The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-06-09


ing-lane-has a large tea warehouse, In
which IA waiting stool, its three legs
point SO .IsideratiOn and tur-
tie soup unlimited" " said his aunt, In ex-
planation 90 the Major.
Gust as II no would ever catch me SIT
ting on itf"
''But still Uncle Sam Is wise man. He
knows what makes life comfortable. I
think you ought 10 follow the legs OF that
stOOlW
"There noww in derisive and hurt
scOrn, "that's just like girl When you
know that you've always been talking %
me Of the brave things soldiers do, and
only two months ago found you cry
ing''-
"Steye, there's your friend beckoning
you. 60 and sec what he wants. Boys do
chatter sol" she said irritably % the
Major, as Steve dashed Of, 'or else they
don'p'--- with sudden recollection
which she as hastily put away. "Haye
you been long In EnglandW
"Only ten days. am leaving again in
IA week"
"Leaying II againf" II Itsecmed a. II her
breath caught little. "Haye you been
at homo much duriI& the last fifteen
years"
"Not once. ! came this time because"-
He cOlOrod and glanced down at his dis
ablcd arm.
ooh, yes. I know" she exclaimed, her
face flushing into such n lovely color and
eagerness that the shadow Of fifteen years
vanished from II, and IL was again In his
eyes as the girl -sace which had been so
fair 10 him iifteen years ago. 81 read all
about yOlr splendid deeds'-
"Such a duifer as that fellow Is" eK-
claimed Steve at her side. "EIe has eaten
more cakes than he can pay for"
She broke into u laugh II was little
hysterical, but the Major, utterly confused
AT her allusiOn 10 any thing 80 personal as
his late proceedings, did not perceive 'he
false ring, and Stove was too much bent
upon getting his friend out OF his unfOrtu-
nate gastrOnomical difficulty. Her
thoughts had gone back b. tho days when
this man-this hero with his grand
simplicity and modest Rentleness-used
to come 10 their house 10 spend his leave
with his friend, her elder brother, under
whose care she was. She was only In the
3chOol-room then, but IL seemed as II,
even In those days, he had not treated her
aa "a child, 80 courteous, 50 kindly, 50
gentle ho used 10 be. He would leave her
brothers other guests 20 ride, or talk, or
walk with her.
She had grown 10 look forward 10 his
visits, careless and light-hcGrted and
thoughtless as she used To bc In those
school days. And then her thoughts went
backward suddenly to tho last time she
had ever seen him. She was grown NJ
them. II was her seventeenth birthday
and that day she had been presented
Major HuddlestOne-Only Captain then
| had come with some other friends In the
afternoon 10 SEQ her in her court dress
But in some way it happened that they two
found themselves at last apart from nj
| the rest, and ho had looked down at her In
"A different way 90 what he had ever don,
| before. He grew very pale as he told hcl
| how his battery had been ordered TO India
and he had just begun II sentence whoI
| her brother came up and stood betwceI
| them, making some foolish, trivial remark
| The sentence had never been finished
| She had never seen Major lluddlestOn,
| from that day 90 this. He had sailed viii
| his battery week later, and did not ever
| como To say goodbye.
She had never quite forgiven her brothe
| for breaking off that sentence until th'
| day he died, some ten years ago. She wa
married then 10 n rich city merchant
| This marriage had been her brother
| wish.
Thomas Dale was good man, and hat
| been kind husband 10 her. He had beer
dead now three years, and she was riCl
widow and free again
But the man who had begun that scn
tence so long ago fGd never shown an
wish 10 finish Il. All these thoughts. flash
ing through her brain, hardened her hear
against him. She would not nsk him &
call on her.
"Do fly 10 that wrotchcd victim of bun
and tea, Steve" she said, putting he
purse in his hand; "he looks wild and de
spairing; and then settle our own account
You can join me in the drug department
afterward. Good bye, Major Huddle
stone"
II was awkward shaking aman's lof
hand, so she only bowed and turned away
The Major stood, pale and upright look
ing after her, ns IL he never expected L
see her again. She had not given him a
opportunity of meeting her again. The
he suddenly remembered the boy. Stev
had Just finished settling his friends aC
count and was rapidly returning TO dis
charge their own. Tho Major looked q
him. The boys face was honest and hi
eyes were kindly and true; and he SCENE
fond of his aunt though he had done hi
bost 10 worry her ont of her life.
"wil you do me iavory" he asked.
The boy looked astouished, contradiC
tory, suspicious. He had n vague idc
this might be the preamble to n request
reliuquish his beloved profession. II
was accustomed 10 this form - aGerc-
when any virtuous and therefore unplca-
ant sacrifice was 10 he asked of him.
at depends" he said, with a dctal
negative in every feature.
The Major pulled out n card case, hlusl
ing red rs girl.
"Iook here" he said, awkNHrdly, "tl
next time YOU come here | want you
drop mo ~ line 20 this address, and tell m
the day and the hour you will be here"
"Mcw in unmitigatcd surprise.
Was the Major hoaNing him OF was !
meditating some useful Tip" in the va
of bat or fishing taCkle}
"Your aunt, too, of COURSE" said ti
Major, moro awkwardly than before. "B
want you To promise me that You won
tell her"
81 don't know" said the boy, after
pause. during which doubt, iScrcdulit
dismay, chased each other across his frar
face. "You see, aunt ha.es me to do NJ
thing uudcrhaud. She says fellow who
IA sneak isn't fit for soldier"
"But don't want you TO be ~ sneak
said the Major, looking dreadful
ashamed of himself. "l only want you
send me line To- that address. II will
oil right; only have a reason for her N