The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-06-13

| lay out 10 the edge OF the pine trees
She Killed up her skirts and made bel
walk over the heaps OF last years
leaves. In hollow something rec
caught her eye. STOPPING over IL she
saw that IL was a scarlet jacket with
gay brass buttons. She took branch
and cleared the snow away. Some
bulky thing lay beneath. A shudder
seized her; IL looked like a human
| body. Had some poor creature per
| lshed in the snOwI There was a heap
OF bones under the scarlet cloth. Again
shudder seized her, though she was
away the last remnant Of snow. and
there lay bare a ghastly object-the
gigantic skeleton OF the lost ape!
She was turning away TO make
known her discovery, when something
stopped her. This time II was the
glitter Of gold. Under the feshless
fingers was leather bag. Some Of its
contents lay on the earth. COnquerlng
her repulsion. she withdrew the bag
and gathered up the coins. 1t was her
lost property.
A sudden falntness seized her; she
remembered In a fash the open win
dow, the overturned work table. To
think that she had held Robert Jar
dine for a thief and lost him!
She concealed the bag under her
cloak. No one had known Of her los; ;
none need know Of It's recovery. She
went In by the back Kitchen; the SER
wants were whispering together in
group.
"Haud yer tongue, she'll hear ye.
Wha's gaun tae tell herr" some one
said
what Is IT." she asked sharply.
She turned to her old Irish cook, whose
ruddy face had grown pale. Speak,
Betty; what Is wrong"
They're sayln, mistress, that Mr..
Jardine has broke his neck or some.
thin" Blddy blurted out. But
wudn't be afther heedn' thin If | was
you. Itll not be a word av thruthll
be int at all, at all"
But she did not hear the attempt at
comfort; IL seemed 20 her she had al
ways known how the story would end.
The servants looked in silent pity at
her white, set face as she passed out
OF the kitchen She locked the bag In
the safe, and set out for The willows.
1t was n long walk, but she felt the
need Of action. As she ascended the
hill she could near the bleating Of the
sheep In the fields Of The Willows.
She had never guessed till now how
strong hold this place had on her
affections ms her future home. a sal
low, dark-browed woman opened the
door
"Eh, It's no yerscl', Miss Morrison"
she driIy asked. "Ay, the masters
he'd a sair come down. The doctor says
he's no to be disturbed by naebody."
"Thcn he is not"
"Na, na, he's no deid, though there's
them that hasna been carin' muckle
what cam tae him"
She stood blocking up the door, but
Esther pushed past her.
I'm going to him, Molly" she said
"Wecl, he's in the auld mistrcsS's
chaumber, but I'll no TAX the rospon-
sibility--"
Esther went softly along the corridor,
and opened the door A sunbeam
struck through corner of the blind,
but the room looked bare and chilly.
His bandaged head rested on the pill
low; his face was ghastly, hut his
eyes turned on her with look of glad
surprise.
"Why, Esther" he said.
"Hush, don't speak, Robert. / heard
you were hurt, and came to you"
"Ay, | had a near shave Prince
wouldn't take the dyke I've been
bit reckless this while. Nobody cared
We see, Esther" His brow contracted
in pain, and lac stopped
Yes, dear. | cared" she whispered
crept over her face and neck, and she
kissed him on the mouth. Never in all
his long wooing had he ventured to kiss
her. Surely he must be dreaming
howl
You mind what you said to me. If
wanted you | must spier you. Get
better, dear, for my sake, and then you
will let me come home to you"
She struggled with her shy pride to
bring out the words. and they revived
him like wine. The deadly depression
that had batlled the doctors skill be-
gan to tighten, and the patient revived
with the tonic of hope. Esther left the
Black Bull to the care of her maids,
and nursed her lover back TO health
The doctor rubbed his hands, well
pleased. He's going TO do. after Gll,"
he said. But don't know that l
have all the credit of the case. He
was bent on slipping through my fin
gers. Now he wants to get round,
and that's half the battle"
when the roses bloomed white among
the ivy in the porch Of The Willows
Esther Jardine came home. John Rob
inson Is the landlord of the Black Bull.
and The Willows is more heartsome
than ever under the rule Of its tidy
mistress.
Now and again memory comes 10
her Of the sinister visitor that almost
robbed her of life's treasure of love.
and she has learned TO be very char.
table IN her Judgments Scotch
American.
That Per sistent Microbe.
MARY. have you sterilized the milk 2"
Yes. dear"