The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-25
CHAPTER XXI.
A NEW DEVELOPMENT.

I'll "A NEW DEVELOPMENT.
He shut the street door softly when he
went out, and fell into a reverie, sitting on
1.-The stool by the side OF Taras. Uncon-
,sciously my eyes closed. and sleep overcame
tme. When Mere Lucas step on the stairs
woke me, found my face resting against
the pillow on which Taras lay, and my brow
Twas moist and warm with his breath. Ihad
but just time to collect my dazed senses, to
start to my feet and whip off my crushed
hat and ulster as the old woman entered.
"Howp' she exclaimed softly, stopping
I'm amazement "Is monsieur illf"
"He came home very late" faltered In
sexplanation, having failed to prepare my
lself for the occasion, 'and Mr.. Kavanagh
Thought il better that he should lie here
iuntil--until be wakes"
Dear me, that's very strange" she muir
INJURED, approaching the couch in anxiety.
iThen, after regarding him for moment In
silence, her stout sides began to shake, and
she added in tone of cheerful satisfaction:
l"Thank heaven it's no worse than thati
lone has to see such . thing with ones own
eyes to belieye it, for / never saw him like
this before;, but it's odd all the same" and
again she chhckled until. catching sight Of
my scared aud anxious face, her merriment
was suddenly changed to earnest solicitude.
"Why, my poor ma nselle, it is you who
:are i'll, not the master. and was stupid
enough not to see it at thcafrst glance.
Nou have been sitting up all night and tor
amenting yourself about nothing. For, look
Eou, there is really nothing the matter
with monsieur. He sleeps like child, and
See, his skin Is as fresh and pink as young
girls, and when he wakes up he won't
Jeven have headache. Go. He has drunk
half bottle too much, that is all, but that
is not terrible, and If the wine was good it
hs quite excusable. It's a good sign when
IA man enjoys life and the good things in
this world and forgets himself now and
hhen in moderation, for it's proof that he's
healthy and happy. It's early enough to
lbe saints when we can no longer be merry,
look you. Come, each one her turn. You
go now to your bed and leave the master to
me. He shall lie there till he wakes, and
do you sleep till ] call YOU"
slept all the morning. Mere Lucas was
laughing heartily as went down stairs,
but Taras was vexed with himself / saw
when we met, and looked only at the seri-
Gus side of the affair.
II cannot excuse myself, he said. II can
only feel very sorry for the alarm and anx-
,iety have given YOU"
THAT is passed; I have slept IL all away"
Il said as cheerfully as could, "and IL you
are quite well now there Is nothing to feei
II ap ashsped to say never felt better
in my iife Mere Lucas tells me that Ksv-
anagh bfought me home"
II nave not the slightest recollection of
anything from the time rose to come horne
and found that could not walk steadily
till the moment woke on the couch there
with Mere Lucas laughing over me as II it
were the pleasantest thing In the world to
see man level himself with the beasts-or
little lower. Isuppose shall learn moro
when Kavanagh comes"
Kavanagh came while we were still at
lunch. The first glance shot at Taras and
me assured him that had not broken my
promise of secrecy, and the tone of relief in
which he congratulated Taras on looking
so well was not altogether due to that fact.
'The most unaccountable thing ever
knew" he said. "You seemed to me to be
drinking even less than you usually drink"
Thanks" said Taras, with laugh. 81
was ashamed to offer that excuse myself
lnever yet knew an inebriated man who
sould not trace his misfortune to having
Srunk rather less than usual"
Kavanagh laughed with him.
zone thing, though" he protested, "the
whisky at that place is UNANIMOUSLY bad"
1T seemed to me to have O remarkably
queer TASTE" Taras acquiesced, "but that
again, believe, is the habitual experience
of the fallen. / hope did not make my
self particularly obnoxious"
mot a bit. You were simply incapable.
BY the way, this must have fallen from
your pocket" He laid Taras' latchkey ON
the table my man found it in the brough-
am. IL Ihad thought to look for it there, /
might have saved mademoiselle a great
deal of alarm. It's not pleasant thing to
be rung up at o'clock in the morning" he
added, turning to me. "You feel none the
worse for it today hope"
Thinking of Taras assured him that
felt very well indeed.
Zone object in dropping in," he said,
'was to know il you would like to see the
chrysanthemums at the temple. There is
an exhibition for the press this afternoon,
which have to notice for daily paper.
To Judge flowers Is really lady's function,
and to say nothing of the pleasure you give
me il will materially add to the value of
my article IL / have your opinions on the
subject"
His back was toward Taras, and COM
preston of his brows indicated clearly that
he had another and more important rea-
son for wishing me to accept the invitation.
turned to Taras.
"Oh, 60, by all MEANS" said he warmly.
CHAPTER XXIIL
SUGGESTION.
KayanaOh'a hrou xvaa xvaitipU M