The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-22

pany, he was continually Undecided
whether TO enjoy himself, or TO turn
and go away in pet. And although
he could not but often suspect her in
clination 10 afford him an opportunity
TO make love 10 her, somehow or other
the opportunity had never come.
Thus, matters stood, when, after they
had been meeting in general way for
many days in New York, and when
Teviot had begun to chafe under u
sense that she was eluding convcrsa'
tion alone with him, Olive had given
him a hint of something better.
Only an off-hand hint, to be sure, that
IL he happened, on such day, at such
an hour, TO be strolling in a certain
portion of the park-he might per-
chance find her there prepared to talk
with him uninterrupted, upon subjects
of importance TO both of them.
AS might have been expected, no
sooner had Olive gone to this length,
than the earl began TO pull himself to-
gether, and wonder what the deuce the
little girl was after. Racking his brain
for an explanation of her overture, he
jumped at the conclusion, that, like
most of the women he had known best,
Olive was, after all, a self-seeker, and
meant, if possible, TO get ahead of her
sister, by bringing him to prompt
declaration and offer of his hand.
Yet here, trotting up and down an
alley of the little wood she had 'ndt
Gated. her hands close in her muff undc,
the frills of one of those fantastic capes
that kept man at his proper distance
he found Miss Olive Meigs, looking not
in the least sentimental, but rather
equipped for business.
"Come on. Walk up and down, while
we talk" she said, authoritatiyely. ''II
will keep us from taking cold"
as that what you brought me here "a
say 2" he asked, taken aback and piqued
NO. i brought you here, chiefly, to
see whether you would come" she an
swered, giving him a side glance and o
smile OF the variety he had found ire
sistible. "But--there were other rca-
sons"
"By Jove, believe you'd get me to go
anywhere, if you held up your little
finger" he exclaimed, with abandon
ment of consequences.
''Don't be too sure. But since we have
been together, have at least kept you
from stagnating, havep'tIY'
Another one of those side glances, and
il was all up with his little lordship.
"Well, rather" he said, throwing
prudence to the winds. "You see, 1
never saw anything like you before.
And I'll give you my word, you're the
only woman that never bored me 1
don't believe / could stand another
woman, after you"
STOP" she interrupted. "You haze
some conscience, / hope, and you can't
think it's fair to delude poor little
Choctaw savage with false hopes. A lit
tie more, and youth be making me a pro-
posal."
'Well, what II did" he said, staring.
"Only that i, too, have conscience,
and don't want TO let q trustful young
man, so far from his home and friends,
commit himself TO me without knowing
the real state of my affairs"
Affairs. Ominous word. 1t brought
back to Teviot his debts and duns. and
even n dim vision of his late guardian
and the protesting Mr.. Cliff. And it
chilled his affection for both Miss Meigs.
Besides there Is some one else to bc
taken into consideration; my poor sis
ter" she said, with q choking voice.
She had turned away her hcod.
Treviot thought she was about to cry.
Was there no woman living who couldn't
have it out with fellow without a
cry2
Poor, dear Cassandra, 10 whom you
have paid just exactly as much atten-
ton as you have TO me. How will she
bear it? Even the newspapers are say
ing she will be Lady Teviot. Pray,
don't speak till you've heard what
think IL my duty TO tell you now.
Everybody knows over here how impor-