The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-16
A MAN OF BUSINESS.


fore and was too tired 70 get up SO carly
as b o'clock.
When he reached his Office, he found he
had forgotten some most important pa
pers which he had taken home with him
the night before. He had left them In his
safe I'm the bedroom, and there was no one
10 whom he cared To intrust the key. He
sent for Phillips, his head clerk
"Oh-er-Phillips / find must go homo
again. i have left some papers behind
me. VIII you do these orders and see that
man with whom i have an appointment
this morningY Tell him / was Obliged TO
go and shall be back soon after I2. / shall
be- of as soon as I've got through these
letters, so just ask the boy TO get me a
cab"
John told the cabman 10 drive quickly.
When they turned into the street he no
ticed a hanson standing before his house
He supposed Cicely had an early caller
In the hall canvas trunk was lying He
ran up stairs TO tho drawing room TO see
who had come. He had not heard that
any guests were expected.
Cicely was standing on the hearth rug
buttoning her glove. AS she looked up
and saw him her face became awfully
white, and she swayed backward.
"Cicely!' John was just in time TO catch
her as she fell. He put her on the sofa
and shut the door. There was some water
in vase on the piano, and he sprinkled
some on her face. After awhile Cicely
opened her eyes. There'was look of hor-
rible fear in chem.
"rhe letter she said, trying TO sit up
what letter."
"On the chimncypicce. Give IL 10 me.
John looked around. A letter was rest.
ing against 20 clock addressed TO him in
Ciccly's handwriting. At once a fearful
intelligence seemed 10 light up within
him. Little occurrences of the last month,
a word here, an act there, the fear in Cic-
clys eyes, the letter in his hand drew
sharply together in his mind, like the fig
ures in Kaleidoscope, and made horrid
pattern. He tore the letter across and
across and knelt down beside her. The
fear was still in her eyes as she looked at
him, but in moment came the relief OF
tears. John took her in his arms, sooth.
ing her gently as a man can do
"What fool I've been, he thought
"what bitter fool I've been not to nave
seen it long agoW
While SHE was crying he had time 70
think what should be done, and as she
grew calmer he said reassuringly:
There, dear, don't cry any more. IL is
all right now III tell you what we'll
I do. There's a cab at the door, and Wei
Just run down 60 Brighton for week and
enjoy the sea Shall weS Would you like
that"
"Ohw Cicely nestled closer to him and
began to cry again.
Now, will you be ready in five minutesg
/ must go 10 the city first, SO we can start
from London bridge, Cicely, dear, he
said, kissing her.
He rang the bell for the servant.
"put Mrs. Green's trunk on the cab and
come up for my bag, and just pay my cab.
man, will you, pleasey"
He ran up stairs and hastily thrust into
his bag a few clothes Happening to look
In the glass, he drew back in surprise
His facewas pale, and there were new
lines upon it.
"By .Jover he said. II didn't know !
looked like that Well, tho sen will bring
the color back, but l expect those lines
will help me to remember today whenever
/ brush my hair" AT the Office he asked
for Phillips, and hearing he was in the
market, went 10 see him. "Look here,
Phillips" no said, pulling him into a
quiet corner, "here are those papers. I'm
going to Brighton for a week. and you
must get along by yourself. If you want
anything come down for a night. shall
be at Bedford, and, Phillips, when come
back | must have talk with you. find
l want IA partner
He drove on with Cicely TO London
bridge They had n carriage to them
selves and as the train rushed along
through the hedges Cicely said, after a
long pause and in a very fearful voice:
John, ! ought To tell YOU
He interrupted her, putting his finger
lightly on her lips.
mo, dear, no. Lot bury the past year
at the root Of the coming one. We have
both been wrong, and now we will both
be right.
"Dut ought 10 tell you, " she persisted.
Then you shall write me letter all
about H., and we will go out together on
the downs with box of matches and burn
your sacrifice in the sight OF heaven.
She reached up and drew his face down
TO hers, whispering, John, dear John!"
And tie sun looked through the win
dow. and his beams widcncd in smile
because he had found two happy people. -
Argosy