Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-06-10

oue serOhB eihotlou oi any hlnu. Anu Wneu
one Of these fine weather boats gets by
chance into the track of a cyclone it Is pitt
ful 70 see IL go down, all hands on board
That was what happened to little Alicia
Smith when, after seven childless but con-
tented years of maIEiage in a remote canal
bungalow, her husband was transferred to
big cantonment. A great change TO both
man and woman. To him-cards, billiards,
club life, the possibility of returning to the
pleasures of his bacheltrhood. To her
new dresses, new gayeties, new admirers
round OF all three.
Captain Simpson thought her the pretti-
est little woman he had ever seen. He had
thought that Of many others In the past,
but never-at least not since he had out
grown bread and butter-had he found
himself so close to passion for any one but
himself. He was accustomed to fiirt with
women of the world, and Alicia had lived
in the jungles In addition, she was natu-
rally shallow, and when she turned away at
right angles from his hints of devotion It
was simply because she had come to an end
of herself In that direction. To him Il
seemed angelic, adorable, and he really fell
In love with the little lady, who did not
even understand herself, else how could she
bandf Husbands are apt to be considered
cads, and in this case the opinion was not
far wrong, but Alicia had not discovered
the fact during those seven years in the
jungles.
''She was driving down the Mall In Cap
tain Simpsons dogcart IL did her head
good, certainly, but the ache had gone to
her heart when he set her down again at
the garden gate. How handsome and kind
he looked In the moonlight, holding her
hand and saying, with tremor in his
voice: II never loved any one as love you,
Aliciai / cannot go on in this way any
longer. You must decide. If you say SO,
will CO."
"Why-why shouldn't we be friends as
beforef she almost sobbed.
"Oh, Alicial You don't understand, and
yet you do like me- See, will give you
time to think. Tomorrow will apply for
leave; the day after / will go if Oh,
you send me awayp"
Whyf She asked herself the question
many times next day. 1t was Sunday, and
Captain Simpson had always lunched and
spent the afternoon and gone to church with
them, for Alicia was always religious lit
tie woman In her way. Now 1t was deadly
dull, with Conrad cross and limiting at a
return to the jungles Monday was worse
Con away for the night with the dogcart,
and no Captain Simpson to call and escort
her to tennis. He was to leave that even
ing, and she might never see him again.
She got through the afternoon by telling
herself she had fever. She did indeed feel
out of sorts as she lay counting the hours
before her decision became irrevocable.
At o'clock she rose for dinner, and pass.
II \ ~ ~ M
cial envelope from the chiefs office. In sud-
den suspicion she opened it. 1t was the
notice OF retransfer to the desert. She gave
little cry. Then she would never see him
again-they would be gone ere he returned.
And he had always been 30 kindi She must
say goodby-must tell him. What, she
scarcely knew, not even when, 10 minutes
later, she was facing his servant In the We
randa of his house. I'LL Was he illi
"Is that you again, doctori" said his voice
from inside.
mo, it is /, Alicia" she answered.
He sank back on the couch as she entered,
murmuring that 1t was too late-that she
must go; he was very i'll, but the doctor
was coming again In the morning, and e
could manage; the servant would look after
him; she must go. She gave one glance at
the lemonade carefully placed out of reach,
the pillows slipped from his head, the lamp
blazing in his face, and made her decision.
Pm going to stay" she said, and she
staid, though he rambled away restlessly
that she must not-that he did not want
her. She took no notice. He was very i'll.
Perhaps he would die, she thought, so why
should she think of the futurei
Great heavens, Mrs Smithp' cried the
Irish doctor in blank amazement when he
came with the dawn. "You don't manc to
say you have been here all nightf"
why noti l am going to nurse him."
She went into the garden while the doc
tor interviewed his patient.
''Is he very illi" she asked as he came
out looking very grave.
"Very i'll. So i'll that he must not be
thwarted."
"Then can stay"
"That's beautiful rose you've got me,
dear lady. No, II wouldn't If were you.
I'm not saying it certain, but-but-if 1t
were the smallpox
She shrank an instant; the next touched
the most unselfsh moment of her life
"Then will stay"
"Impossible, my dear lady; he won't hear
Off. There's no harm done-anyway. a.
yet"
II am not afraid of-of anything" she
said quietly.
you're worth two of him, and-and It's q
beautiful rose you've got. oh, botherationi
Did you never hear the saying, When the
devil was illp Confound himr'
The rose dropped from Alicia's hand, and
some of it's crimson came into her cheeks.
IL shall be glad Of a lift home," she
said. "As you say, there is no harm done
as yet"
That night the doctor came round stealth
lily when her husband was at mess.
~ want to vaccinate you," he said. "It's
the smallpox after all"
at doesn't matter" she said bitterly
But her opinion had changed three days
later when he came out of her husbands
room.
as it's it For Gods sake, tell me the
truth"
"Yes, but what you think Is impossible.
1t is all about the place. Be reasonable.
Why, the period of incubation"-
She laughed an awful laugh.
THAT makes no difference-if he dies.
Oh, my God Iwonder If deserve itp'
The same day that Alicia Smith started
from Bombay in her widows weeds Cap
tain Simpson left for change Of air to Sim
Ia He was full Of good resolutions, but
proverbs are generally right, and the devil
was well again.-Sketch.
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The Family Cheese.
In Switzerland the orange and myrtle
blossoms, those graceful symbols at we'd