The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-03-29

| cled, ana pOsSesseu the IdIe n'Ilt vi
expression.
The last sunset rays were just touch
ing the stone cornices OF the elegant
mansion that Mrs Gardener called
"her ancestral Inheritance" mot deem
ing il worth while 10 mention the
| trifling fact that IL was rented from a
| Jewish stock broker at a thousand dol
lars a MONTH, when Mr.. Pelham rang
| the doorbell.
"Out Of town. he repeated after
the servant, "how unfortunate! Where
has she gone, and when did she go"
Now Margery, being a new servant,
had not yet learned the crooked ways
and wiles OF the Gardener household,
and unwlttingly answered the truth.
"She's gone TO Berksdale, sir, and
maybe she'll be obliged TO stay two or
! three days, heard her tell the missus
It's at Mrs Darby's, sir, where"
"Berksdnle, ehp
Mr.. Pelham knew that another train
left within the next hour or so-the
last train that night. and he resolved
TO follow his bright beacon star forth
with. Poor fellow! he had reached
that desperate stage in love in which
all spots where the beloved one Is not
are bowling wildernesses.
He slipped a bank-bill into Margcry's
not unwilling fingers, and hurried
down the street.
81 will seek her out and let her
sweet lips decide my fate AT once" he
thought. "Marionl how appropriate
Is the sweet Scottish name TO her pure
and gentle womanliness! All the
Marions in poetry and romance are
models of grace and gentleness, and
she Is no exception.
(You see that Mr. Grey Pelham was
very much in love-
Berksdale was soon reached by the
iron feet OF steam, but rapid as the
with the young mans fevcrcd i'm
patience.
II was eight o'clock with full moon
shining upon the fresh spring foliage,
when, after having been duly directed
TO Mrs. Darby's. he set forth on his
walk to the secluded village nook.
"Darby-Mrs. Darby-shc do he the
one who keeps the old, crazy gentle
man, an rare un' she is TO thump
him round! oh, yes, sir! Hain't more
than mile beyant the big church-a
red house, with a big poplar tree in
front"
Thus instructed with regard TO the
locality Grey Pelham felt that he could
not well be wrong
The red house with big poplar
tree In front presented no very in
viting aspect as he strobe up TO the
wide-open door The blinds hung on
one hinge, creaking dolefully In the
breeze; the gate was tied up with loops
of rusty rope, where nails should have
been, and broken crockery, invalid tin
ware, and heaps Of oyster shells
adorned the door-yard i'm lieu of velvet
grass and borders of flowers.
Grey Pelham wondered little rs
TO what business could possibly bring
Marion Delaney TO such spot as
this, knocked at the open door, but no
one responded to his summons.
He knocked again, and yet n third
time, with no better success. and final
ly walked boldly into n little sitting
room, whose yawning portals seemed
90 invite entrance. A single oil lamp
| burned on the table. 10y whose sickly
light he could but just find his way
TO n chair.
II m ~ cit 1nN m
here and wait until some one comes"
he said, resigncdly, to himself
AS he did SO he became aware of
voices in the adjoining apartment,
raised high in alteration. and of a
name spoken i'm shrill toncs-a name
dear and precious in his ears.
IL tell you, Miss Delaney. 'taint
enough! Two dollars a week won't
pay his board, let alone the clothes and
the lodgingw
And Marion's accent, silverly sweet
answered in low, measured tones:
Two dollars week is Il great deal
of money for an old man who can
chop wood, and dig garden. and help
you so much about the house"
but ne won't help. Miss Delaney
| he just sits and mopes the whole time.
The doctor says he ought TO have
| wine"
"ob, nonsense! can't afford 10 buy
him wine! That's all an absurd no.
tion."
"Well, he is your own father Miss
Delaney; fix IL any way you please.
and IL amt hardly decent to let him
| starve."
You are too cxtrayagant IN your
ideas. Mrs. Darby. What can an old
man like that want OF new clothes and
dainty fare? | tell you can't AFFORD
TO pay you more than two dollars a
week. my expenses in New York are
ruinous: and
Then you may as well send him 70
the poorhouse at once. Miss Delaney
won't undertake to keep him short o;
three dollars at the very least"
IL don't like to do that" Marion an
swercd. hesitatingly. as II the idea
commended itself to her rs not i'm
practicable in some respects. "peopl,
viii talk"
They'll talk just the same II you lei
him starye to death here. and a goot
deal worse"
ITS great nuisance" said Marion
impatlently. "Well. | suppose w,l
have TO pay you two dollars aad 1
half"
the other woman grumbiingiy as
sented. but added:
Don't you want 10 see him? Uet