The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-17
copyright. 1897. by Amelia f. Barrl
PART

copyright 1897. by Amelia L. Barr.l
PART /.
However much for ordinary mortals
the earth revolves in void, for lovers, at
least, it is generally supposed 10 re-
volve in Heaven. Certainly. at Santa
Lucia, one April evening, in 1867, any
reasonable lovers might have sup
posed so. But here were two who did
not seem in celestial moods, though
the garden was white with orange bios
SONS. and the young April moon was
shining tenderly. and the mocking
birds pouring their souls in melody
through all the warm, scented air.
Such a tall, handsome fellow. with a
square, purposeful face, and an arm that
made light of a rifle carrying ten balls
to a pound. A man whom you felt at
once it would be good to lean upon, and
always safe to love.
Such a lovely girl, with a witching,
coaxing, piquant face, and little, light,
swaying figure that was as graceful us
water flower They were pacing the
veranda together under the young
April moon and the spring blossoms
together and not together, for Moilie
had taken her hand out of Jacks and.
kept just a step before him.
'Mollie!" No answer.
"Mollie, dear!"
"Well, Jsck?"
"Is it meme myself-you are going
10 mnrry?"
"Of course it is."
"Then why care a fig for what people
will say? / have got, as you very well
know, two thousand dollars year, and
i have saved besides just three thousand
dollars; that is all the coin / am worth.
Is IT sensible to have a wedding fit for
millionaire?"
"Jack, men know nothing about these
things. There was my friend, Lulu
Shearer, who married Ralph Randall.
Ralph hadn't a cent but his salary, and
Lulu's wedding dress and veil. and all
her things came from New York, and
every decent person in the town was at
the wedding. 1t cost Mr.. Shearer all OF
two Thousand dollars. 1 am not going
TO have a shabbier affair to please either
you or papa, and think you are very
cruel to ask me-"
Where does Lulu live now?"
slack, think that question Is real
mean. OF course know how poor Lulu
has come down, but"
but don't you see, darling. that the
money spent ON the wedding dress and
feast would have bought them home.
have heard Ralph say 80 many timc."
THAT is just like men; calculating al
ways what women could save off their
Dress"
well, Mollie, / love you dearly; you
know that well, and would do any SEN
sible thing to please you, but am not
going 30 begin my married life by ruin
ing myself, and am not going TO spend
my last cent because 1 want all Santa
Lucia to know that 1 am as big fool ais
Randall, and rather a bigger one than
Gen. Joyce, who went to housekeep-
ing last eek as quietly and modestly
as really rich men generally DO"
Mollie was sulky and Mollie was
saucy, but Jack would not readily take
offense. Heloved this pretty girl so well
and was SO sure of her good heart and
her usual wisdom that he could not
bear to part with her. But Jack was also
man sovereign of himself--a man,
who, having once decided that a course
was right, was no more TO bo moved
than the center OF circle.
Mollie, too, had that kind Of persist
ence which is peculiarly womanish--the
persistence of fly, which. when driven
on, returns TO the attack. This species
of warfare masters most men, but Jack
came of Puritan and Scotch lineage,
and had that kind of dour respect for
his own conscience which Ewes of all
generations have found unavoidable to
their will.
They parted that night in tears and
anger. Jack lit his cigar and walked
down to the beach to reconsider the
situation. Mollie went up stairs and
threw herself into the arms OF Nanny
Classy. weeping out her anger and sor-
row there in passionate abandon.
She had no mother but this faithful
black nurse, but as she only needed
some one to support her in her.own way,
Nanny was rather better than anyone
else; for Nanny not only understood
nll Mollie's opinions and feelings, but
also shared them.
What's de matter wild my blessed
chile ?" she said, rubbing Mollie's hanls
tenderly.
NANNY, it's too bad. Jack knows
love him, and he won't hear of me hav-