The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-09

aimed at him, and his peace of mind
was not disturbed.
Mr.. Pearson stepped into the door
way. There were rows of tin tubes on
either side OF the narrow entrance. He
pressed something fixed In brass plate
under one of the tubes. Mr.. Crockett
watched him with great curiosity, but
the experience he had acquired on his
| journey, added TO his native shrewd-
ness, made him too cautious 10 ask ques-
| tions. Nevertheless he was surprised
when the door flew open, and he came
very near TO making some comment.
But he restrained himself and followed
| Cousin Jim inside.
Mr.. Pearson led the way up narrow
/ staircase. There was no carpet on the.
steps. and n close, heavy odor as of air
| that had been breathed more than once,
| filed the hall. A lamp glimmered feeb-
! ly at turning in the staircase.
"Cousin Jim is a little more savin'
than I recl<oned he was" thought Mr..
Crockett, "but it's just as well, I'm a
keerful man myself"
They climbed up and up, and it
seemed TO Mr.. Crockett that they would
never come to the end of those steps.
He was a muscular man and could have
thrown Cousin Jim over his shoulder
and carried him quarter of mile
without feeling any overwhelming ex-
haustion, but he was not accustomed to
climbing steps.
"You live pretty high up, pears to me.
- ~ he ~. NJ
"Yes," said Mr.. Pearson, with faint
smile; "it's healthier, you know. The
higher you go the better the air"
Mr.. Crockett kad not thought Of that.
But the end of those steps came at last
and they knocked at door five flights
from the ground. They were welcomed
by Mrs. Pearson, n small woman who
was pallid and fabby like her husband
Mr. Crockett was . gallant mar s.uo
ne did not forget the ties OF kinship.
lie opened his arms and gave Mrs. Peas
son a hearty embrace. Then he kissed
her on the cheek. A little color came
into her pale face.
Powerful glad to see you, Cousin
Mary" said Mr.. Crockett, 'and ID
perked me up nightly to sec Cousin
Jim, too, standin' there on the plat
form when the train came up. I'd a-had
pesky hard time findiR you all by
myself in this great city. Now don't
you tucker yourself out foolin' with
my valise and overcoat. just let your
servant take 'em and throw 'em into
the corner anywheres."
"The fact is," said Mr.. Pearson, "our
servants left us yesterday and we
haven't been able to get others that
suited us yet. Haven't you read in the
the cities with servants? Always dis
satisfied, always striking. There's no
getting along with them. really be-
lieve it's easier sometimes to let them
so entirely and do ones own work."
That's so! That's sol" assented Mr..
Crockett, cheerfully. IL wouldn't have
no slouchin' servants foolin' around me.
like doin' my own work, but it might
be different with Cousin Mary. She
don't pear to be real strong"
"Oh, yes, / am strong" said Cousin
Mary. "My looks deceive you"
In proof of her words she snatched
up the valise and overcoat and disap-
peared with them down a dark and
pinched little hall. Mr.. Crockett was
taken presently into the front room,
where he struck twice against chairs
and once against tho wall. An ok lamp
stood ON tho dresser and Cousin Jim
apologized for the dimness of it's light.
''It's bad, KNOW" he said, "but the
gas company is such robber. Every
month they'll send in a bill for Two
or three times the amount of gas you
really use. It's not so much the money
we mind, but it's the principle OF the
thing. That's the reason we had our
meter taken out. It's the only way YOU
can fight these grasping corporations.
Lots of the milionaires on Fifth avenue
have done the same thing"
Mr.. Crockett admired Cousin Jim's
stand for principle. He had great hor-
ror of all corporations, which he was
convinced were running the country,
and he was heart end soul with Cousin
Jim in his fight against the gas COM
pnny. But this did not drive away the
sense of physical uneasiness which had
seized him when he entered the roam.
He did not know where to put himself.
The chairs seemed too small for his
bulky frame. and he was afraid that IL
he stretched out his legs they would
reach from one wall 10 the other. Mr..
Crockett was accustomed TO wide areas,
and he felt suffocated.
Mrs. Pearson spread white clath
on a small table and brought in some
coffee and cold meat and bread and
butter. Mr.. Crockett was hungry, hum
grier thnn he liked TO say, and he pulled
up his chair with alacrity when Cousin
Jim invited him TO attack the food. But
he was surprised To see that Mr.. and
Mrs. Pearson took 10 hand at ;he kuife
and fork. He asked them TO join him.
lie said he didn't think IL was manners
for him 10 eat alone. But Cousin jim
shook his head.
"We ate dinner" he said. with the
same faint little smile, "before went