The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-13

master. cap In hand, opened the door.
j caught a confused glimpse of red baize,
civic robes, and nodding bcnnets; then
stepped forth, and the good Westches-
rfans gave evidence that their lungs
were In full working order.
Behind me could hear Tom explaining
TO the station master. with "a nuency
which surprised me, that he had stupidity
dropped his match box out of the win
dow OF the or side of the train: then
4 became conscious that j was being adj
dressed. L have been told that made an
excellent speech in reply Personally,
don't remember much about 81. though.
az | have never lacked for a word or two
1 dare say IL was all right. But whatever
self-possession L had vanished 10 the four
winds when the prettiest Girl I'm the
world stepped forward and blushingly
presented me with n magnificent boauet
I'm the name OF the ladies' OF Westchester
I looked into the sweetest pair OF eyes !
had ever seen, and my impudence and my
courage took refuge In my boots. No
one could have played the part OF the ner-
vous, modest hero better than l. as j
stammered some incoherent words OF
thanks.
We drove through cheering crowds TO
the town hall, where 1 received the free
dom OF the city, and whore, but for an
admonitory nudge from Toni paid him
back with well-directed hack on the
shins, az We we're going out--I would
have signed the freeplans roll as Jack
Cason.'
Then we went into luncheon. The lady
of the flowers sat beside me; she was
the mayors motherless daughter One is
apt to imagine that provincial mayors are
necessarily successful trsdesmen. This
one was not. He was a polished gentle
man, and the head OF a world-known en-
gineering firm. To be smiled upon and
bad enough when you have done some
thing TO deserve ~: but when you have
done nothing. and are. IN addition, a
contemplate fraud, IL IL too embarrass-
ing for words. However. after a glass or
two OF champagne, I pulled myself to-
gether and did my best to he agreeable,
though ever and again would halt in
the middle OF sentence, and look for
the writing on the wall
Indeed. judging by the running Tom
was making with a vivacious lady in
black and magenta ribbons-a widow 1
judged her--it seemed that we had In
deed changed our identities Tom was
quite loquatious, whilst L was ftful and
constrained. But j managed TO get a lit
tie OF my own back when the mayor pro-
posed my health in terms which made me
blush-for Tom-snd was also good
enough to allude 10 some small affair I'm
which THAT is myself, not Tom; oh.
this is most confuslng-had played part
not wholly lacking in distinction.
This gave me an opportunity OF saying
in my reply that I felt that Tom-no, L
ought To have been In ny--Tom's-no my
we will not argue this matter-place. A
remark which occasloned frantic applause
and caused Tom Co turn bright purple.
After luncheon there were moro
crowds more cheering and more speeches,
the last delivered from the balcony OF
hosts 10 tea. Feeling that 7 might az
well ''Eo the whole hog" 1 booked four
dances with Miss Mayoress. N the four
subsequently expanded into eight N WAS
really nobody's business but my own-and
I quite enjoyed my undeserved glory 1
had some words with Tom when az last
we were left alone, but ne only ioered
at me, said I had done splendidiy, and
ended by asking how / liked hero wor-
ship
"Confound YOU" said angriiy. ITS all
your fault. Anyway. wc'll be out OF this
iirst train tomorrow morning"
But we did not leave Westchester with
such dispatch. Reflection convinced me
that AZ would be n poor way to return
our hospitality by bolting at the first op-
rortuuity. and, besides, I felt that IL
would be shame 20 drag Tom away
from his fascinating widow lie was fee
bis sarcastic when I explained this To
him. and ~ - not worth while repea ting
what he sab.
The end Of the week found us still lin
gcring in WestCh"ster. and myself al
once the happlest and the most miserable
of men. 4 fcit sure that Enid returned
my love. but how much was for myself
and how much for the Y. &. 4 could not
detNmlne. We practically lived At High-
Held the mayors place. but 7 WOULD not
stay there. though We were warmly press.
% 10 40 80. IL - such q nuisance ~ have
your bas thrown after you when y0v have
been ignoniniousiy kicked out % hOU ~.
ard Dnaf that wonld be my fats sooner OF
later ! felt SURE. A hundred times y dav
7 vowed 20 tell her AL and "a hundred
times day 7 funksT it uhcn it came 20
The point Tom Nas f.T TOO busy with his