The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-14

He grew quite thin and lost his appe-
tite. which made Mrs. Roper regard
him with concern. for he was a jewe
of lodger and she did mot want u
lose him. She suggested a tonic. but
Mr.. Oddle knew that no tonic would
help him-at least no medicine >,
called. He wanted draught OF the
magic elixir OF love 10 cure his com
plaint.
something will have to be done.
cried the poor man. desperately, on the
day that ne went 10 the city without
n tie. an1 am unfeeling acquaintance
teered at him, and inquired II his liver
were out of order. His liver, Perish
the thought. It was his heart. He
did not know that the first mentioned
organ was considered by the ancients
TO be the seat OF the affections. Mr..
Oddie would have consulted a friend
had he owned one who would have
svmpathized with Loves early dream.
and not laughed at IL. But he decided
at length that, like Hezekiah. ne would
ask for sign from heaven. He would
send the object OF his alteration bou-
auet, an anonymous bouquet OF the
choicest. She would surely guess from
whom IL came. IL she placed IL I'm the
window, he would write TO ~. Hexham
window, ,hc would write 10 Mrs. Hexham.
explain himself and his intentions, and
request permission TO call.
Mr.. Oddie took a holiday the day the
bouquet was sent off from Covcn:
Garden. To sit still In his Office was a
thing impossible. He went for a long
walk. but where his neat little legs
took him he was never able TO say.
The next day the agony increased:
there was no sign. Mr. Oddie fell
plump into the depths OF despair and
hn attended
his lady love. lie had not been prop
erly introduced; the phrase became a
perfect night mare 10 him.
Tsut be s, coud day there was the
bouquet w. the window I'm all its glory
anl nO.eOvsr Mrs Hexham WAS beni-
ing over ID. i.haling It's .>erfume. NJ.
Oddie could see her Wavy chestnut halr
AMI white fcrehead. She was peau-
tifui woman, not too young Tor maj
--ahcm I'm hiS prime. The Won"c'
WAS that such "A treasure had NOT Dten
snapped up before
Markham Cddie wrote Co Mrs. Hex
ham: IL 'ook him hours and hours 20
compose the letter and It was the most
deliciously old-fashioned episue ever
penned I'm a practical century. NO nee
woman could have read il without pe
ing touched. Two whole days elapsed
before a little note came In reply =,
Mrs. Hexham presents her compn,
ments 10 Mr Markham Oddle anu Mou.c
be pleased 10 see him. II ne couid max
n CONVENIENT 10 call this evening, ne
tween eight and nine o'clock.
The note was formal one, but when
,ba a,itated old bachelor was SHOWN n
To- the sitting-room at Ho.mwood, MITE
uaxhan who was alone. receiver htlh
,,.ith y very kindly smile. Her eyes
looked as IL she had been crying ..,.
"please take seat she s-lld. =. y.
has been very close all day. mas Z"
not?" .,..,. "Da
.Terribly." answered the visitor 10
YOU feel the heat muchE -, 80.
ssYes | am afraid ! do, was tne re
r,,, ana Mr., Oddie sud.enly recollected
ina, his future mother-in-l Law was salu
IN he deaf and dumb. This lady Was
certainly neither.
NV daughter" said Mrs. Hexhah,
oftar a pause. desired me TO tell YOU
NOW varv very grateful she lis 10 You
for your letter and the nowers' Sne
has gone away for % short tlhe :. :.
stay with friends. She-she thoueht IL
best" .,
MIR. oddie sat there, unable TO ute,
n word. ''ghe had gone away, pecauss
she thought IL best That meant lha'
there was no hope for him'
Mrs. Hexham's eyes filed with Gear
rs she looked at him. "Oh, she cried
II am so sorrw-so very sorry lou
are such good. kind hearted man,
am sure. OF course. you did not Know
or YOU would not have thought OF IT,.
Thought of WHAT osked MI ouole,
heavily.
sOf marrying my poor Agatha. You
did not know that she as dear aho
dumb?'
MIR. Oddie stared at the speaker in
blank amazement ii was fully min-
ute before he grasped the Significance
OF what she was saying. 1t was thu
daughter not the mother, VINO Wa'
AFFLICTED" as Mrs. Roper would have
phrased IT, Never once had this pos
sibility entered Mr.. Oddie's head. He
was Silent, and Mrs. Hexham contin-
ued:
"NIy poor girl is very sensitive. and
vour Kindness went TO her heart. ! can
assure YOU ! was to be sure and say
that she would always keep the most
grateful remembrance Of YOU.
Mr.. Oddie pulled himself together,
and rose TO his feet. At this moment
there was something almost noble
about his rather tubbv little figure.
Madam" he said firmly, your
daughter Is an angel and | love her
Will YOU have the goodness To give me
her auureSS--lnhl Is. II Npu VIII Sdh'-
tion my asking her 20 do me the honor
To be my wife?
Mrs. Hexham wiped her eyes and be-
gan to smile in an April-like fashion.
1T seems rather unconventional
she said. but Il is not exactly an or
dinary case, is it? And | am sure you
are good man. Mr. Sedley. the vicar
was talking about YOU only the cthei
day. and saying how charitable yor
were. Agatha has the sweetest dispo-
sition, and she Is so quick you hardly
realize that she is not like other peo-
pie. Indeed. think you would be very
happy together
81 think we three would be very hap
py together" answered Mr. Oddie, om-
phasizing the three He took tho
widows hand and kissed IL with old
fashioned gallantry.
Now" he said. you must tell mf
where Miss Agatha Us. and let me g.
and try my luck"
IL liz unnecessary To mention Al
what unearthly hour Mr.. Oddie re-
quired his breakfast the next morning
or To state tha he hardly ate a mouth.
ful Of g. Mrs. Roper began To wonder
whether her lodger were under con
Viction of sin. and mournfully ID hop,
that the brand might be snatched from
the burning, even at the eleventh hour
In the afternoon OF the sdme day
Mrs. HoXham might have been seer