The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-14

had posted herself regarding vessels and
their different rigs, as she was to accom-
pany me TO sea after our marriage.
"From what paper did you cut this
slip?" she asked.
al don't know" he stammered, little
expecting to be Questioned.
How did you get it them" she de-
manded.
any lawyer sen { it to me-"
"May inquire the gentleman's nama
and address?"
"What need for that Lillianf Surely
you cannot doubt the evidence in your
hand Besides" he faltered, {" he-he i
now in the South and will not return fol
some weeks"
The girl gave him a contemptuous lool
as she said, - will forward this slip I,
the owner, with a request that informa-
tion he sent at once regarding the truth
or falsity of the news. +"
"Yes," Otis replied, exultingly, "that
would be capital way to learn the truth
Write your letter and i viii post it foi
you"
II shall post it myself" she replied,
"But, Lillian, will it not be considered
| unladylflSe TO write to man you do not
know?" said her aunt.
"No, Aunt Ruth, Harry was to be my
husband; SO there can be nothing in
discreet in my desiring to know whether
he is alive or not"
Gillian" said Otis, I" there can be no
doubt poor Harry is dead; has been many
months. Tomorrow / shall go to the
city to satisfy your mind on that point.
| Will you not tell me before / go that all
unworthy as l am, may take his place in
your regard; poor fellow, he loved you
well, and yet his love was nothing COM
pared to mine; he never could love you
as / do"
"Never! II Harry, my accepted hus-
band is dead, and doubt it very much,
would never marry you. would as" -
"Stop You have said enough! Listen
to me- hold mortgage on the house
and land. am, as you know, the only
man on the school committee OF this viii
lage who is at all educated. My word is
law. / can have you removed at once
from your position, and then, my lady,
you may starve!"
Gan this may happen, sir; but do your
worst; you cannot change the opinion
have long held regarding you"
"Well, Jimmy, what is it?" said Lillian,
to boy who had come to the window.
GA telegram, miss" replied Jimmy,
thrusting his hand towards his teacher.
"Give it to me, you young scamp"
said Otis, darting forward But the lad
was too quick for him, and was ten feet
away from the window before he got to it.
"Give me that telegram or I'll fog you
till you cannot stand!"
"Well, guess not" said Jimmy. "It's
for Miss Somers, and no one else shall
hev it,"
Otis leaped from the window with a
curse and started for the boy, who had
vaulted the fence and was running hard
down the street; Jimmy doubled the first
corner, then the next, and cutting through
Farmer Ross's garden reached Lillian be-
fore Otis knew his whereabouts. 1t was
then too late and the discounted villain
knew it, but he put on a bold front, and
entering the house once more demanded
to see Lillian, who had retired to her
room.
81 shall see him no more, aunt. Tell him
so."
"Ask her what the telegram was and
from whom," he said surlily to Lillian's
aunt.
"She will tell me nothing, Otis"
"Prepare to leave this house, you hag !
You have made me cat humble pie; I'll
see il turn about isn't fair play. The
mortgage hold on your property is long
overdue, and I shall foreclose it at once"
"Your father holds the mortgage, Otis"
said the old lady. I" l shall see him. He
will not turn the widow and the father
less out. 1t was not my fault that Lillian
wouldn't love you," she continued in a
whining voice. 81 did everything possi-
BILE to accomplish il. IL kept her letters,
have lied to her, and -
"Shut up! / give you until to-mor-
row noon to bring that girl to her senses.
See TO it that she is willing to become my
wife tomorrow afternoon; il not, out
you both go, to starve, or worse"
Lillian, when she received the telegram,
went Immediately to her room and locked
the door. With a beating heart she tore
the envelope open and read:
"At anchor in the stream. Shall haul
along side dock this afternoon and il
possible be with you tomorrow noon.
Yours, HARRY"
"Thank Godl" the excited girl said rev.
erently. 81 knew my Harry was not
dead. III must cry" and cry she did,
which was probably the best thing she
could have DONE
At noon the following day Otis appeared,
but his father was there before him. Need
less to say, his schemes were at once COM
pletely upset, and when he rushed from
the house he ran into my arms, almost
knocking me down.
"Harry!" he gasped.
"Yes, Otis, it is l." and ! put out my
hand to grasp his, for knew nothing OF
his trickery.
"No," he said hoarsely, 81 cannot
They will tell you why"
i entered the house, and soon, very
soon, had my darling in my arms. She
did not say a word, but intuitively
guessed the whole affair. During the
evening she told me that Otis's father had
given him $4,000, and told him to leave
the country, and that was to be the heir
A month from that time Lillian and
were married, and from that happy event
we were at sea in the Reindeer. My wife's
aunt went TO live with my uncle, who
since Otis's departure, had been lonely
II YOU think Lillian and are not happy,
just drop aboard the Reindeer some day
and see for yourself.-Chicago Press.