184 



THE IRRIGA TION A GE. 



away the dress I wanted and bringing out 

 the one I had just put in the closet ; sit- 

 ting in the only chair in my very diminu- 

 tive bed room and talking without ceas- 

 ing, I think I could have gladly dispensed 

 with her services. But she meant well. 



Promptly at half past seven I repaired 

 to the parlor, breathlees and red-faced 

 from my recent haste, and was rewarded 

 by Emma's smile of approval. When I 

 looked at her pretty face and noted her 

 bewitching ways, I did not wonder that 

 the young man found her so charming. 

 She never was obliged to stay at home 

 as was poor Grace, "because she wasn't 

 asked." 



We began to listan for the carriage 

 wheels on the paved sti'eet. "There they 

 come !" Emma would exclaim time after 

 time as she heard wheels, but on going to 

 the window she would find it to be a late 

 dray or a milk Avagon. 



Fifteen minutes passed, then a half 

 hour. The mantel clock struck eight in 

 that silveiy tone peculiar to mantel clocks 

 and still Mr. McKinzie and friend did not 

 arrive, and I could see that Emma was 

 growing very uneasy. 



"It can't be an April fool joke, for this 

 is July," said I at length, not because I 

 thought the remark brilliant, but just to 

 break the deadly stillness that had settled 

 over us. 



Ten minutes more passed and for about 

 the fifteenth time that evening Emma ex- 

 claimed, "There they are," and ran to the 

 door. This time she was right. 



As I put on my hat I asked, "What is 

 the friend's name did you say?" 



''Mr. Labree," Emma replied, and 

 added, "come on, it's so late we won't 

 make them come in," so we hastened down 

 the steps and found instead of the double 

 carriage as Emma had told me, two single 

 vehicles. I had no time to say a word. 

 "Mr. McKinzie, Miss Smith, and Mr. 

 Jones, Miss Smith," mumbled Emma in 

 hurried introduction. I remembered that 

 Emma had said the ''friend's" name was 



Labree and behold she introduced him as 

 Jones 



Somewhat dazed I allowed Mr. Jones 

 to help me into the carriage and away we 

 drove, behind a horse that I mentally de- 

 cided was too good to be a livery stable 

 animal. 



Conversation between Mr. Jones and 

 Miss Smith languished, as may be sup- 

 posed. I ventured to make the very 

 brilliant assertion that it was <: a fine even- 

 ing." to which he responded, ''yes, if it 

 don't rain." That ended the weather 

 topic and I racked my brain to think of 

 something to say. My companion did not 

 seem disposed to help make conversation 

 and as we drove on in silence I decided 

 that he was disappointed in having me 

 palmed off on him instead of the Grace he 

 expected to meet. This did not tend to 

 make me more talkative, and I'll wager 

 Mr. Jones thought me a stupid person. 



Growing desperate at last I begun 

 talking rapidly and at random about the 

 different buildings we passed, the drives, 

 and all the other things a person does 

 talk about when he has nothing to say> 

 and knows that no one would care to hear 

 him if he did have. Gradually my com- 

 panion broke his silence and we conversed 

 in a highly entertaining manner until the 

 park was reached. We had in that time 

 discussed the various high buildings of 

 Chicago, the parks and drives, the smoke 

 nuisance and kindred topics of equally 

 thrilling interest. 



At the electric fountain we met Mr. 

 McKinzie and Emma, who. having the 

 slower horse, had been behind us all the 

 way. The conversation then became gen- 

 eral, the lights were beautiful and I began 

 to enjoy myself. A drop of rain on my 

 nose warned us that a storm was coming 

 and that as it was growing late we had 

 best start toward home. 



As we drove homeward I said in speak- 

 ing of our drive. "I am taking a new part 

 tonight that of a substitute." "Yes," 

 Mr. Jones said with the questioning ao- 

 cent that seems to say, "Go on, explain," 



