The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-23

mates for the last ten years. They
"were known to be rich, and supposed
to be eccentric. III is well to have that
reputation in neighborhoods like that
of D., implying complete liberty of
action. combined with perfect social
consideration. The toilet and domestic
appointments of Miss varney and Miss
Leven left nothing for a censorious
world TO desire. while their actions
were sufficiently unconventional 10 in
spire interest and amusement. They
were, of course. open to the imputation
of being unmarried women OF a certain
age, but there was notthe slightest hint
OF anything old fashioned or old maid
ish In their appearance or their sur
roundings. There were no tatted or
crochet chair covers. no painted hand
screens, no stamp snakes in their draw
ing room; their clothes were exquisite
ly fashioned, and came, down from Lon
don. and perhaps Paris. But the ma
terial OF these clothes was invariably
black. and they both wore what looked
very like widows caps OF the same
identical pattern. There their eccen-
tricity came In.
Once fortnight they paid a visit.
bearing two similar punches OF white
fiowers, 10 a cemetery on the other side
OF the town OF D.: but no one ever
discovered whose grave IL was that
they took an interest in, though some
curious otherwise unoccupded persons
had thought worth while TO play hide
and seek with the two women among
the tombs-without success so cleverly
did the mourners dodge them.
They had not many friends in the
town OF D, nor did they seem 10
care To make any; but after a while a
young girl called Lucy Gray, who had
but recently left school, succeeded In
ingratlating herself where more impor-
tant people had failed. She was sweet
and simple. yet shrewd. and soon she
knew more of the inner life OF Miss
Narney and Miss Leven than any one.
She thought Them romantic, and said
so openly. and the women did not IN
her case disdain the tribute of this sub
tie and seductive form OF fattery.
She used TO find ii delightful 10 go
and sit with them In the long winter
evenings over the fire. and TO confide
her little doings and little troubles To
their sympathetic ears. She sat on a
low stool exactly between the two, and
talked, and turned her eager face first
TO one and )len 10 the other without
any particular discrimination; for,
though they differed from each other az
much as two unrelated human beings
are likely TO do, they seemed, by skill
ful modification and adaptation OF
habits and idiosyncrasies to have made
themselves one. To Lucy, i'm point Of
sympathy. they were as parts OF the
same person.
But they differed a good deal In ap-
pearance. Miss Varney was dark and
eager looking. and ltttle mperious in
manner. She laughed more than Miss
Leven, and betrayed a fuller, at times
more cynical, humor. She read all the
slAN aVfsa
TO date. Miss Leven was softer, per- |
haps sillier. certainly more sentimental. |
She was a little inclined TO be stout,
her complexion was still wonderful: !
she took life more easily than Miss |
Varney.
Had taken IL, for surely during these |
last ten years that they had lived i'm |
D life had stood still for both OF |
them,
The life of little Lucy Gray was but \
Just beginning I'm "a mild. idyllc way. |
She told the women all her innocent af-
fairs. and they gave her the promptest |
interest and sympathy; but she came
10 notice. when she looked up into the |
face of either. that their gaze was sell
DOM If ever, bent on her who was con-
hdng in them. No. their eyes were
generally raised and fixed severally, |
on two large framed cabinet photo
graphs hanging over the bellpull on
either side of the chimney piece.
There was nothing very odd in this.
except that the two photographs were !,
in every respect identical.
1t was the likeness of a man in fun |
Observation-Disclosures, logged look
Ing. with heavy. self-sufficient Jaws,
and gentle eyes and an elusive mouth. |
unler the print was written. in "a bold. |
decided handwriting, the name Robert /
+. Musgrave and date. 1860.
Later on. when she came To know the
women better Lucy Gray was taken 1
into bedrooms. and shown things-Af-
rhan trophies Indian worries Burmese
shawls, two Of each invariably but /
what interested the girl most was that.
though there were two separate rooms.
the same likeness. enlarged and colored
in this instance. hung over the bed ,,r
each. Lucy Gray was loving and curl
Gus. She put the story of her two |
friends-one story. two women,-to-
gether as well as she could. and gloat-
ed on II. She realized that these two
women had loved the same man, and
that this was his likeness They had
lost him, how she could not guess: but
at any rate. he was not here, nor had
been these ten years. They mouIned |
him, therefore. but what she could not
understand was that they should
mourn him I'm such strict concert it
seemed TO form the very bond OF union
between them; now. according 10 her
simple theories. ft should rather have
forced them apart,
Was IL possible for two human beings
- to compound with jealousy-iealousy
hat is even stronger Than love?
what grown up curiosity could never
nave achieved, her sweet childish SEN
iimental sympathy was able to draw
rom them. She sat one evening in her
accustomed place betweep the two; she
had had little love adventure Of her |
)wn that day which she hoped fdndly
meant something. and she had been
.clling these two kind women about
her innocent hopes and hef fears So
icitude for her own happiness and tho
emotion of confidence had brought the
'asy tears to her eyes She became nm
CONSCIOUSLY silent awhile. and hcr !
,rown. liquid. suffused glance was fixed
'he knew not why. on the portrait OF
Robert Musgravc. Miss Varney caught
Ter expression. and was touched bv n.
You pretty child!" she said sudden |
THE IN