The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-22

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burn hair was grizzled to the temples.
There was a white scar, as of a sword.
cut, across the outer corner of his left
eye, which gave il a slight eccentricity.
His bearing was that OF finished man
of the world rather than a conventional
clergyman. There was something
agreeably foreign about il.
Mr.. Glenn was charming at the din.
ner table, whittier, after the first intro
ductions, the three betoolS themselves.
lie had had an adventurous life as a
missionary in various parts of the
world. He had just returned from five
years in CoEea. A large fortune had
been bequeathed TO him from a man
whom he had saved from n sad end in
early life, who afterwards became
wealthy. His purpose had been to
search out his old chum John Morford
and pass his remaining years near him,
engaged in works of charity. The shock
of finding him no more had been severe.
Though he had never met Mrs. Morford,
she would understand why he had
wished TO sec her. fhe woman whom
my dearest friend loved cannot but be
an object of peculiar interest TO my
self. But you understand-you are in
ell senses q woman who understands"
he added, with look that made the
lady's oval cheeks feel delicately warm.
They had good time. Miss Peckskill
spoke with noble rage of her spirom-
eter; Mr.. Glenn promised to take hun
dred shares as soon as the stock was is
sued. The conversation drifted to pre-
cious stones. He described the mar
velcus pearl of Corea, and produced
four fine black ones from his pocket,
which he had seen the native divers
bring up from the depths of the Indian
ocean. Mrs. Morford held them in the
soft palm of her white hand and ca
ressed them with her eye, her head on
one side. "They remind me of the pend
ants of my necklace" she said.
"You have n pearl necklace?" he
asked. "Are the pearls Corean?"
They sent the servant to bring the
case. He examined the necklace with
the air of a connoisseur. "Yes, they are
mostly Corean," he said at last. "Will
you grant me great favor?" he added,
bending toward her. She bowed her
head graciously, but inquiringly.
Permit me to present you these four
pearls of mine. They should be with
their sisters. 1 brought them from the
orient with a purpose of presenting
them TO my friends wife; will not his
widow accept them? For me, of course.
they can have no value--save as they
may give pleasure to you"
Mrs. Morford took breath; she hard
ly knew what to say; she glanced at
Miss Peekskill sighed, and slowly shook
her head with gentle smile. "I shall
hope to see you here often," she said.
giving him back the pearls.
when you know me better, perhaps
you will indulge me more" was his re.
ply. He had the fine taste not to press
his offer.
The little party returned to the draw
ing-room. Mrs. Morford replaced the
necklace case on the table, and Miss
Peekskill returned to it's box the famous
spirometer, upon the virtues of which
she had expatiated Mt length. The elder
ly maiden, in spite of the value she
placed on her invention, really liked
pearls as much as anyone, and was also
partial to clergymen. She could not
help rejecting that the necklace would
become her well; she would even have
been willing to hang Mr.. Glenn's four
black beauties as earrings in her ears,
and would not, perhaps, obstinately re-
sist accepting the reverend gentle
man himself into the bargain. But ne
did not suspect her sentiments; at any
rate, he did not respond to them. That
is the way in this world.
Seven o'clock struck, and Mr.. Glenn.
in the midst of an absorbing conversa-
ton, remembered with start that he
had n train to take mt 7:15. He caught
up in his haste the cloak which he had
flung on the table when going in TO
dinner, hurriedly shook hands with the
two ladies--with Mrs. .Morford last and
longest-and was gone, leaving favor
able impression behind him. THAT
scar gives him queer expression,
thongh, don't you think?" observed
Miss Peekslsill, after pause, feeling
that critical attitude would become
her.
Mrs. Morford aroused herself from
little fit of preoccupation. She smiled,
absently, and said: ''By the way, /
haven't written that check. What was
il TO be-four--or fiyeY
Three, my dear. You will get your
stock in a month or two. So your pearls
and his came from the same place.!
Well, all will say Is, don't be carried
away. Poor, dear John! Well. must
DO going too-my train is 1880. you