The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-23
HIS IGNORANCE.

Arbutus berries, when they are ripen-
ing from orange to flame color, and anon
from flame color TO q glorious crimson,
are pretty to look upon; and a clustering
spray of blossom, leaf and fruit forms a
charming ornament for lady's hair. So,
Mt least, thought Captain Mark Brett,
though he was a man not given to think
ing about such things.
Mark had been spending good deal OF
time in this garden of late. His quarters
were hard by-that is to say, within q
ride-and Mrs. Carrington's lodge gates
had opened to him and closed behind bin
oftener than any one cared to count since
his battery had been sent to the fort on
the hill year before.
Now he stood still and looked around.
Every one else had gone within doors,
and he, too, was going directly. He was
engaged to dine with the Carringtons,
mother and daughter, and there was
to be something of dinner party, but his
dress clothes were being already laid out
in the little room over the porch, which
mad become in n manner his own on these
occasions, and he was never long over his
ioilet. He could afford few minutes to
staEd still and think.
comfortable house. With his eye he took
in the deep thatched roof and the stacks
Of smoking chimneys, which had an air OF
joyous preparation in the cold departing
light. There were the stables. With his
car he noted the CHEEKY sound of ringing
hoofs and busy voices, giving token OF
brisk prosperity and abundance. On every
side were trim hedge and shaven turf,
while from the flower gardens cleaning
penes, showed where the rows OF green
houses and wineries had caught the last
rays of the sinking sun.
Z" How jolly, how awfully jolly ii all isl"
murmured Mark to himself.
In point of fact, Capt. Brett's call"
was at that identical moment peeping
from behind the above mentioned lattice,
watching bis antics as closely as the wan
ing light permitted her to do. She had
thought-no matter what she had thought
just before dressing time.
What IL she had been out with Mark
strolling hither and thither in the darki
Nobody had objected. Her mother was
Marks best friend.
"And the poor old lady wants somebody
here to look after things most awfully."
Mark now proceeded TO ponder. "She is
too rich to be easy in her mind in this big
house at nights, with nobody but SER
wants. / would be the very one for her. ]
would look after everything. And ]
would be as good to her as possible-for
she is uncommonly kind to me, and am
as fond of her as can be. We should hit
il of together first rate. As for Edith
he paused. GAS for Edith" another
pause. "If only people would not think
am after Edith's money!" he said slowly.
He was we'll aware that this was just
what people would think-what many
people were indeed already thinking.
He was poor man and Edith CARING
ton was an only child.
Edith was CHEEKY, little plain girl,
with pleasant ways and an active, en-
ergetic mind. For some time after she
and Mark had become acquainted nc
thought Of the heircss as possible sweet
heart or wife had ever entered the old
soldiers mind.
He had begun by trotting over to The
Hatch once a week or so, because country
neighbors were rare in the part where he
was quartered, and because he was So
ciable man, and liked a welcome chat and
change from the monotony OF barrick
life. This was in the springtime OF the
year.
Then came autumn and the shortening
OF the daylight. BY that time Mark had
begun to look jcalously at any third per-
son who might be guest beneath the
thatched roof which had become to him
q loadstar, and toward which his thoughts
were continually straying, in whatsoever
direction his feet might be turned. IL the
guest chanced to be a young man-and |
relatives OF this kind were forever turn
ing up at The Hatch-Capt. Brett would |
retire within himself, be taciturn, watch |
full and uncommunicative.
Tonight, however, as he mused all |
alone in the dusk outside OF the swiftly |
rows OF windows he felt that his |
time had come; he must do something |
make some effort to find out how the land |
lay at once within the next few hours. |
He could go on no longer az he was liv- |
ing. A young fellow, one OF Edith's in |
cousins confound those |
to arrive the very next day, |
and dozen others were to follow for the |
Christmas week. He must be beforehand |
with them. Yet how to 60 straight at the |
terrible question, yea or nayp
Then he looked and looked again at the
Arbutus tree, and q happy thought in.
spired his breast.
"what in the world is he doing7v won
dered Edith from her window. She her.
self was all in a hustle TO be dressed and
down before other people arrived--neigh- |
bors were occasionally unpunctual, sspcc-
tsnyu they had far to drive on dsst |