The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-29
am already glad that have bar

gained for Crutchy. My intuition never
fails me, however mad, at times, my
impulses seem. like my new little
bundle of ready responses; but how
about Keith?
Keith laughs when, at home at last,
tell him what I've done; calls me all
sorts of fond, nossensical names, and, a
little later, leaves me with my "odd
idea, to go to the club.
"You'll not stay long, Keith?" I ask.
"Can't promise, dear, really. There
are lot of fellows of the legion to be
on hand tonight"
"Of the legion, Keith-that old Pa
risian mob?"
"Hal ha!-'mobi You're not Jealous
Of the legion, are you, little womanp"
/ am. But pride will not allow me
to be candid. Let him go to his
legion--am / not his first thought, for
all those gay Bohemians?
"Cantholi has new idea"-all things,
TO Keith, are, In some sort, ideas
and he means to parade il. "Big canvas
weird subject-'Ring of Death,' or
something of the sort"
II like your style 80 much better,
Keith" A
"What--'The willows green. the peb.
bles white, the stream line of glim-
mering light'?"
"For shame, Keith! Where did you
find that, you"
'On the floor. Debris from your desk,
The low hills wrapped in purple mist;
the mountain tops the sun has
kissed"
Keith Keith! 90 70 your legion
are you utterly without heart?'
''She asks me that who captured iti
oh, come, little woman, the rhymes are
not so bad. I've heard worse"
Keith sleeps SO late next morning
that have time to make a pilgrimage
TO bazar where ready-made clothing
Is obtainable, return with divers pack
ages, and trick out the flotsam washed
to me by destiny's waves from the ocean
of life, before my husband makes his ap-
pearance.
AS he enters the room call Crutchy
and formally introduce 10 her my
lord and master. She lifts her great,
bright eyes, and, 1t would seem, takes
his measure at glance. My senses
being keen, / feel instinctively that
Keith does not impress her as have
hoped-as have been sure-he would.
As IL to find an answer TO my uniformed
question In his face, look at Keith.
God help mel-the answer Is there
speaking from the dull, blearcd eyes,
from the lax, unsteady lips, from the
red, bloated cheeks, from the breath
but let what have named suffice!
''0dd little beast-comic--make good
model"
"Reithi-
But the eyes have closed before my
cry is ended. With a moan turn and
lneel before crutchy, her arms around
me, my head pillowed upon her hollow
little breast.
From whence came that mysterious
influence that brought together two
atoms for mutual good-Crutchy and
me? In the hours, tho DAYS, the weeks
that pass, no mother cseld console me
as does this crippled child. The hid
eousness Of inebriety Is no new thing 10
her. Her face is barometer. fall 10
reading, and confident am / that hope
is near II smile be I'm the ascendant.
IL is smiling often OF late, for Keith
is working pretty hard now upon new
picture. Crutchy is his model. When
his hands are steady The bright eyes
grow in radiance, and all their dazzling
beauty is caught upon the canvas;
when they tremble and lose their cum
ming then Crutchy comes to me. and
there's nothing ! can do but bless my
little New Years gift.
My small inheritance is all gone
keith's money nearly 80, and shorter
commons than those 10 which we've
either one Of us been ever used, Is quite
the order Of our present day. Our last
domestic takes her leave, and Crutchy
and vic with each other In the culins-
ry art
Rice Il cheap eatin', and a slice O.
toast Tss's too sxsitin' 10 ths psryss