The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-12-20

kILStE |lsF are away.
,Nl 1<s-S<s9N "Sho isn't back
= $fST| from her ride yet, "
~ m said Lucia. You
'/IVI know tho usu
'1P' drive always keeps
her out until about g."
81 ought to know il by this time, | sup
posen said tho merchant, and ! don't DO
grudge her a moment Of It, but somehow tho
house Is mover quite the same when sho Is out
of it,"
Lucia looked al her father with n little
wonder in her face. Then sho laughed, not
very cheerfuly, and said:
Father, do you know that you're dread
fully old fashionedP
~ suppose So Maybe it's force OF habit"
Lucia still wondered She loved her mother
IN the instructive, not over intelligent way OF
most young people, but really she could not
see what there was about the estimable wo-
man that should make her father long To SEQ
her every day of the year and search the
house for her whenever he returned. She
had never heard her father make romantic
speeches such ns nice married people some
times do i'm novels; and rs for her mother,
what did she ever talk of To her hoge lord
but family bills, the servants, tho children 4
faults, anu her own aimentsi Could IL be,
she asked herself, that this matter of fact
couple said anything when alone that was
unlike what tho whole family heard from
them daily at tho table and In tho sitting
roomi
"Why are you looking at me 80 queorlyp
suddenly asked the father Lucia recovered
herself, aud said;
III was only wondering whether you never
got tired of looking for mother rs soon as you
came home"
certainly not, " said the merchant
"Alost husbands do, sooner or later" said
Lucia
"Prrhaps will, some day." tho father re-
Piled "and ! can tell you when 1t will be-"
"Tcll, ~ said Lucia.
IL think twill bo about the day after eter-
nity ends, was the reply. "Not day sooner.
But what do you know about what some hus-
bands d., you little simplesoni And what
put tho subject into your little headr
"Oh, don't know" said Lucia, dropping
upon the piano stool and making some chords
and discords. at came into my mind; that's
all"
"Well, ! hope that some day you'll find out
10 your own satisfaction BY the way,
y
My now clerk is coming 10 dinner"
"Oh, dearl then I'll have dinner sent up TO
my room, | think. | don't feel bit well,
and it's awful TO think of sitting bolt upright
i'm tight dress for an hour or two" And
Lucia whirlcd from sido TO side on the piano
stool, and looked forlorn and cross
81 suppose it would be impossible TO dine
In dress that is not tightin said tho father
all, Il ,t,'t 4
bit well; really | DON'T
"What is the matter, childi" asked the
father, toudcrly. TOO much candy
few parties"
ooh, nothing that ! know Of" said the
girl, wcarily "l'll feel better when real cold
weather comes, ! suppose" She played with
the piano keys n moment or two, and CON
tinued;
$50 you have a new clerk | hope he's
nice--uot a mere figuring machinep
"Quitc fine fellow said the merchant.
AT least he seems to be.n
as he-hayc you given him the place you
intended to offer Philip lIaynr
"Ncsn
"The iron business is real good for young
man TO get into, isn't il"
"lndecd il is, since iron has looked up"
"And that stupid fellow might have had
the chance if nc hadn't gone off home again
without even calling to say good-byr
"Just so.n
"Oh, | don't want TO see him. said Lucia,
pettishly I'm tired of young men,
"What a mercy it is that they don't know
itn said her father They'd all 60 Off and
commit suicide, and then merchants couldn't
have any clerks at all
"Now, papa!' said Lucia, with n crash on
the lower octaves Of keys, followed 10y n
querulous run, with her thumb, over the
shorter strings. "Is the new clerk anybody
in particular What is his name"
philip Hayn."
Lucia sprang from the piano stool and nj.
most stranglcd her father with her slender
arms.
"Gracious, Lu" exclaimed the merchant
"Your mothers family must have descended
from grizzly bear. But why this excite
mentr
because you're dear, thoughtful old
man, who's always trying 10 do good, ;" said
Lucia. IF 'tweren't for you that poor young
man might never have chance in the world
think it's real missionary work 10 help do
serving people who aren't able 10 help them
selves: | know il is, for our minister has said
10 from the pulpit again and again"
"Im real glad TO learn that my daughter
remembers some Of the things she hears II
church, said the merchant $50 you thinl
young Hayn deserves chance in the world
ehin
IL only know what YOU yourself have sale
about him. said Lucia, demurely.
Good grit always takeSour fathers ad
vice about young men and you'll not be mis-
taken in human nature Which cut Of th,
roast chicken shall | send up 10 your room =
"Oh, III try TO come down, as it's onl,
Phil; maybe can coax Margie to help m
dress"
Lucia slipped slowly from the room, bu
went up the stairs like n whirlwind. Tn
merchant sat down at the piano and made a
dreadful a succession Of noises rs the muc
afflicted instrument had ever endured. III
had 10 do something