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

sad, and yet you make such funny fun
OF yourself all the time as II were!"
rs II the saving grace OF humor that
| have got?" asked Miss Varney. smil-
ing again. and again the girl was pen
etrated with the conviction OF her past
and present attractiveness THAT rs
what you like? ! wear my rue with a
difference, that's ALL"
Differently from Miss Leven." the
girl could not help saying. she is
sweet. too, but she never says funny
things. You can never have both been
alike i'm that"
Miss Narney. TO her surprise. ac-
cepted this little compliment adding,
however: She was great deal pre-
tier. at any rate. Esre she comes We
nave no secrets from each other. Kitty
and /! | have been telling this child
all my story--our story"
Miss Leven had been crying But
she answered. without a shadow Of UNI
bragg. You know. Alice. that you can
always speak for me"
Yes. our minds are quite samese
in that respect. are not they?" Miss
Varney reJoined. laughing. you look
cold, Kitty. Come and get warm.
was just telling Lucy how awfully
pretty you used to be-"
There was caress i'm her voice
>"And / told Miss Varney that I
could see that for myself" said the
y
i am so puzzled about him"
How SOP" asked both the widows at
once.
"well-how can he have been so
blind?"
Miss Varney persisted I'm taking an
entirely humorous, view of it all. "Ah.
you See" she said. ''he had great
deal OF choice. There were so many
other pretty and funny women in the
world, But Kitty and ! are quite con-
tent with what Fate was good enough
40 mete out to us. one cannot have
everything, and ttrere- is no bitter
ness"-
Except the bitterness OF death" Miss
Leven Unexpectedly put in, and Miss
Varney stared at her.
And that is easier TO bear in con-
cert. isn't it. Kitty?" she resumed. with
persistent cheerfulness. Good night.
dear little Lucy. Kitty looks tired.
two silly old women, but come and see
us again SOON"
Lucy Gray kissed them both. her
maid was summoned, she put on her
wraps and walked home She thought
a good deal OF what she heard, and
the sum OF her reflections and her SYM
pathy for Miss Varney and Miss Leven
came TO this-that their theory of life
poetical as A was. was hardly satis-
factory. They are two dear strange.
sweet women" she thought to herself.
really and truly eccentric, / sup
pose; but. as far as / am concerned.
| shall hope TO have whole man to
myself some day. ] am worldly / fear!"
Shefook To thinking earnestly of the
man she was just beginning TO care for.
and who had seemed lately as If he
We're going to care for her, and de-
cided that nothing would induce her.
even il 1t never came off. to share even
his memory with another woman.
SfS was not called upon TO do so. In
a very few DAYS her fate was decided,
and SO imperious was the will OF the
man who adored her. and wished 10
have her all 10 himself. that the girl OF
eighteen was married 10 him out OF
hand. and taken away without even be-
ing given time TO communicate the
news TO her two old friends in per-
son.
Two distinct wedding presents-one
from Miss Narney and the other from
Miss Leven-followed her abroad. and
she was for the moment Far too happy
and absorbed in her happiness TO no.
tce that Miss Varney's letter was
dated from London. while Miss Lev
ems gift bore the postmark Of a town
In the North of England. When. later
on. she went back TO her old home on
a visit TO her mother, she was told that
the interesting menage of the little
broken up, and that the two ladies now
lived apart.
Ii was not until long after, when
she had sought out and seen both Miss |
Leven and Miss Varney separately. !
hat she learned why, and that I'VE did |
not quarrel. dear but circumstances |
made IL impossible that VIC should |
continue to I'VE together any more"
Among other "Siamese habits" OF the |
.wo--to use Miss Varneys own fond |
foolish phrase--was this one: They |
,arried each an absolutely duplicate
punch OF keys. These keys were oh
ects OF beauty. chased and silvered
md depending from silver Chatelainos /
u antique Workmanship. On the night |
hat Lucy Gray left them the two ladies
'at while In front OF the fire before |
'etiring 10 their rooms for the night, |
md Miss Narney's keys lay In her lap.
'atching the warm rays Of the dying
freight on their many facets
How pretty gold light is ON silver
ne said. letting the kcys play Idly /
trough her fingers They want ra-
Itpning. though I thnh /"
so do mine" said thS other. begin
ing 20 handle hcrg Let us have
hem done. Shall 7 send mine or VIII
our
1T doesn't matter which" Miss Var
|
nd tell them one BY one. "Ths book
ase. the linen press. the storeroom.
he bureau-I can't remember what
his KEY belongs to-" she broke or
Uddenly.
The face Of the woman sitting oppO-
ite 20 her suddenly became bianched
nd gray with fear.
Alice sha said. helplessly. IL was
lee Narnev's Chris.ian name
We'll. Allce" said the other woman
staring az her. Are you
ot wei. Kittv?"
No. only J am afraid that Won have
omehcw or other got hold OF nv
nrch Miss Leven said. In n far awav
lnd Of voice
Well and n have? There is no dif-
prencp"
"There is KEY m my bunch-an
xtra kev''-
An extra kcv' 7 DON'T understand |
on. OF your agitation Kitty"
No, dear VI Is The key of a iittie
eek hat have"
~ see" said. ihs hery Miss varnsy. I