The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-11

| Then Loring shut the door and left lie
had many an hour tier in which TO think
over his final interview with the aid A
| most unwelcome duty was that second
call 10 Petty. He would rather be kicked
| than go TO Loring and say he was re-
| leased from arrest and free 10 go Per
haps he thought the kick forthcoming II
he went. But Loring treated him with the
same oontemptuous GOODNESS as he had
| earlier I'm the night Nor did Loring seem
| either elated or surprised.
Dash the mani said Petty. I'D give
months pay TO tell him something
that would stir him.
Petty could easily have done that had
he seen 1T TO mention that the general
had received a visit from the lady su-
pertor with young girl from the con-
vent Of the good gray sisters. But that
wasa mysterious affair that even the gem
eral had seen ut 10 say nothing further
about,even 10 LIoring. who was most con-
cerned. IL was matter that gentle and
gracious woman herself never referred TO
when the engineer at 10 the next morning
presented his card and was ushered into
her presence. She was most courtesous.
There were peace and loving kindness In
effable In her placid face. There was In
finite sympathy In her manner when
she presently met and led in to him. a
pallid little maid who put long. slim
hand In Loring's as he smiled upon her
downcast. red trimmed eyes.
Struggle as she might for composure
and strength. Pancha had evidently been
sorely disturbed over something through
the long watches OF the night. Lo-ing' s
heart reproached him as he realized how
selnshly he had been engrossed for weeks.
how little he had thought for her. OF her
who must be so lonely and homesick In
her new sphere. He was almost shocked
now at the pallor of her face. the droop
and langour OF the slender figure that was
so buoyant and elastic those bright days
aboard ship Just preceding the catastro-
phe. What friends and chums they had
become How famously he was getting
on with his Spanish! What charming
teacher she was with her lovely shining
eyes, her laughing lips. her glistening
white teeth! She seemed happy as a
queen then. and now what had come over
the child?
They are going to let me write to
you. Pancha," he had told her. "and
shall write every month. but you will
write TO me long letters, won't your"
"Si." And the dusky little head bow
ed lower and Pancha was withdrawing
her hand.
You know l have no little sister" he
went on.
She did. She had learned all this and
much more aboard ship and remembered
every word he had told her, very much
more than he remembered. She knew
far more about him than he did about
her, but he looked far more interested
now. The good gray sister was more
than good. She was very busy at some
thing away across the room, and Loring
had drawn his little friend to the win
dow.
How I wish / had known you there
at-at the Gila, Pancha,' he managed TO
say in slow. stumbling Spanish. DO
you know we made a great mistake. Mr.
Blake and I?'
She did not wish TO know. Two little
hands went up imploringly. the dark head
dropped lower still. the slender. girlish
form was surely trembling. What allied
the child? II was time to go, yet he lin
gered He felt n longing to take her
hands again. claspcd In each other now
and hanging listless as she leaned against
the window casing. He meant to bend
and kiss her goodby. just as he would
have kissed q younger sister. he said TO
himself. not as he had kissed Geraldine
Allyn. But somehow he faltered, and
that was something unusual TO Walter
Loring. Even at risk OF being abrupt he
felt II time 10 go. but after the manner
Of weaker men took out his watch.
Yes, I must go. Pancha. We won't
say goodby. will we7 IL Is until tomor-
row-hasta la manana. You know we al
ways come again to California. You'll
be quite woman then. though" He
who was so brief and reticent with men
found himself prattling with this child.
unable to break OF. At last. with sud
den effort he seized both her hands In
his. where they lay limp and passive.
"Adios. little one Dear little friend"
he said. bent swiftly. and his curling
brown moustache was crushed one in
slant against the top OF her dusky head.
Then he hurried TO the lady superior and
took his leave. Pancha standing silent at
the window until the door had closed be-
hind him.
Another day and he was looking back
along the sparkling wake OF the crowded
steamer, thinking how beautiful the ocean
seemed TO him only few weeks earlier
Another week and he was at the 18th
mus. homeward bound. yet clingng with