of joy I can't wait for tomorrow to come.

Doesn't it seem like a dream to think of our being married? It's all so strange, and yet I'm so happy! You don't think me unwomanly for telling you so, do you, dearest? I'm so frightened, and yet my heart is beating--trip--trip--for you. Can't you hear it?

HE--Keep still a moment. Yes, I can. One, two, three----

SHE--Oh, you tease! Such nonsense!

HE--It must be my own then, beating for you.

SHE--You're not nervous, are you?

HE--Of course I am. Am I not going to get the best, sweetest, prettiest, dearest, most lovable girl in the world for a wife? Tomorrow at high noon seems a long way off, doesn't it?

SHE--Oh! Carroll, we won't need a 'phone then, will we?

HE--It has been a dear old two-party line, though, hasn't it?

SHE--It knows an awful lot of our secrets. I wonder how much the exchange girl has heard?

HE--Oh! I guess she got tired of us long ago.

SHE--Then she won't be listening if I send you a kiss over the wire.

Um--m--m--m--did you get it?

HE--I'll give it back with interest tomorrow.

SHE--Everything's tomorrow, isn't it?

HE--There's the clock striking midnight. It's today now, and our wedding day.

SHE--Oh, Carroll!

HE--Don't come late, little bride. I'll be "waiting at the church."

_Timon Up To Date_

The Doctor and his wife waited until their half dozen guests had finished the tasty supper Mrs. Harford had provided before they sprung upon them the purpose which had moved them to invite them. The entire party was made up of West Arlingtonites, neighbors from across the way, from down the block and from up near Carter Station. They had chatted gaily over neighborhood gossip in the dining-room, intermingled with nonsense of the sort that pa.s.ses between people who have been a great deal in the same set. And now that they were seated on the front porch, two in a hammock and the others in comfortable rockers, the badinage continued as Dr. Harford pa.s.sed cigars to the men and pretended to give them to the ladies, too.

"They don't seem to have taken offense at our not asking them,"

whispered Mrs. Caswell to plump little Mrs. Fremont.

"No, not a bit," responded Mrs. Fremont, in the same low tone. "All the same, I feel like a hypocrite for coming."

"Nonsense," said Mrs. Caswell; "you're too soft."

She might have added more, but Dr. Harford, who had been lounging against a post since he had handed around the cigars, was evidently trying to attract the attention of the entire group.

"I am reminded tonight," he began, slowly, "by this little affair of a larger party here last summer, when we entertained the card club."

In the stillness that ensued the song of the crickets in the fields beyond the town sounded most strangely plain.

"Mrs. Harford and I," pursued the Doctor, his voice growing more incisive, his manner more stern, "both enjoyed ourselves in that club, and we are most curious to know why we were not included this year."

The pair in the hammock stopped swinging so suddenly that their feet sc.r.a.ped the floor vigorously. Mrs. Fremont cleared her throat with evident nervousness. The others were still dumb--that is, all except Mr.

Caswell.

"Why, old man," he burst out, "I was told you did not want to"----

"Joseph!" interrupted Mrs. Caswell, turning herself so that her husband could see her more plainly in the white light from the arc lamp at the corner. There was the menace of a curtain lecture in her face.

"We did want to join, Caswell," exclaimed Dr. Harford, quickly. "The plain fact is that we were not asked."

"There must be some mistake," said Mr. Caswell. "I'm sure I, for one, have been sorry"----

"Joseph!" again exclaimed Mrs. Caswell. This time she was unmistakably severe. Caswell subsided.

Dr. Harford addressed himself directly to Mrs. Caswell. "I intend to get to the bottom of this affair tonight," he said. "I have asked questions of several of you, and so has Effie, and the excuses given have been so various that they would be funny if I did not feel they are doing injury to me professionally, as well as socially. My purpose in having you all together here"----