The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-01

urn saying that urgent business would
require me to return this week TO town
tomorrow, II possible. F"
"Not so soons' Julia's tone Of regret
and anxiety was really genuine.
"Im afraid so. 1t Is horrid nuisance
i shall hate To leave tho country, and-and
the people here" Roger blushed. II
think have never liked 10 so much be-
fore. /" Roger paused and went little
deeper crimson under his sunburn.
1--WE shall miss you drcadfully," fall
tered Julia, casting down her eyes
They had arrived at the top of the long
avenue and began their walk back In ST.
lonce Roger was thinking. He hardly
knew how TO begin, even with all Julia's
help. He was u nervous young man, with
great ideas of woman's sweetness and
unsel1shness, and he INDUCED in chiyal-
rous reverence toward the weaker sex
which il fairly rare I'm these days. To him
women wcrc all ministering angels meet
10 be enshrined in "a secluded home circle
and whose proper vocation was To make
home happy and oil the wheels of life for
men. He had got his notions from his moth
er, who was all this and more-a veri-
table pearl among women, and it was an apt
illustration of tho blindness of love that
no should have selected Julia Viccars as
tho woman who most nearly approached
his ideal
The minutes passed. Only an odd desul-
tory remark was interchanRed, and the
bottom of the avenue was reached, and yet
he had not spoken as she longcd TO hear
and as he, too, strove in vain TO find words
TO speak.
julia, though inwardly chatting under
the delay, was very quiet too, having a
shrewd idea Of the purport of his thoughts.
AS they turned again he suddenly drew
himself up and bent toward her. the very
words trembling on his tongue. At that
instant the town clock doomed decisive,
distinct Roger started, for the silence
had been SO deep moment before, and tho
words were arrested ere spoken.
lone o'clockl Will they be waiting
dinner for your" no asked
He knew the doctor,s family dincd at
1punctually, for the children had afternoon
school, and he remembered-he was the
very soul of consideration for others-that
tho busy mother had once told him how
put about the household was IL dinner
were by any chance late. His was one Of
those well regulated minds which never
under any circumstances allow feelings to
run away with them.
Julia was at high tension, and his ques-
ton made her forget herself for moment.
Il don't care IL they are" sho said
sharply, with little scornful laugh. LET
them wait. I'm tired to death of consid-
ering them"
The next moment she could have bitten
her tongue out, for she saw she had made
q false step.
Roger looked at her amazed. Was this
the woman he had endowed with every vir-
tue, who was the unselflsh, devoted eldest
daughter-a second mother to her young
er sisters? Like flash, certain hints he
had heard whispered about her, but had
disbelieved, came into his mind; certain
little actions of hers he had seen, but had
overlooked, arranged themselves before
his eyes, and she stood before him in
new light. he felt as IL he had received
ON icy cold shower hath and tho scales
fell from his eyes
"At any rate, I am sure Mrs Viccars
would not like mo to detain you l had
no idea it was so late, and now think of
1t my aunt will be expecting me-" was
his answer as he turned homeward de-
cisiycly.
Julia noticed his change OF tone and
tried to smooth over her slip. But IL was
too late, and, though he made no further
comment on her romark, he was Jared to
tho very core. Her true nature was rc-
vealed TO him. and she had lost her chance
When they arrived ut her fathers door,
he shook hands with her and said:
81 think this Is our goodby, Miss
Viccars i return TO town tomorrow.
Long afterwarl he conflded the talo to
friend and ended with: by Jove!
thought girl who could speak like that
of her homo people would not long want
to consider husband. 1t was a narrow
escape, though"
And that was why sit" never came Of
.-Haps sahold Wnrds