The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-21

CHAPTER IX-Continucd.
A NOVELETTE,.


never do IL. He remembered Gladys
sweet face. the touch OF her hand, the
sound Of her voice. Was a sin OF her
fathers TO dog her all through her days
until IL finally ended in-what? Davaris
questioned and queried and made excuses
TO himself and he half resolved TO tell he
the whole sad story and then leaving
Helene, everything, go away TO some far
country and live, and try to forget the oil
life. No one would know him. and per-
he ps life ould become sweet again. anu
the bitter pain, the conflict between hope
and fear, would be no more. Jf he could
onlv know that the only reason he could
lot marry her was because she loved &.
other man, he could manage to get along
TO be sure she would be anot Ier's, bu
nerhaps some lines ne coul seet her. anc
touch her hand, and hear her voice. And
what IL another man had married herr
perhaps he could win her back. Then bis
yiolin-how he loved It. Sometimes whef
he stopped to think, he seemed 10 love
better than anything else on earth, ye
even better than Langford or Gladys
His love for the beautiful instrument Wi
its cleaning brown sides and its silver
-trings Was something he scarcely eve
.ared to define. And then nothing IL
this world had ever spoken to him like his
iolin. When he was sad IL seemed to CRY
cith him aud when he was happy tn
iolin would speak in joyful tones thu
choed and re-echoed in his heart. III h'
iad his choice of Gladys or his violin
which would he take? He shook his head
adty. and entered the hotel Office.
II was very late and the clerk was doze-
2 by the counter. Someone telep once
out horse or something Of that sor
r Davars heard the sleepy official say
rat "the carriage was set at quarter pas
leven as you ordered" and then he
llded sonnet hing about tho great many
rders they had" and then the clerk went
,ck TO his doze. There was an open
re in the wide fireplace and Davaris sank
ntoa char aud watched the dying en-
ers. He scarcely knew how long he was
here; he thought he might have been
-loep. for he was suddenly reused by { 2
act that a half dozen men In evenin;
iress and long capes had come In and
we're loungng about and putting at cigars
Pretty? You call her pretty? Boshr' be-
card one OF them say in n loud tone.
She can't hold candle to Miss Mon
tague."
Their faces were rather red and the,
ad evidently had good deal OF cham
agne. In fact now Davarls remembered
t. most OF the men had very red faces
that is, men of a certain age, not the
Dung boys and striplings.
That last dance / had with her -"
began another man, but he was inter-
rupted:
Il thought you never danced, Cohl-
son -"
Sometimes, but this was charming -
Very pretty -"
"And knows something too"
Davaris closed his eyes and listened 70
these fragments OF conversation as IL in a
dream. He wondered why these mon
seemed so interested in what they were
talking about. lie wondered II they knew
what was going on in the mind Of that
man by the fireslde.
Come over about II for some tennis"
About that cob was telling you"
VERY good, I'll see you to- morrow
Then there was a slamming Of doors and
Davaris looked up wearily. They had
gone at last and he was alone again.
He walked over 70 the desk and idly
looked over the letters In the basket
more from force OF habit than anything
else. He found one for himself and put II
In his pocket. lie then went up TO his
room and quito forgot about the letter
except that it was a very thick letter and
covered with many postmarks. Promi-
inent among the postmarks was Paris.
but he scarcely remembered this, and II
he did think of IL at all no attached nc
particular Significance To- It,
He knocked on Jangiord's door on the
way 10 his room. and Langford osponded
with cheerful yes"
Come into my room n few minutes
with me-" said Davaris, II want 10 talk to
you"
where In the dickens have YOU becnr'
asked Langford. as he came 10 the door
in very ncgligee costume. Were you
down in the Office when came in? / saw
very doleful person by tho fire, but with
bent head and huddled attitude j didn't
recognize you. Great Scott, man, how
pale you arol What is the mattcrG Any
thing wrong?"
I'm never pale" said Davaris.
"Well, yellow then. II that suits you
better"
You are coming into my room with
me?" said Davaris. and he led the way
He didn't light the gas, but sat down op-
posite his friend by an open window where
he could look out OF doors.
II am going tot tell you something tina,
will surprise you very much" Davaris
began. 1T is none the less true for all
that, or none the less serisus. You may
believe me IL you choose. or YOU may
think me an insane person. At all events,
cannot keep this 30 myself any longer.
Its burning in my brain and driving mo