The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-16


aeeth shut tight.
Mrs. Thayer did not take any very
great interest in the matter until Mrs.
Salisbury held a session with her. Then
she sputtered in deep indignation.
"Nhy. how dare he make love 20 my
niece? Why, the presumptuous thing!
Why, the idea-he's a workingman."
Mrs. Salibury remained quiet. She
was the only person who could manage
Mrs. Thayer.
"Yes'm. that's true. But he's col
lege-bred man. and"
college bred! These nasty, little
western colleges-what do they amount
to Why, he curries our horses"
Mrs. Salisbury was amused. "Iknow
that is an enormity. but heard the ma
jor tell of currying horses once"
"That was in the army-anyhow, 1T
doesn't matter. Edith can simply ig-
more the whole thing"
81 hope she can; but / doubt 1t very
much"
"What do you meang
81 mean that Edith is interested in
him"
II don't believe it! Why. il is impos-
siblel You're crazy. Jeannettc."
Hes ve~y handsome, in way"
"de's red and big-jointed, and he's
mudsill," Mrs. Thayer gasped, return
ing to her original charge.
Mrs. Salisbury laughed. being malevo-
lent enough to enjoy the whole situa-
ton. "Well, wouldn't try TO do any
thing ABOUT il, Charlotte" she said
"You remember the fate of the Brookses
who tried to force Maud 10 give up her
clerk. If this Is n case of true love, you
might as well surrender gracefully"
"But l can't do that. I'm response
bic for her. I'll go right straight and
ask her"
Charlotte" Mrs. Salisbury's voice
rang with stern note, don't you pre-
sumo to do such thing. You will pre-
cipitate everything. The girl don't
lnow her own mind, and if you go up
there and attack this young man, you'll
tip the whole dish over. Sit down, now,
and be reasonable. Leave her alone for
awhile. Let her think it over alone"
This good counsel prevailed, and
the other woman settled into calmer
state. "Well, it's dreadful thing, any.
how"
Perfectly dreadful! but you mustn't
| take conventional view of it. You
must remember, good, clean and
healthy man should come first as q
husband, and this young man is clean
and healthy, and i must admit he
seems gentleman, as far as / can see.
Besides, you can't do anything by
storming up to that poor girl. Let her
alone for few days
Following this suggestion, no one al
luded TO the fight, or appeared to notice
Edith's changed moods. But the young.
er woman could not forbear giving her
an occasional squeeze of wordless sym.
pathy, as she passed her.
1t was pitiful to see the tumult and
fear and responsibility of the world
coming upon this dainty, simple-heart
ed girl. Life had been so straightfor.
ward before. No toll, no problems, no
choosing ones things for oneself.
Meanwhile Arthur was longing to
see Edith once more, and wondered
why she had stopped coming.
The major came up on Friday and
Saturday, but came alone, and that left
only the hope of seeing Edith at church,
and the young fellow worked on with
that to nerve his arm.
The family respected his departure on
Sunday. They plainly felt his depres
sion, and sympathized with it,
"Walk home with her--I would
said Mrs. Richards, as he went through
the kitchen.
$50 would /. Dang me IL I'd stand
of," Richards started TO say, but Ar
thur did not stop 10 listen.
AS he rode down to the city, he recov'
cred, naturally, little of his buoy
ancy. Sleep had rested his body anC
cleared his mind for action.
He sat in his usual place at the back
OF the church. and his heart throbbet
painfully as he saw her moving up the
aisle. "A miracle of lace, and GOODNESS
and fragrant linen, enveloping hei
fresh, young forra, so erect and grace
ful and slender.
Then his heart bowed down before
her, not because she was above him in
social class-he did not admit that
bhN bfNhhat iit W hs a AONNlf hiit oii' W hf
his ideal lie was cast down as sud
denly as he had been exalted, by her
failure TO look cautiously around, as
was her custom, in order to bow &c
him.
He stood at the door rs they came out,
though he felt foolish and boyisb IN
doing so. She approached him with
her eyes east down. but as she passed
she flashed nm appealing. mystical look
5t him, and flushed a radiant pink,
then slipped out OF the side door.
She left him stunned and smartine
for moment lie mounted his horse
and rode away toward. the mountains,
his thoughts busy with that strange
look OF hers. Ie came 10 underrtnnd
ond to believe NJ last whnt her first re.
coilmg perception told him. She np-
pealed to linn. and she trusted IN him.
hen something strong NM master.
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