The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-20


asked. "I'm getting deucedly hungry.
Don't you know OF nice place where
fellow can get roast beef, and mince pie.
and cranberry jelly, and good cup OF.
coffee, and "a Few such trihesl" Harold's
month watered as he asked the question.
He felt that no had great deal to do
to mako up for all the good things Of
life which he had lost while sleeping.
"My dear sir" exclaimed the old
lady. placing q restraining hand on his
arm, II beg you will not mention such
things again. 1t makes me quite faint.
Remember that am not SO young as I
once was"
"Are you hungry:' asked Harold
kindly. He could think Of no other rea-
son why any one should become faint
from hearing such things as roast beef
and mince pie talked about. lis there
a restaurant neari"
"A restaurantl' The old lady burst
into peal of laughter. "Oh, " she
gasped. you take me back to the days
of my childhood Oh, 1t is so funnyi
Mary, Mary, come here momentl"
.%young woman entered the room ana
stood beside the old lady's chair. She
was fully feet tall and must have
weighed 600 pounds, yet she was not
fieshy. Harold thought she must be
female prizefghter and wondered IL the
old lady had sent for her for protection.
''What is it, grandma?" she asked
pleasantly.
This young man wishes to be direct
ed to restaurant. Now, are you will
ing to believe that such things existed
In my day?"
"Oh, SIR" said Mary, turning to
Harold, "did you ever eat before any
one?''
II did" replied Harold, 'and I
should like to do 1t again. hoped l
might at least get cup of coffee here. !"
II used to eat such things 20 or 80
years ago, said the old lady, but |
shudder now TO think OF it. You will,
too, when you become used to the new
way"
Il shudder now to think Of life with
out eating, replied Harold. with fee
BILE smile. Il think" be added, that
i shall not be successful In an attempt
to live on air and water.
"You must go to physician as soon
as possible, said the old lady. He
will make an examination and tell you
what chemical elements are necessary
to keep your system in good working
order. He will also tell you how much
of each should be taken and how often.
On every corner you will see shops
where these foods are for sale. Every
one prepares them for ones self, and no
one thinks of taking his neighbor into
his confidence as to his systems de-
mands. Oh, Mary, think how folks
would laugh to hear me make these ex-
plantations!
The old lady burst into another peal
of laughter, which Harold found ex-
tremely irritating. He did not smile.
Neither did Mary, and for moment he
felt grateful to her, but only for mo-
ment.
~ think such innocence is charm
ing" he heard Mary cay in an under.
tone to the old lady. "Such beautiful
boy shonld not be allowed to take care
OF himself. 1t isn't safe. propose to
tako cure Ol ulul. II isu SohNchsiohoSS
know, but hang conventionalities!
She uses slang like man, thought
Harold. What next, i wonderY"
Harold began to be somewhat alarmed.
Did this amazon propose to send him &c
a lunatic asylum? He wondered if hs
could optrun her SHOULD she pursue him
Before be had decided as to what he
had better do Mary came to his side
and took his hand in hers.
my dear" she said tenderly, ~
know that what am about to say may
seem little premature, but am ami
mated by thoughts Of your welfare a.
we'll as my own qualification. Love II
not measured hy hours, but by hear,
throbs. Should know you hundred
gears l could not love you more sincere
iy. Will you be miner Ipromise tt
care for you most tenderly."
"You promise to-good Lord, deliver
as! What is the woman talking about?'
~ know this must seem sudden tc
you. You have not yet learned to know
your heart, but you are so young ant
inexperienced--at least 50 inexperi