The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-06
A Mere Matter Of Sentiment.

4
l was very fond of Priscilla-in
purely fatherly way, OF course. ad
nlircd her beauty. | enjoyed her society
and | respected her intellect. she wa'
! ccmpaniona0ls and clever, ana kne"
how to appreciate a sensible man
| when she saw one: but for all that she
was very woman.
she was alone i'm the world. haVihs
] neither father nor mother. nor SISTERS
nor brothers. and as We were SIed
| friends, she often did me the honor o,
] consulting me about her AFFAIRS, anu
| the busn ss matters connected Win
hel small property. Incidentally, u"'S
/ mention that myadvice in such matters
| A really worth having.
priscilla had a much better business
had than mCst women. but for an
hat there were times when she per-
/ plexcl me. / ala not always find II pos
..bl. 10 follow her special train OF rea >
-.u.nc. .but. then, as | said betore, she
yoas "A woman. AS a rule, when saw
that she was really set on some plan OF
action. / let h5r have her own way
withou. much opposition. You see, 1
know SO well what women are. Ihey
ean argue all around he compass IN ten
minutesand they always insist on nav
comes Ia a dispute l think 'dlscFeloh
E. the etter part OF Valof.
Priscilla. | must say. was, as rule,
fairly am nable. and willing 10 listen
10 reason Moreover she never decid-
e4on q step Of Importance without hrst
talking Il over with me-. Therefore when
one day she calmly announced the fact
that she had. on her own responsible
ffv refused an offer OF ten thousand
pounds for her property, J was sim
Div pe.rihed. But my dear girl
said or rather gasped, ITS madness--
simple madness.
smile.
mo" che said, "it isn't madness, Col
onel Maitland. ITS a mere matter OF
ssntiment-that' all
"Oh." said l. sceptically.
I felt scepucal too. for Priscilla did
not look like a woman who would be
Influenced 20 any great extent by mat
ter, Of sentiment The lines Of her
beautiful face spoke plainly enough
of pride. or ambition and OF daunfless,
ind amitable will, bur not at all OF sentl-
ment-- and yet. she was woman and
there's no accounting for women. | was
50 upset that for once | departed from
my usual rule, and prepared 10 argue
the matter out TO the bitter end.
Ten-thousand-poun | said with
a pause between each word, TO give
the sum its full value. "One can do a
great deal with ten thousand poands.
you know
Priscilla smiled again.
Yes" she said Il know"
And" | went on, "the place isn't
worth ii; 1t isn't really. You pay be
very fond OF II, and it's only natural
that you should be: but | paused
and looked round expressively.
Prisc.llas eyes followed mine round
the pretty nondescript room, and
through the open Preach window out
INTO the sunny old-word garden. where
luaint and half-forgotten flowers
flourished in fra grant profusion.
II am very fond of it." she said.
ITS only natural that you should
be-" | said again: "and, of cuorse. it's
awfully pretty and picturesque and
all that kind OF thing. still. ten thou
sand pounds is ten thousand pounds,
and IL this mani
Priscina's eyes lishtened suddenly,
ana flame OF passion flashed over the
serene stiffness of her face.
Don't talk OF him TO me" she in
terrupted: II hate his name I hate
mini hate him--I hate HIM"
/ felt rather bewildered. | had known
Priscilla for a long time, but my former
experience stood me IN no stead with
such a mood as this.
But why" / asked. ''hate man
whom you have never seen, and who
wants to give YOU a fancy price for
your property? It's rather Illogical.
sn't IL?
Women are always Illogical. aren't
hey?" said Priscilla.
Men say So" / returned. not quite
Inowing what TO say.
"Oh. meni" said Priscilla. with ane
Iisaain. "nren.' And then she got uo
rom her chair and besan to walk
estlessly up and down the room. "Why
ant he leave me alone?" she went on
,aS.donately. He has bought all the
illage: isn't that enough for him?
low dare he offer me his hateful
money? How dare he try TO rob me or
nv own
I felt more and more bewildered, for
he view that Priscilla had taken or
what seemed purely business matter
vas the last that | should have ex--
yectei her 10 take II was so opposed
10 the sound common sense that she
usually displayed. After all, business
= business; and when a man fancies
certain piece OF property. he has
light TO make a bid for IL II he chooses.
"Wen. | said. its hardly fair TO ac-
use him of trying TO rob you OF your
,wn when ne offers YOU more money
han the pace is worth
"Oh. money!" said Priscilla, just as
he had safi ''oh. men" a minute be-
ore
There's no getting on without money
n this world" | remarked practically;
and you must excuse me saying 1T.
but | rhink you're "A fool"
Priscilla did not seem at all offended
At my plain speaking, She only sighed.
"Oh, | dare say she said. II was
!, fool once before-ten years ago"
'You see" l went on, the man can't
help being q millionaire can he? His
uncle left him the money. and after all
Il isn't "A crime TO be rich. | don't see
Why YOU should hate him for that"
Priscilla sighed again.
81 don't hate him for that" she said:
II don't care how rich he Is. What
would IL matter 20 me II he would leave
me alone2 | hate him because he wants
lo take my home away from me. the
)nlv thing ! have left To- remind me of
of the past. He might know-he
might know She broke of abruptly.
and resumed her rapid walk TO and fro.
But he doesn't know anything" I
said. How can he9 OF course. he
thinks he is making you a very hand
some offer Tor the place. and I'm sure
| think 30. too"
'Tt doesn't fuaffor what a.. ,kf,t..