The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-04


| said, Kicking off the ash. III you Will
recall your decision OF yesterday anent
| my proposed marriage with Rose. per-
haps l might overlook your rudeness
on that occasion, for once. and help
you out"
You young blackguard!" roared
Druce. do you think I'll be dictated
TO by you? I'll stop here all night be-
fore concede you an inch. And when
get out. heaven help you'
"All right" murmured Reggie, sweet
ly. I'll stay here and keep you COM
pany." He picked up Mr.. Druce's hat
and hung il on corner OF the Wheel
barrow.
Mr. Druce lifted his voice and shout
cd for help. AS vocal effort IL did not
amount to much. The angry parent
had already exhausted himself by
shouting. and the damp clay had i'm
parted distinct hoarseness to his
voice. Reggie was very sorry Tor him.
but he had brought IL on himself. In
prowling about on the watch for Reg
g.e he had fallen into the pit. IL was
soft enough TO preclude any risk or
broken limbs.
Reggie knew the shouts would not
reach the house for all the windows
were shut, and IL was unlikely that
anyone would search for the lost one in
the garden-he hardly ever went there
even in summer. The waiter on the
wheelbarrow 1T another cigarette.
Mr. Druce after an hour had passed
in lence, fell into distressing mt OF
coughing.
Its very bad for you, you know"
said Reggie. sympathetically: without
a hat, too: I'm AFRAID you'll eaten
cold
"Confound you!" coughed Mr.. Druce.
when l want your opinion I'll ask for
II. l shall have a long score TO settle
with you when l get out.
When you get out!" echoed Reggie.
sweetly. He brushed the ash OF his
cigarette into the pit. Reggie felt more
and more happy as time went on,
whilst the unfortunate Mr.. Druce at
length began TO find the clammy pit
too much for him. He tried more
concil atory tone.
I'm subject TO acute rheumatism"
he said peevishly, "and You may have
my death at your door. There is such
a charge as manslaughter. / repeat.
/ am subject to rheumatism OF the
most violent nature"
That's bad" said Reggie. Have
you ever tried SIENNA tea? My aunt
was completely cured
The old gentleman relapsed into a
sudden fit Of powerful metaphor, which
interrupted the history of Reggie's
aunt.
Eventually there came a vanquished
voice from out OF the pit. Mr.. Druce
gave in. The raw air and oozy clay
had done its work, and he hauled down
his colors.
Get me OUT" he growled. I've had
enough OF this. You can marry Rose
If she'll have you!"
And the $500 a year--as a start?"
queried Reggie.
Mr.. Druce slipped on the floor of the
pit. sat down heavily in the sticky clay,
and slowly rose again. He scanned the
yellow walls wearily.
Yes" he muttered; "I'll throw that
in--for ten years.
ION your word of honor?" insisted
Reggie.
Yes. yea On my word of honor!"
snapped the old man, testify. "Only get
me out at once. or there will be an in
quest instead of wedding!'
Reggie bade the victim stand aside.
and dropped the wheelbarrow into the
pit as a stepp ng- stone. Then he found
a couple of garden chairs, which the
prisoner piled up on the barrow. An
other seat, up-ended, completed the
ladder, and Mr.. Druce climbed high
enough TO grasp the sinewy hand of
Reggie. and was hauled up. kicking
and gasping like newly LANDED Dream.
the abyss brink for whole minute,
while Mr.. Druce regained his breath
Then that worthy spoke.
You are a cunning young man.
aren't you?" he said savagely. Still,
there was trace less resentment in his
voice than before.
WELL" said Reggie, 'I didn't want
your money: / wanted Rose. but I had
to have something to keep her i'm the
style to which she has been accustom-
ed"
do you think you could endure hard
ships for her sake?" sneered the father.
You can't go back on your word as
a man Of honor" said Reggie. calmly.
But il IL comes TO that. / could en-
dure anything for her sake"
AS he concluded this noble sentiment
Mr.. Druce gave him terrific push. His
heels flew up in the air. and he slither-
ed hopelesly into the muddy pit which
had Just held the old man, missing the
pyramid of wheelbarrows by few
feet. He landed with a sounding squash
in the mud and water.
And now It's my turn" grinned Mr..
Druce. from the top. You shall stay
there till daylight, my young friend, at
any rate. Or perhaps you would like to
get out on resembling the conditions you
wrung from me?"
Reggie looked at the ladder OF chairs.
Even if ne climbed IL he would be some
feet from the top. and there was no
roothold in the soft clay.
Thanks, he said cheerfully, after
ascertaining that his cigarette case held
still a dozen rolls. 'I'll stand by my
guns. You can't go back on your word,
as l said before. and / shan't go back
on mine II i stay here a week"
Mr.. Druce went indoors and INDUCED
in coffee and a cigar.
Something In him. after ALL" he
thought, when warm comfort had
grown over him once more.
AT s in the morning, some time after
the cold. damp dawn had broken, Mr..
Druce and Rose went down the garden
together. On the way the old man told
his daughter OF the nights happenings.
Rose was annoyed to some extent at
the thought OF her hero spending the
night in a mud-hole. but the result
soothed her.
The two OF them found a ladder and
slid II into the hole. Reggie, wet and
muddy. but still STEPPED in calm fri
umph. threw away the end of his last
cigarette. ana mounted.
II think" said Mr.. Druce grimly,
you had better have a hot bath and
then change into some clothes OF mine"
An hour later Reggie came down to
In Of he Ano rI