The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-10-13


81 thought she was safe up Ia the
lumber room for the next half-hOur."
he explained, "and ! got out OF bed
and was slipping down 10 the kitchen
for taste Of the new jam. ] knew IL
was my only chance. She's 80 beastly
mean about IL when It's IN pots. just
! got 20 tho hall when heard her sneak
ing downstairs, 80 ! ran in here.
She's in the dining-roOm now. and
don't know whether she's going up
again or down 10 the kitchen"
'DOn't be coward, my boy" |
said, feeling IL my duty % be moral.
"Of course Miranda will scOld If she
finds you, but you must bear it like a
| man"
"ScOld" repeated Bob, with scorn
In his subdued tones. "Do you think
! I'd care il IL was only that?"
understood tho full peril Of the
situation now. Miranda pridcd her
self on doing mother's duty 10 the
motherless boys, and knew that
Whatever her hand found 20 do she did
IL with all her might
"And it's just because | amt cow
ard ] don't want 90 meet her. went on
Bob, evidently mindful OF the tradi-
tions Of Filzrogcr yalor. "You sec,
Jack, / could hit back If she was "a
man, but she isn't, you know, and Of
course no fellow who Is II gentleman
! ever hits Il woman
Robert" murmurol, "you nrc the
soul Of chivalry."
"Oh, shut up, Jac', Smith" ana m y
small Observation-Disclosures held mo
with "a desperate grip. she's coming
inr'
! pocrcd cautiously between tho
heavy curtains AMI caught glimpse
Of Miranda's lank form aud lynx eyes.
The next moment she was vanishing,
but She stopped II, Katie appeared at
the door
"Katc, she said. In her thin, sharp
voice, 81 was looking for you. think
you might help me pot the jam. Smith
may not be hero tonight, and If he
comes let him wait How pale you
look! | can tell you, my dear, that
your appearance has not improved
since you took up with Fitzhcrbcrt."
stood with freezing blood behind
the curtains, wondering what awful
revelation was about TO wreck my
lifc's happiness. In lightning flash
Of jealous Imagination saw Fitzhcr-
bert. No doubt he was one Of the
swels Katie had met In London "A
military swell, one Of those handsome,
naughty guardsmon | had read about
in society novels.
Miranda" said Kitic, "don't you
think ought to tell Jack about Fitz-
hcrbcrtPn
"NO, | don't, said Miranda, sharply.
II don't see why the interests Of our
family are TO be riskcd in collision
with the narrow middlc-class prcju-
diccs Of Mr.. John Smith
Katie's voice sounded little weary
when she spoke again.
you know, Miranda, you were hor-
rihcd yourself when | first told you
about Fitzhcrbcrt's proposal"
Miranda replied in tone Of cold
superiority:
81 was more open to conviction than
you'd would find Mr.. John Smith We
who have boon rooted in English soil
for eight centuries naturally tako
larger views Of life than mushrooms
of yesterday. Besides. your conduct
i'm this affair is justified by the example
and approval of women in the best
society
What world Of whitcd scpulchcrs!
! had never loved Miranda, but | had
always respected her. However
slcptcal might have bccn about her
personal charms. | had never doubted
her principles. Miranda taught class
in the Sun3ay-school, worked district
ON strict charity organization prin-
Ciplcs. and was decorated with the
Order of the Blue Ribbon. Yet hero
was this seemingly virtuous Miranda
applauding her younger sisters false
ness To n true lover. because it was the
fashion of women in the best society
TO tramplc on honest hearts.
IL hate cOnccalmcnt," said Katie,
"and Jack Is 50 truthful himself that |
can't bear the idea Of ds'civing him.
Oh, Miranda, dear, | was so nappy
when Fit2hcrbcrt made me the offer
that ncvcr stopped to wonder what
Jack would think about it, but now
am SO miserable that sometimes think
must give up Fit2horbert.'
"Rubbishl' said Miranda, "and
selfish rubbish too. | wonder, Kate
Rogers, how YOU can talk in that way,
whom you know how useful Fitzhcr-
bcrt's money is to your poor father"
Oh. this was too awful! Katie not
only false To me. but actually So mean
as To take money from her new lovcr.
| could stand it NO longer. | wrcnch-
ed myself from poor littlc Bob's grasp
and stood stcrnly facing the two girls.
Miranda fled from the room. Katie
stood white and still.
Pray do not give up Fit2hcrbcrt on
my humble account" | said, scorn.
fully. DO not let my vulgar prejudice
in favor OF truth and honesty Interfere
with the wider morality Of tho best So
cicty. Marry Fitzhcrbcrt tomorrow.
Hyou like, and he rs happy as you de-
serve To be-"
The color rushed back into Katic's