The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-17


Conoaaling her apprehension, she looked
around for means Of escape Not one pre-
scntcd itsolf
The solo entrance to the room was
guarded by her unwelcome guest. Her
maid had leave of absence for at least an
hour.
Tho apartment was situated In tho more
private part Of tho hotel, no that TO DELHI
erately ring or call for assistance would
perhaps bnt expedite matters before help
could nrriva and her fcar rendered her In
capable Of Offering direct bodily resistance
She must temporize SO as TO gain time and
opportunity.
"Haye you effected many curcsy' she
asked pleasantly. resuming her seat with
the peculiarly graceful manner that was
SO well known.
Disarmed by her composure, hc seated
himself, too, though within touch Of the
door.
"Very many" no replied, "and SO ex-
peditiously that they were scarcely aware
Of il themselves. In one instance the face
wore a smile, even after the head had been
replaced"
A wilder light leaped from his eyes.
"But the world Is ignorant. Mover as
yet have / been allowed TO witness the re-
suit of my remedy. In your case 1t shall
not be So"
Her breath came and went hurriedly, as
she watched tho nervous dark fingers dell
and fishing boats disappearing at sea nKe
a flock OF white winged birds.
Tho child talked OF nothing but the
ocean. Ho saw 1t In his dreams and some-
times In broad day no thought he saw
through tho fog which filled the inner
court strips Of coast beaten by the tide and
large vessels with swollen sails.
Occasionally he took from the mantel a
large shell and held IL to his ear. He
would stand thus. his neck lost In his
shoulders, listening for hours to the noise
of the sea which seemed To him to come
from far off--from very far off.
The winter was exceptionally damp, and
| did not moet little Cab any more on the
porch Of rhe house. hophysician had ex-
| pressly forbidden that he GO out.
From time TO time / saw him at the
| window. His eyes were sad, sunken, and
they looked far of, while his slender fingers
designed vague ships on the window pane.
| Then, suddenly seeing me In my window
observing him, and thinking himself spied
upon, no made on angry gesture and drow
the muslin curtain.
| Toward the middle Of March saw him
no more His bones ached with increasing
severity, tho pains In his head were re-
doubled, and his legs could no longer sup
| port hlin. nc issl "~n .a-0 ''st.Ao way
stretched on. on his )ittle bed, turning for
the hundrcdth time the leaves OF his pic
ture book, where no saw the ocean and the
vessels with their white sails
He had not given up the idea OF his trip.
"When are We going to startY' he asked
his sister and when she explained that
they would have TO wait for warm wealth
er he replied in his thin voice:
"But am in hurry. i want to be
cured quick, very quick, so that l Will not
see you cry any more.
He had looked up the names Of the towns
on tho route and he already knew them
by heart Ghantilly, then -Clermont.
Amiens. Abbevillo and then the OCEAN
"Once we are there. am sure my bones
will hurt me no more
In waiting he had constantly by him the
large pink shell from the chimney, and
with his car against It's mother Of pearl
lining he listened 10 that distant murmuI
of the sea that was TO deliver him from all
his miscrics.
Toward Easter l heard no more the
heavy rumbling of the sewing machine
They worked no longer on tho first floor
but l saw light in the window far into
the night, showing that some ol was
watching by the bed of the sick child.
"Hc is very low, +" the concierge said t'
me In low tones as she pressed instructive
ly against her skirts her sturdy, chubb,
faced boy. "Ho cannot live long Poo
child 1t will be deliverance"-
Ono morning met on the porch mar
row coffin, carried by two men and fol
lowed by the family.
1t was little Gab, who was starting oI
his journey to the fathomless sea of th
unknown. From 'ho Fvrch of Andrew
Thu-.'nf