The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-21

he'd been a seven ear-old, Dol re-
torted.
"What ef did? II was you gave 'era
to him. Thank goodness they was
crusted with my best granulsted
sugar, an not with brown. An ne ct
one, fer watched him. amt ashamed
O. them cookies. This is too solemn n
case fer quarrelin', Sol Adams; we've
got to think up what's best to do TO
clear ourselves"
After further conference the case
seemed TO assume. II anything, moro
desperate features.
II don't care" Cynthy Ann at last
cried, deiiantly, there's things to be
said on the other side. I've got my
opinion OF any ybody tLat'll set q poor
woman 10 stewia' over hct stove nm
hour an more. an theE rua of after he's
ct his I'll, without ofserin' cent o. pay"
"Why lie didn't either; plum forgot
to tell you. Here"
Sol produced two silver half-6ollars,
and spun them across the table towards
her.
"You zee, made him pay III advance.
"You didn't. Sol Adams, did give
YOU credit fer havin' some sense. What
possessed you TO do that? What did you
say to him?"
"Why--well-er--I told him you was
the leas' mite dubious about his looks"
Cynthy Ann gasped spasmodically,
then rose from her chair and dropped
upon the lounge, where she sat for
three minutes with parted lips, and eyes
nNed stonily Oh distant church steeple,
n picture OF woe unutterable. Sol care
fully wiped away a drop OF gravy On
his sleeve. lie had an air of having reso-
lutely set aside, for a moment, the pres
sure of overwhelming tribulation. All
unbidden, as it seemed, CLEAN of mirth
slowly oyerspread his countenance.
We come nigh forgettin' about your
sending him word how you wouldn't be
drove fer the president himself, Cynthy
Ann" he suggested, with an air OF i'm
partially arranging the wors: features
OF their offense, and having 1T over with.
"Owdacious scand'lous affair. DON:
sec no possible way o. patchiE' it up.
Reckon you'd better take the Kansas
trip with me. Desprit bad scrape. Pm
eoin' upstairs to pack icy gripsack."
At noon the next day Cynthy Ann sat
behind closed shutters in her parlor,
pen in hand, arduously composing let
ter, 1t was an unfamiliar task, and her
progress was slow. Her eyes were
leaden; she had slept little the
night before. There came frequent
knocks at the locked doors. Curiosity
10 know just how she had entertained
her distinguished guest was not satis-
fed with Sol Adams minutest rehearsal
Of particulars. Women coaxed through
kcyholes; children wantonly ratified the
shutters. Cynthy Ann gave not ths
slightest heed to either. Even Sol
Adams, returning promptly at the
stroke of twelve for his dinner, POM
ineled vainly at the kitchen door. An
hour later he returned and called fret
fully through O shutter: What ails
you, Cynthy Ann, arc you deaf? Lemme
in. say. I've got letter fer ye."
Cynthy Ann rose at that and peered
through the Stats. Hand it in" She
said, laconically.
"No, DON'T" Sol replied, masterfully;
"youre goin' to let me in before you
git your hands on it. It's got an official
envelope, an concerns me, too. don't
make doubt. I'll Jist read it fer you"
At this threatening intimation Gym
thy Ann cautiously opened half the
shutter, and Sol, clutching the letter
guardedly, climbed in. Then he gave
her the letter.
There's somethin' stiff inside" he
said, rs she shipped an end of the en-
velope with her shears. In'a moment
she had removed photograph and the
letter. This she read several times
over; then, without word, handed
1t to Sol, while she examined the photo
graph. Sol read eagerly:
"Statc House. July Is, 1s-.-My Dear Miss
Bowkcr: Allow me more expressly to
thank you for your hospitality to n stranger
IN distress, yesterday, and TO apologize for
what now seems to me a disadvantage I
took Of you and of Mr.. Adams In not re-
vsaiing my identity. which must have beer
made known to you by this time. had nc
Intention of having my little joke at the
expense OF either OF you. AS a token or re.
gard and friendship please accept inclosec
photograph OF Mrs. Brown, the chllurer
and myself. Very faithfully yours.
ZORRO L. BROWN"
Cynthy Ann deliberately pinned the
open letter and the photograph in q
conspicuous place upon the parlor wall