The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-05-02


happiness.
Yes, Walter" be said, - I have de-
cided to set my sweet Fannie's mind at
rest. The suspense In beginning TO be too
much for her, and I've decided not to put
it OF any longer"
Carlton was.silent. He knew not what
answer to make, and ne could hardly have
spoken even II the proper words had pre-
sented themselves.
"Pm to gladden. her heart tonight" I"
Arthur resumed, "and want you to help
me. When we 60 In to call on the ladies
this evening i shall invite Fannie TO take
q stroll and you must contrive to keep our
little widow from going along. Play sick
or tired, or anything to keep her back.
You can do It, my boy One word Of COM
plaint and she'll overturn the establish
ment to alleviate your suffering. What
do you think of 1T"
~ guess itIl do" Carlton replied with
affected careiessness; but his heart sank
within him at the thought OF 90 soon be-
ing compelled to relinquish the foolish
hopes he had all along entertained,
though unwilling until now to acknowl-
edge them even to himself.
Now IL Ii q fact that while Stapely was
engaged in the pleasing work OF prepar-
ing bis batteries for the intended on
flaught, Mrs. Dawson was revolving In
her mind a scheme that was destined to
completely upset his plans, albeit she had
in view the very end that he intended to
bring about.
After expressing the belief that Mr..
Carlton was in love, the fair widow sat
for some moments expecting . reply, and
as the silence was unbroken she at length
fell cogitating. She was troubled about
Fannie, whose abstracted air plainly be-
tokened love, and whose wistful look as
clearly indicated to the philanthropic
Clara that 1t was high time for Stapely to
declare himself. At the end OF half an
hour she had formulated q plan that IL
properly carried out must prove success
full
"For," said she, at want TO 90 down
the street this evening to get some mate
rials for piece of fancy work that wish
Mr.. Carlton to know nothing about. So
when ! tell Arthur that have an errand
downtown and ask him to accompany me
want you to keep Walter here. It won't
take long, but II you don't care to remain
in the house you can propose walk after
we're gone-only don't come where you'll
be likely to meet u.s."
Shortly thereafter the gentlemen pre-
sented themselves at the widows door.
and she took advantage Of the earliest
opportunity to put her scheme into oper-
alton.
Cartoons brain began whirling fear
fully when he learned that he was to be
left alone with Fannie, and he never
knew what reply he made to Mrs. Daw-
son when she plsyfully said, 40 she and
Stapely departed:
"Now, for goodness sake-you two
don't sit here all the evening, afraid to
speak to each other as you generally do.
Wen not be gone long"
Carlton sat upon q sofa In q corner Of
the parlor, while Fannie occupied q chair
at the opposite side of the room. Both
remained silent, after they had been left
alone, for what, to Walter, seemed q week.
He tried to think Of something TO say, but
could conjure up no subject that seemed
suited for the occasion. At last he con-
cluded that he would ask Fannie how she
liked the city, after becoming better ac-
quainted, but AZ he looked up he caught
glimpse of her eyes as they were sverted
from his face to the carpet, and he forgot
his intended remark.
He sat and gazed upon her until she
raised her eyes again and once more
looked down when she saw that he was
watching her. A tinge of red, he thought,
suffused her cheeks, and his heart gave
joyous leap. His latent hopes were kim
died afresh, and he suddenly resolved to
at once be made the happiest Of mortals
or be plunged into the abyss OF hopeless
despair"
Not word had been uttered by either
since they had been left alone. The stu
alton was becoming embarrassing, but
Carlton was no longer to be held in check
for the want of words. With whirling
head he walked over to where Fannie sat,
and for q moment stood gazing down
upon her. She raised her eyes until they
met his; her lips parted and she muir
mured:
"Walter."
He clasped her in his arms, and when
she could speak again she said:
"And to think that you almost COM
PEELED me to propose. Couldn't you see,
dear Walter, that 1t was you loved from
the very first"