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"Is there soerly

"Oh yes, nearly a colue," was the studied reply "The cat's out o' the bag He's goin' to get erly toward her ghastly sister "Do you reckon he went and told it? I know; he just couldn't keep it--he is so much in love Oh, Dolly, tell 'e it so close, while he is sticking it into a paper for everybody to read I never could see any reason for you to be so awful secret, anyway It has been all I could do to--"

"What's the child talkin' about?" The caller's eyes gleaht as she unfolded the paper and spread it out on her knee "Accordin' to this account, he is marryin' the richest an' most popular woman in the State I reckon everybody that reads society news has heard about Irene Mitchell"

"Irene Mitchell!" Ann gasped, rising in her chair, her slate and pencil sliding to the floor "That isn't so It isn't so, is it, Dolly? Why, what ails--" The half-screa as if about to fall, her little hands pressed helplessly to her face John Webb sprang quickly to her side He threw his arm about her

"Dry up all that!" he yelled, furiously "Dry up, I say! She's sick"

Feeling his support, Dolly revived a little, and he led her out into the hall and saw her go slowly up the stairs to her room As for Mrs Drake and Ann, they had pounced on the paper and had it spread out before their wide-open eyes Sally-Lou was now on her feet She had gone to the door, seen Dolly's wilting form disappear at the head of the stairs, and was now breathlessly feasting on the bewildered chagrin of the stunnedsooner than her nant, she turned to the caller She had opened her mouth when John Webb promptly covered it with his red paw "Coo up-stairs an' 'tend to Dolly She ain't well She's been ailin' off an' on for a week You school-children have deviled the life out of the poor thing What are you all talkin' about, anyway? Mostyn toldthat he was goin' to git married, but it was a sort o' secret betwixt us three"