The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-12

corner, a few old baskets and HOUSEHOLDS
utensils and a barrel.
Mother Videaux made her tea and tnen
turned TO the basket of food she had
brought from the enclosure. She laid
each article carelessly on the table, but
when she came to the loaf forsythe had
given her, she turned IL over and over In
her hands, chuckling in low, cracked
tone, as though its appearance amused
her. Then she laid II carefully by ana
ate her supper with apparent appetite.
need not cav that / was intensely IN
terested, and watched every motion as she
cleared away the table, III short clay
pine. and then, as / guessed she wouid,
took up the loaf again. She leaned over
the table and cruintled II carefully with
her fingers, morsel by morsel. Soon she
uttered an ejaculation. something had
fallen upon the table from the crumbs.
She picked II up and held IL TO the light,
which caught one point OF II ana sent
out an obl.que prismatic ray; II was
rough diamond!
NV heart gave a great bound OF delight
| Il had found my ciew at last.
She went through the whole loaf, ana
laid nine diamonds in little heap on the
table. Then. satisfied there were no more,
| she gathered up the cumbs, put them
away, and reaching in the barrel brought
out a cocoanut. The husk was trimmed
and IL was ready for shipping. She took
|
and put the diamonds through the open
! ing into the nut. Next she hlied the
s"eyeu with pitch, as Is the custom 10
preservc the nuts, and holding II TO her
ear, shook il violently. II made no SOUND
could hear, the milk In the nut propa-
| bly preventing the stones from striking
toget her. Mother Videaux laughed glee-
fully and tossed the nut back into the
barrel.
She sat down in her char, again, smok-
ing contentedly, and ] was about TO beat
| a retreat, satisfied that i had learned all
/ had hoped TO, when my attention was
| arrested by seeing her reach suddenly
forward and take small round basket
upon her knee. IL was native basket,
| made Of woven cocoa leaves, and covered
over the top by a coarse cloth. she un'
tied one end OF this and lifted II up.
instantly there glided over her arm a
slender, silver-gray snake, and shudder
went over me as i recognized the deadly
asp IL rested upon her shoulder and
| thrust its fat head before her face. Mo-
ther videaux laughed and patted the
head ana stroked its shining neck.
"Glad To get out, PosonY' she crooned,
tenderly, as mother would talk to a
| child; hglad to stir about bit, is you?
Hard life, Poison, to be cooped up all day
| In n ta.ket wi nothing to stick these
| pretty fangs into! Take care, deary! as
the snake made a sudden motion with It's
graceful head, mustn't strike aLmammy,
VOC krow. It'll be worse for you N you
acts ugly w NANNY. Therel III let you
stay out tonight. You can be my watch'
dog and keep the niggers away. Ha, ha,
! hal No one likes TO bother Mother vi
deaux when her pets is loose. Run away,
now, Poison, and we'll get TO bed.
Shivering wit n horror at the scene,
drew back, and a. my eyes grew accus.
tomed TO the fading light without picked
my way TO the corner OF the house
turned into the rath, and came lace tt
face with Howard Forsyi he!
II ever a desire to murder showed itsel1
in mans face, read II IN his:
"What are YOU doing hereY" he de
manded, harshly.
Attending 10 my business, an
swered, firmly.
"Mhat have you seen?'
'"rbat is my affair >
I He stirred at me moment without
spCaking. and then broke Into a fury.
"You scoundrel!' he cried, with m
OATH III thought YOU were prying int
NY affairs, I'd XIII you as would
dogl"
'!Mr. Forsythe, ! returned, ''pray re
collect yourself You are speaking 10 on
authorized by your brother ana yoursel
to discover this theft OF your diamonds
How much know shall not at presen
tell. but ! warn you to be careful villa
you say II you would not have the who'll
world, az well as your brother, Know
the trutnl'
He controlled himself with an effort;
coutd sre his face was purple with rage
aud mis- hands clinched tightly together
but he turned on his heel without anoth
yr word, ana marched down the path L
the encicsura 1 followed as silently, al
ready regretting thar had shown hir
my hand so soor. Thank heaven, In
ship was due III three days.
He shut himself up in his room withou
even q glance al me, and / went TO m
own, aud wrote full account OF tn
scene l had witnessed at the cottage
Then knocked at Herr Schlitzs door.
"Well3' he cried. "Come m j er
, tered and asked him II he would keep
small parcel for me till / went away. III
rolled his eyes toward me without spar
OF intelligence in them. He was alread
drunk, aud a glass nt his elbow; so
thrust my packet, addressed to my en-
ployer, into his desk, aud quit the room
The elbow had already forgotten eve
my presence, and sat staring stupidii