The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-12

! letting Stuart go without suffering from
| a blow she know well how TO infiict.
| Aunt. 1 told Stuart no ought not To OBJ
/ ject 20 my choice II didn't object to his.
| 1 don't think. though that we shall be
| disgraced By Salvation Army alliance
| In the family. Miss Dwight was pre-
sented 20 Una and her escort this eve
! ming and by the appearance Of her face
IL was easy 10 see she thought them
| very handsome couple"
Stuart clinched his hands tightly as he
stood with his back 10 the fire The old
passion rose I'm him 20 its highest point,
and nothing but the grace OF Goo, kept IL
from bursting out into a torrent such as
In the other days had more than once
terrified Louise, reckless as she was In
provoking IT.
There was a deep silence In tho heavily
perfumed room. Stuart drew long
breath. Then he looked fearlessly into
Aunt Royals eyes. and with sudden
movement he stood close by his sister.
Louise" he said. and at first his voice
was calm, even loving. you do not know
how you hurt me. l expect TO ask Miss
Dwight to be my wife. but 1 Will never
subject her 10 the humiliation OF living
under the roof OF house where
He broke off abruptly. and went out OF
the room He felt unable TO finish calm
ly. Aunt Royal and Louise sat UP quite
late talking over the whole matter. IL
is not necessary 10 enter into 1t. The
whole situation was becoming unbearable
so far as Stuart was concerned, so the
two women agreed.
What II Stuart marries her and brings
her home here?" Aunt Royal would say.
Then l shall leave the house. but
don't believe Rhena Dwight VIII ever
marry him" Louise would reply. And
there the matter rested for the time be-
ing in the thought of the women.
.t.s.. -
pear at breakfast He left word that he
had very important business at the Of
flee and could not wait for the late meal
to wn.ch Aunt Royal and Louise were In
the habit OF sitting down.
He had reached a point I'm his feelings
where he felt the necessity OF telling
Rhena all. What Louise had said about
that chance meeting at the hall disturbed
him seriously. But the great question
with him now was 10 know the truth
from Rhena herself
He spent the forenoon at the office.
There was plenty to do. The fever and
the want on the part Of the miners farni-
lies were grim factors now In all Cham
pion. The other ranges were fast feel
ing the effects of the double scourge OF
sickness and suffering Scores OF the mi-
ners' children were dying daily. TO
meet the emergency Stuart used MS
money lavishiy. Everything In the way
out OF the office In large quantities. He
took a melancholy pleasure In spending
his money this way. He could at least
relieve some pain. lesson some anguish.
II was drop only In the great ocean OF
the misery, but ne had some satisfac-
|, ton In contributing that much.
little after noon word came TO him
that the child In the cabin at the end
OF Cornishtown was dying. Stuart had
no particular reason for going up there
more than TO any other cabin where other
children were dying. but somehow he felt
drawn In that direction, and about
O'Clock he drove up the narrow wagon
road and left his horse and cutter at the
same place where he had stopped the
night ne had found Rhena.
He walked on up the path over the trod-
den snow thinking OF that night The air
was crisp and the sky clear. The whole
town behind him lay I'm Its setting OF
snow dressed hills. beautiful as a~pioture !
painted by master. giving no outward
sign OF the anguish and sorrow that beat
within the homes OF the miners below.
He Knocked gently at the cabin door,
and Rhena opened IL. She colored family
at sight OF him. but without word beck
oned him to enter
The doctor was kneeling by the bed. 1t
was child. little girl. only 10 years
old. who was dying. Stuart went and
stood at the end OF the rude bed. Rhena
seated herself close by the doctor. The
father Of the child was helpless from ac-
cident.. He lay In the next room. The
mother was kneeling by the side OF the
doctor.
rs shells she g-now-doctor2
Don't say so. She be young 10 gol' cried
the mother as she leaned over the bed
and looked into the wasted face there.
Yes, she's going. She will soon be out
OF suffering" replied the doctor, very,