The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-21

HIS bMlLlNd, HoNE5f boueEhEHfhh
ticket for his native town. Why he
was going back, he knew not; enough
that he was booked and would see his
home again this very night.
He reached it at nine o'clock. He
rang a merry peal at the front door,
and, when the door opened, had much
ado not TO embrace his honest, smiling
hcusekeeper.
'No, no, Mrs. Robinson; it's all right.
/ didn't send notice--had to come un-
cxpectedly. And how are you, eh?
Cold night--ah, but how good the air
tastes! Fire In the study, is there?
Splendid! Something TO eat-hungry
=ha. ha. hall
Mrs. Robinson felt strange sus-
picion. She had never known her
master TO exceed becoming limits in
the matter of strong drink; but real
ly-- And he had such an unnncnn~"-'
upie look, dark eyes; sunken cneeks;
utterly unlike himself. At his sup
per, too, he drank great deal of bot
tied beer; after 1t he called joyously
for whisky. And there he sat until
long after midnight, singing to him
self snatches of old songs.
The next morning--it was frosty and
bright-he went forth, walked through
the town, greeted cheerily such friends
as he chanccd to encounter. AS though
bent on country walk, he crossed the
bridge and crossed at his usual brisk
paco through the suburb of mean little
houses; from the highway beyond he
struck into q field-path, and by way of a
great semicircle drew towards the point
he had in mind, which he might have
reached in quarter of the time by
starting on another route. He was go
ing to call upon Miss Cloud. With
what purpose he did not try to make
clear to himself; he meant TO SEQ
Eveline; that was the immediate ne
cessity of a life which had lost all con7
scious self-direction.
MIR. Clouds residence, built but few
years ago, stood among a young planta-
ton, and at this time of the year had a
chilly aspect. AS no walked up the
shrub-bordered drive. Marfleet felt a
misgiving, and when his hand was on
the bell he asked himself abruptly why
he had come; but the speedy opening
of the door gave him no time to answer
the question. Miss Cloud, as he knew,
was at present living alone, unless there
happened TO be some female relative in
the house, for her father had gone to
London again after the parliamentary
recess. AS a matter of course, he was
straightway led 10 the drawing-room,
and i'm n moment Eveline joined him.
''IIow delightful, Mr.. Marflcet! was
just wishing / could see you, but had
n idea you were back again. Will you
come into the library? There's bit of
grabbed old law-Latin i can't under
stand az all"
For some time Eveline had been maxi
Ing study of the antiquities of the
town, and I'm her last conversation with
Marfieet she had laughingly suggested
that they should collaborate on n local
history. BY good luck (he trembled
with apprehension the man OF learn
ing was able to solve this present diff
Guilty, and the feat exhilarated him;
his countenance became that of one
who had not care in the world.
"You have been long time in Lon
dcn," said Eveline. with one OF her shy
| Qlances. Alone with Marheet. she al
ways looked rather shy, however spirit
ed her talk.
"Yes-a month or so. And think
must go back again. In fact, Miss
| Cloud, have all but made up my mind
20 live there altogether"
The announcement startled her so
much that she looked at him in silence
Hooked at him for moment fixedly.
Marfleet wns swaying on his feet and
twisting his hands together behind