The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-22

father had arrived at that conclusion
years before but the sons indomitaule
determination 10 conquer at least the
rudiments of his profession before ho
should enter upon active practice made
him deaf to all paternal entreaties 60 re
turn home until one morning he walked
up co find that his thick bronze beard had
developed several actually gray threads.
Consequently one fine spring morning
all Bissneld was electrified 10 see, rs IL
passed the quaint old Dayton homestead,
modest little gilt sign hearing tho
simple words. "Dr. Charles Dayton.
he didn't take" at first He wore
short coats in direct opposition TO all
former ideas of the professional man 5
dress, and he didn't seem % remember
anybody whom he had known In his
youth.
knew, but lie had been occupied with
graver things during his absceno than re-
mem bering who was the sister 10 MS
Sunday School teacher. and who married
the youngest Of the Baker girls.
but after year or so of doubt they
began To understand him. especially when
his superior skkl had saved the darling
of nearly every household in town when
the scarlet fever threatened TO fiji the
tiny graveyard OH the edge of the hill.
DR. Charles as they learned 10 call hm,
had an additional trait in his favor; no
knew how TO neglect each ana every
woman in Blissfleld with equal severity.
Not that women enjoy bcing neglected,
nut they always develop sort of respect
for a man who doesn't stoop TO them,
providing he is consistent IN his frigldlV
10 all the women in the place.
At the end of i've years two things had
taken place in Blissfleld. DR. Charles
was the idol of tho town. and young iom,
the haby OF the Dayton family, was going
To celebrate his majority by taking unto
himself wife.
liz was an awful mistake, thought the
whole household when the downy checked
Tom stood up in blushing bravado on his
return from his junior year at college.
and persisted In his statement that he
was never going to school again. For
that fall he was TO become the husband Of
the dearest little girl In all the world.
But reason settled upon them. and the
only stipulation was that little maiden
should cuiDe for visit tn tho family OF
her future husband sometime that sum
mer.
One morning late in July Miss Dayton
and her younger brother set out for the
East and returned week later with the
tiny lady, who was in pretty state OF
nervousness at the strangeness of the sit
uation.
DR. Charles was out I'm the country at
tho bedside of patient, and when. after
midnight he stumbled in. dripping.
spashed with mud after his long ride III
tho storm and sick at heart (his patient
had died in spite of his efforts). he had
forgotten all about tho expected visitor
till he caught sight of n little sailor nat
and a pair OF crumpled gloves on the
table in ths hail.
1t seemed so very odd TO find anything
90 young, so daintily feminine In this
staid old house that he stood long in the
dimly lighted hall. absently smoothing
out the tiny gloves, pressing each finger
in place and noting with an indulRcnt
smile that button was missing from the
left wrist.
DIR. Charles slept badly that night and
awoke with the sun in spite of the late
hours of the night before. Some way the
first thing to come into his mind as he
opened bis eyes was the ruiupled, tiny,
buttonless glove in the hall below. and
the more he tried to throw off the memory
the closer IL clung TO him.
When he reached the lower hall he
found himself again by the little table
with the little hat and gloves, and he put
out his hand with "a touch almost caruss-
ing. Just as his fingers met tho pretty
feminine trifies he heard "a fresh young
voice just behind him saying:
'sI'll take these, If they are In your way.
forgot them last night.
DIR. Charles wheeled about guilty.
There, on the lower step. was IA young
girl, looking straight at him from tine
most babylike blue eyes ever lighting
the face of woman.
DIR. Charles, later on. In analyzing his
feelings. realized that he had experienced
three distinct sensations at the first signt
Of her.
First that of the critic. In which he
was amazed to SEQ here in the actual flesh
the girl whom he frd always before
thought existed only in sentimeIti Al
novels.
Secondly, as the physician, who frowned
at the extreme slghtness of the figure the
frail wrist. the tiny neck.
And lastly, as the man, who wanted 60
take her close i'm his arms. To kiss her, To
love her and TO call her his own.
II really must beg you to forgive me,
but young lady Is so rare pleasure in
this house that 1 was overwhelmed at my
good fortune.
Finally. gathering himself together.
he walked over to her, and, taking one of
her hands in each of his, he said. gravely
You are TO be my sistor. / suppose. i
am brother Charles +"
Eloise was herself again and smiled
charmingly as she said:
II knew you Immediately. I've known
you for long time, / think, for Tom
talks of you all the time.
She was most delightful, Ds Charles
confessed but some way it ranked that
she should accept him SO much as mat
ter of course. He would have preferred
her to look upon him more as man @
DO studied rather than problem already
solved.
What fool he had been to call her his
little sister. He didn't want TO think of
her as a sister he didn't want her ever
again 60 speak Of Tom in that familiar
way, as though everything was settled
Then no deliberately drew her close to
him and kissed ber fairly on her sInuoth
white forehead. She struggled away with
q little cry while her face grow deadly
pale. Then she said. with nervous. hurt
little laugh which sounded pitifully like
a sob:
"of course, since you are Tom 5
brother"
When be came down TO breakfast he
found the family at the table. but Tom
rose with strange new pride 60 present
his lady love TO his fine big brother
Then the physician said. IN "a grave. calm
tone: Il met Elolse In the hall this
morning. 1 kissed her. >"
III copstarnation had boon in their midst
before. 10 now rose To terrible pitch
Toms fingers .clutched the edge Of the
table. and be drew his breath sharply,