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

90 Lsby' $50, OF rms acqualnt-
N TtVsNT ~ VI ance with Lucia
lS AlE1A!Ntt/ There was no lack
NNSI RSNEL of stories however,
>S%SSS@>F regarding the cou-
pie; IN any part Of
the civilized world, no matter how stolid the
Inhabitants there is Imagination enough 20
replace the absent links in a desired chain Of
facts
All that Havnton and its vicinity really
knew about the supposed Hayn-Iramlay affair
was that the Tramlays had been at Hayn
farm, that they had daughter named Lucia
whose age did not differ much from Phli's,
that Phil had been in New York for more
thansa fortnight, that be had gone direct
from Sol MAntriugs slOop 20 Tramlay's office,
that he had been seen in New York in store
clothes, and that he admitted having seen
Lucia once or twice. Out Of these few facts,
which would have been useless 10 even de-
tectiye were he unable 10 treat them as mere
clews 20 DO followed carefully, the euterpris-
ing people Of Ilaynton constructed a number
Of stories, each of which hung together admir-
ably. That they differed radically from one
another was not the fault Of the local ro-
maucers; they had honestly done their best
with the material AT hand.
Phil did not regard the matter in this light.
When day 10y day his little brothers returned
from school with tales they had heard from
class mates and wondered greatly that they
had not first heard them at home, Phil's tenn
per broke loose SO suddenly that the boys al
most feared 30 repeat all they had heard.
The wrathful young man learned that he had
proposed to Lucia and been refused, that he
had been accepted, apparently at the same
interview, that Iramlay was 20 Guild a hand
some house on the water front Of Hayn Farm
for his daughter "A wedding present, that
Phil took his refusal SO seriously 20 heart
that he was going 20 study for the ministry,
and that while in New York he had fallen
into drinking habits 50 deeply that Tramlay
had been obliged b write Farmer Ilayn 10
hurry 10 the city and remove his unfortunate
son from the scene OF temptation.
Phil grumblcd and stormcd, hceven vowed
that if gossip about him did not end he would
20 to sea. lie thought seriously Of publishing
a list Of deual- m the weekly paper, edited
in the county town, which devoted o column
or two 10 lIayuton news. Then he wondered
whether he might not make a connlaut Of the
minister and beg that "A sermon bo preached
on the sinfuuc-s Of gossip but this plan dis
appeared abruptly when the statement Of his
approaching marriage was traced almost
H
But tho worst trial OF all remained On
Sunday he met al church and in the young
peoples Bible c-,, all the girls who lived at
or near Ilayuton. Some of taem belonged 20
churches other than that which included the
Hayn family among its members, but for once
they waived deuomnatioual preferences aud
went 90 the First church, and not only 30 see
Phl's now clothes and cane. Of which Sol
Mautring had brought such astonishing re-
ports.
The wcro a, good and sweet hearted those
IayLtou girls, a- any oi their sex ou the face
of the earth Fashions a tribe oi and lack
Of professional advice as 10 how best 90 en-.
hauce their natural chlr.Ls by borrowing
from art c5rIl not dis-ufe the fact that
some Of them were quite pretty. II was not
their fault that PuiIs heart had EOuo else
where for a mate, but that the young man
himself was greatly 10 blame for such "a
course wa, the general opinion among them,
and they would have "a: least the consolation
OF seeing hOw o., bad been affected hy n step
50 unusual among iIaynton youth. And
what questions those girls eyes did ask.
There was mo- need that they should put any
Of them into words; Phil understood them
oil, with the result that never before on sun
day had be heard SD little of sermon, hymn
or PRAYER. or betrayed SO feeble a grasp OF
the topic Of the day in the Bible class.
So seriously was hi, mind disturbed that he
held himself sharply 20 account, examined
bis evidences" in the time h0uored and orthO-
dox manner, and resolved that lack of Occu-
patton was az the bottom u bis trouble. He
would begin bright and early Monday morn
ing an extension Of the big ditch in the
marsh land. f the mud and stones and roots
and quick-aud-, the tugging and straining
and uer.u.riug. sure 90 bs incident % the
work would not cure him, he grimly told
himself, then bis case was hopeless indeed
Braycy be- kept his word At sunrise he
was already ON his way % the marsh, and by
the middle ~ the morning single sensation
enc0mpa.-el bis entire mind; 10 was that
ditchiug was the hardest. dirtiest. f1rlornest
work that ever f,il 90 a farmers lot IIe
dragged ono heavily booted foot after the
other from the ooze, leaned on his spade and
offered himself five minutes rest
Hs looked wc1rily along the proiongati0n
Of the line of .he ditch already completed.
aul wondered how many hundred DAYS tue
entire Improvement would require. Before
be decided Dis calculations were disturbed by
the sound 81 The family dinner bcL lie
looked at the sun, which was has only time
piece while az work. and wondered what
could have bslaIsn TIE hitherto faithful
family clock Again the bill sounded, and
when be- booked in The direction n the house
he saw. ON the brow of the bin behind the
orchard. bis mother waving her apron 20
him. Something was The matter; what could
70 be' tramp'-a persistent lightning rod
mani He hurriei toward the house. and sCon
saw tat bis mother was waving also some
thing that looked like a handkerchief aud
then ike a piece % paper. a little nearer
AMI be beard bis mother shouting:
Father writ We've got letter"
Phil ran nearly al tle way up the bill, be
bal not performed that diGicalt feat since be
and another boy had raced up, in c1as'ing
time 90 wild strife o. % which should capture
popular cirl and take her down on bis sled
A letter from bis father was indeed an unl-
sual event. Tor the old man bad not been
away from home before. except when on jury
duty IN the county town. n many years, yet
from the Old laiy's manner u seemel the let
ter must contain something unusual As be