The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-16

VI nope ueterred. Learning that
heart-sinking feeling that comes when
she looks. week after week. through tho
paper 20 Which she has sent her poor lit
Tie sketch, only TO nnd that a doesn't
appear She's learning what IL is 10 keen
hef ears a-strctch for the postsnan's
"hlsue In the hope that he may bring
letter with check In it--and To see
him pass by. Oh, sha's getting experi-
ence rapidly" the veteran writer
thought
MY child" she said. impulsivciy II
know aii about H. for I've been all
through II. Come and have tea with me
( tomorrow, and Wen talk IL over" But
the girl looked uncomfortable
live an engagement tomorrow" she
stammered. I'm sorry"
Come when you can. then" the other
urged.
But the girl did not come and her
! friend. remembering the dingy shoes and
jacket, fancied she knew the reason AS
soon as she could she called at the fiat
! IN Harlem, but found TO her surprise and
dismay. that the girl was gone-gone,
leaving no address.
| In the spring. az the season when the
| girl had first drifted into the study Of
the veteran writer. she drifted I'm again.
II have been working. she explained.
when the greetings were over. and shc
| was sitting on the sofa by the older wo-
| mans side. 81 found place as nrrse
/ girl. with family over in Brooklyn.
wore white cap and apron. and took
/ care Of the childrcn-dres them and
walked with them and played with them.
| think | gave satisfaction. and the chill
dren were darlings. but ] didn't like
wearing the cap and apron. But what
| could | do? When IL dawned upon ma
| that writing wouldn't keep me, that [
was getting behind i'm my room rent I
tried TO get some kind of Office work TO
do. But, you see, haven't been specially
trained for any one thing, and most
/ other people have. That's why I'm a
failure i'm this world"
You're not a failure" her friend an
swered warmly. 'You have done good
work in writing. You have real gift
| i'm that"
"Yes. I know" the girl said wearlIy
"But-well, no matter. / am going back
west.
I'm glad TO hear it," said the other.
| you'll have a better chance in the west
than here in this big overcrowded city.
But tell me, have you anything In view,
anything promised TO you there2"
"A home" said the girl with the
| flicker of a smile I'm going to be
married. There's a man out there-I re-
fused him before | came away. but.
well, he wants me still. He's very fond OF
me, don't know why. | never cared for
him, | don't now. but all the same I've
written to say yes This morning he
wired that he was on his way 20 me. I
| suppose well be married directly and
start for HIS home I'm Silver Plume"
Ais IL pretty place. Silver Plume?"
said the other vaguely. She was staring
hard at the girls face. which seemed to
I have become extraordinarily pinched and
drawn. q.
The girl shook her head "It's just
mining town, shut I'm among the Rock
les. The sun goes down there at four in
the afternoon, and doesn't rise at all
hours In the morning. Some people
think the mountains are beautiful. and
they are. at distance, but to me. when
one gets among them. they're just like
grim cold jailors. And i'm the winter,
when the SHOWS pile up I'm the canons, IL
is dreadful. In all the three years l have
lived there, l never learned to like it,
Perhaps" the older woman suggested
gently. "since this man is. you say SO
| fond OF you, he would be willing 10 re-
main in the east and make a home for
| you here.
II wouldn't ask it, No. IL wouldn't be
fair. He has large mining interests in
Colorado, and. anyhow, he couldn't be
| happy away from the mountains. Peo-
pie who have always lived among them
are that waY-The mountains draw him
| somehow just az they repel me-
The girl was silent for time, her eyes
| rowing hungrily over the big, beautiful
| study i'm which they sat, over the shelves
of books, the desk with its writing-g gear
and scattered sheets of manuscript. Il
shant anything like this when / get
out there" she said. He is good, this
man. he wants to give me everything I
need. but he doesn't think / need books.
| He considers that reading and scribbling
are bad for the health. It's pretty hard
to give up" she went on, in the toneless
voice in which she had spoken all
| through Because, you know, I've the
4 Il. .<.y0
work. And then the way I'm giving II
up makes me feel-T can't tell you how IL
makes me feel. If one loved n man
| there'd be something beautiful in turn
ing ones back on everything for mis- sake.
But to think that I'm just selling myself
| for a home"
my dear" said her friend, suddenly.
"do YOU think that IL is really quite just
TO him?"
"Oh he understands I've explained to
him that I don't love him. and he says
he's glad to get me. anyway. think I
can make him happy. I'll try. Now I
| must go" said the girl, rising. II
. shan't see YOU again. for he'll be here to-
| morrow. ~ suppose" she added, that
you think it's queer, my talking to you
so freely. But I felt I must talk To
somebody or so mad. Now goodby. and
thank you for all your kindness TO me-"
"Oh. my child. I haven't been kind T
|
| woman. breaking down as she kissed tho
| girl. eff / had-but it's too late now"
ITS too late for anything but what
| I've made up my mind to do" said the
girl. Then she drew down her veil and
walked out.
Her friend had one more glimpse Of her.
however. The next day. standing on ths
| crowded platform OF an elevated station.
she happened TO look round and she saw
the girl tall. pale and composed. COM
posed. coming slowly up the stairs. There
was n man with her-a large and burlY
man-and he was loaded down with
valises and wraps. lie had good face,
the veteran writer decided. so fa- as her
neeting sight OF him could assure her,
and he seemed 10 he taking care OF the
girl with a certain unobtrusive solcitude
that was pleasant 20 see So much tire
veteran writer observed: then. as her
| train drew up. the movement OF the
| crowd swept her aboard. and the man
and the girl passed from her sight
What Shall We Havs for Dessert ?