The Project Gutenberg eBook, Other People's Business, by Harriet L. Smith

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Title: Other People's Business
The Romantic Career of the Practical Miss Dale

Author: Harriet L. Smith

Release Date: October 23, 2007 [eBook #23157]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OTHER PEOPLE'S BUSINESS***

E-text prepared by Al Haines

OTHER PEOPLE'S BUSINESS

The Romantic Career of the Practical Miss Dale

by

HARRIET LUMMIS SMITH

Indianapolis
The Bobbs-Merrill Company
Publishers

Copyright 1916
The Bobbs-Merrill Company

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I INTRODUCING PERSIS
II THE LOVER
III A FITTING
IV THE WOMAN'S CLUB
V DIANTHA GROWS UP
VI THE NEW ARRIVAL
VII A CONFIDENTIAL CHAT
VIII EVE AND THE APPLE
IX A DAY TO HERSELF
X SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT
XI TWIXT THE CUP AND THE LIP
XII A CONFESSION TOO MANY
XIII THE MAIL BAG
XIV AN ACQUISITION
XV A WOMAN AT LAST
XVI WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD
XVII ENID
XVIII A STALLED ENGINE
XIX A DEFERRED INTERMENT
XX CHECKMATE
XXI DE PROFUNDIS
XXII EAVESDROPPING
XXIII WEDDING BELLS
XXIV FAIR PLAY

OTHER PEOPLE'S BUSINESS

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCING PERSIS

The knocking at the side door and the thumping overhead blended in a
travesty on the anvil chorus, the staccato tapping of somebody's
knuckles rising flute-like above the hammering of Joel's cane. TO some
temperaments the double summons would have proved confusing, but Persis
Dale dropped her sewing and moved briskly to the door, addressing the
ceiling as she went. "'Twon't hurt you to wait."

The stout woman on the steps entered heavily and fell into a chair that
creaked an inarticulate protest. Persis' quick ear caught the signal
of distress.

"Mis' West, you'd be more comf'table in the armchair. I fight shy of
it because it's too comf'table. If I set back into the hollow, it's
because my work's done for the day. And here's a palm-leaf. You look
as hot as mustard-plaster."

Having thus tactfully interfered for the preservation o