The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-11

strident tones, innocent alike of as
pirates or grammar, were even then
echoing through the stables at Mel.
drum hall.
''Well, my man, how are your" Fox
well asked, patronizingly, as he clam
bered up the steps into the caravan,
"I am very pleased to dine with you,
very pleased. / suppose, though, you
call it supper when you are by y~ur-
selves"
Philip Seccombe frowned,-then said,
humbly: "It is very kind of you. sir,
TO honor us. My daughter told me how
interested you were in our caravan,
and / thought you might care to sec
how we lived, SO presumed to ask"
"Oh, that is all right, my good fe,-
low" Foxwell answered.
At this moment Gertrude entered.
With a start of surprise she noted that
her father was wearing n red flannel
shirt with no collar, hat a coarse brown
cloth was spread upon the table. and
that, in place of the usual candles,
fiaring paraffin hanging on the wall
was making the atmosphere nauseous
and unbearable. One glance at Sec
combe's face gave the explanation. He
was posing as vagabond indeed.
Mr.. Foxwell took a seat at the table
unlimited, his air of aggressive patron
age growing more pronounced. Sec
combe saw Gertrude's involuntary in
dignation. and smiled to himself. The
plates were Clipped and cracked, the
spoons and forks had long ago lost
any plating they might have possessed:
thick mugs took the place of glasses,
and az Gertrude looked vainly for
seryiette, she noticed that all traces Of
comfort had been removed from the
coach, leaving its match-boarding bare
and ugly.
for food, sir" Seccombe said, apollo.
getically, as Jarvis entered with the
soup, "and my daughter-who shares
my opinions-and live entirely upon
a vegetarian diet"
"Your daughter, ut least, seems TO
thrive upon it," answered Foxwell, with
siclxly gallantry, looking at Gertrude
VINO moved uneasily in her chair. seq
ing clearly that her fathers comedy
had already gone too far to be stopped
by any protest on her part.
Jarvis set down the soup; trembling.
Gertrude raised the first spoonful to her
lips. 1t was like greasy pink water.
with faint flavoring of onion that had
done duty in countless previous soups,
which was almost overpowered by q
dash OF tartaric acid.
"rhis is tomato soup, SIR" said Sec
combe. II hope you like it,"
"Pah!" said Foxwell, lit is disgust
ing" :.
A haricot and tomato pie followed,
and again the strong taste of tartaric
acid contracted Gertrude's throat and
filed her eyes with water; the paste
was like plaster of paris.
This was made on thoroughly hy-
gienic and vegetarian principles, sir"
said Seccombe; mo fat, only flour and
cocoanut butter" as he finished his pie
with every sign of thorough enjoyment.
ut might be covered with stone,"
Foxwell exclaimed, angrily, yainly try
ing to break fhe crust upon his plate.
His fork slipped. and plate and pie rolled
on the floor. Hang" he shouted,
glnring at Seccombe, who smiled bland
ly. Gertrude's eyes were resolutely
fixed upon grease spot on the table,
cloth.
A cheese pudding. consisting OF sew
eral s'nged Jumps of cheese imbedded
in watcry custard. brought forth q
string of uncomplimentary observe
tions upon vegetarianism in general.
and the meal in particular, from the
Seccombe's guest, whose face, how
ever, cleared when the stolid Jarvis APP.
pcarcd with n dish of stewed cranber-
ries. "Ah!" he cried, something one
can eat. az lastl"
Jarvis expression as he placed u small
glass dish containing n white liquid In
front Of Foxwell attracted Gertrude's
attention. IL was SO preternaturaliy
solid. and that. with glance of intell:-
gence between master and man. cause.l
her to wonder TO what lengths the farce
was to be carried.