The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-12

BY GEORGE B. BURGLN,
Author Of "The Judge of the Four Corners"

anathema on people who would not
mind their own business.
Miss Priscilla (she looked very placid
md peacefully was taking tea on the lawn
under weeping willow, which defied
even the captains training to converts "
into the exact semblance of an open UNI
brella.
During the last month il had uncon-
sciously been agreed between them that
the taking tea in the open air together
did not involve any impropriety on their
part, and that a chaperone was unnec-
essary. The captain, indeed, with the
courtesy of an old campaigner, had
pressed Miss Priscilla to take tea with
him in his garden, butfor several reasons
Miss Priscilla felt this TO be inexpedi-
ent. In the first place, she did not APP
prove of the captains method of making
tea; there was a military abruptness
about the flavor which failed to recon-
mend IL to her taste; and In the second.
it scarcely seemed right to be seen in
the captains garden without the pres
ence of the wears wife to lend an air of
staid propriety to the proceedings. But
the wears wife was net available every
afternoon, and so, as matter of course,
at four o'clock the captain would vault
over the iron rail and drink six or seven
cups of tea in the fercely aggressive
manner which always betokened how
profoundly he was enjoying himself.
On this particular occasion. the cap
tain alarmed Miss Priscilla by taking
four cups of tea only, and then coughing
violently, as if about to break blood
vessel. He was on the eve of n declara-
tion of marriage. but, old campaigner
though he was, neryously refrained
from making it. He put down his tea
cup, busted a crumb from off his coat.
pulled up his collar, and coughed impress
sively.
81 assure you, madame" he said,
"after hurrying about from place to
place all my life, this village seems
haven of peace"
CAS- matter Of fact, ever since putting
his foot into IL, the captain had set every
thing and everybody by the ears)
Miss Priscilla felt fattered.
"I hope we have done our best to mako
It pleasant for YOU"
Beneath the gaze of her limpid blue
eyes the captain grew still more con-
fused.
Madame" he said, 81 thought I had
settled down here TO end my days, but
fear it is mistake and that must CO."
Then he strove to look pathetic, but, as
he was as strong as a bufi, only partially
succeeded.
Miss Priscilla's heart sank within her
ut the thought of the captains depar-
ture. She had slept more peacefully
evsr since the knowledge that his strong
arm would be raised in her defense at a
moments notice. Now II he went away
again she would be left to endure all
the terrors of loneliness. The mere
sight of his aggressive presence in the
garden, the sound OF his loud laughter,
thrilled her with delight. No one had
ever taken such an interest in her doings
as this ferocious captain; no one had
ever fought so fiercely in her defense;
no one had ever bullied Gubbins before;
and, worst of all, II the captain went
away, Gubbins would again revolt and be
rougher than ever. Her blue eyes
brimmed with tears; had the captain
been an observant man, he would have
noticed the nervous tinlsling of her
spoon against the saucer. But he was
not an observant man, and was mainly
occupied in thinking how to storm and
carry the citadel. He was anxious, too,
that the wears remarks should not
reach Priscilla, lest she should be over
whelmed with shame, and also leave the
village.
"I'm a man of few words" said the
captain, telling one Of the greatest un-
truths he had ever uttered; "I'm man
of few words, Miss Priscilla, and dislike
thinking that divisions should exist be-
tween u.s." He glanced mt the rail-
Miss Priscilla hastened to assure the
captain that she esteemed and respected
him highly.
"You see, my dear madame" contin-
ued the captain, ''it's mans nature To
bc envious and greedy. Not content
with my own half of this garden and liz.
tie home Che was accustomed to call il
his country box when writing to
friends) Iwant your half. ton ltwould
y" perfect IL the rail were taken awav.
you may remember that you perm.
me to restore one rose 10 your gar,
will you give me one to wear on L..
heart forever?"
Miss Priscilla's answer may be guessed
from the fact that when Gubbins ar
rived next day he discovered the captain
busily engaged in pulling down the di-
vision between the two gardens.
SWELL, I'm gormed!" circulated Cub
bins.
Possibly" said Tie captain, "al-
though I'm not in position to know
whether you are gornied or not, as you
call IL. D'you think you can realize one
fact?"
81 bain't sure"
"Bain't you. Well, in future, remem-
Der that you will obey my orders for six
DAYS in the week instead of three. You
may also convey this Information to