The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-22

| caused me the greater alarm. Once away
from IL the warning dad not seem fraughI
| with much significance, or. II Il were. ]
could not grasp IL. Uncle Jim would
probably 10 over that afternoon. We
| should hear " laf he had to say. Jim was
a man OF nerve and practical common
sense and as such always knocked the
bottom out OF my silly. sentimental fan
| cies.
AS i returned along the road i saw his
well-known trap standing before our
gate the big bay stamping impatfently
and tossing the flies from his ears High
| up on the drivers cushion sat Saunders,
the boy. diminutive rascal with a wien
face. He greeted me with a formal sa-
lute and an extensive grin and favored me
with the supernuous bit Of information
| that the guv'nor was up an the 'ouse.
| Then. after asking him sundry questions.
concerning his rats. his dogs and the
chaseIgenerally, turned to open the gate.
when ] was attracted by something
which I saw on one Of the posts.
At first I thought that the village ur-
chins had, In accordance with their usual
custom. been endeavoring 20 dsfaoe
our paint. and mentally expressing the
pious wish that had only caught them
1T the game. ] stepped up closer to In
spect their handiwork The gate and the
posts were sraised so as TO represent a
light oak. and as tho work had only been
I was exceedingly proud OF its smart ap-
pearance. To my surprise. however. I
found that the destroyers had confined
themselves to one particular design. This
was an eliiptical or egg-shaped ring
drawn with red pencil. The design was
very accurate. me steadiness OF the lines
proclaiming the adept That II was
meant for an egg there could be no doubt.
little filling In would have made the
drawing perfect.
Afraid TO attempt cleansing Of the
post for fear OF making a smudge.
turned toward the house. meaning later
on TO obIiterRte the mark with q wet
cloth: but as / entered the hall heard
the voice Of my Uncle Jim IN the ad-
5acent sitting room, and i forthwith
forgot all about the sign.
AZ the time OF which write my un-
Gle was man just verStng on TO 20. a
well set up. powerful creature, with a
diness. He was man who seemed TO
enjoy every hour OF his life, and don't
believe ever saw HIM when his blue
eyes had not a merry twinkle in them.
Therefore the serious look with which he
now greeted me was 1ust a little dis
concerning. My mothers troubled face
also added chiiliness TO the reception.
We'll. Davie. lad" said he, what Is
all this that has been troubling your
motherf"
told him all I knew, repeating word
for word that which had passed between
me and the stranger.
II have heard as much" said he when
had finished. "and upon my word
can't see any cause for this uneasiness.
Your mother has got fright. my boy,
and nothing i can say Will convince her
OF her folly"
You may call Il folly II you like" she
replied. "and wish could think so. but
81 A.,.l - -
written In this strain without good cause"
Jim shook his head. Out OF respect TO
her feelings he did not say what was on
the tip OF his tongue. He had not his
sisters admiration for my father.
"A man who can leave his wife and
child for seven years is capable of writ
ing anything" he growled~
'Ah, but you don't understand" she
replied. You don't know the dangers
and vicissitudes Of seafaring life. II
he has not come. you may be sure X was
for very good reasons"
Humphw grunted Jim. but perhaps
even he loved her all the better for her
loyalty. No doubt II was foolish. but
II is that foolishness which endears wo-
men TO as thought she looked her best
and her prettiest just then. and IL Jim
hadn't been there to poke fun at me
would have given her a good kiss.
Still" said ne as he slowly began to
I'LL his pipe, Il consider vague. terribly
ing scrawls no excuse for such an alb |
sence. and II were you I should try to
think that they were written after |
mean under-much mental depression. |
the result or systematic souaring of the |
elbow
She shook her bead
Il believe IL 10 be nothing OF the |
kind. Do you imagine that the coming |
OF this stranger right on the top OF Bob's |
taff Ua oil ftar Of oh No.
he knew my husband was leaving Aus
tralia, and he meant 10 see him. For /
what reasonf All, let me know that and /
shall know everything But, tell me- |
does IL not strike you as being very curl |
Gus that I should receive Bob's letter on |
the very day that the stranger arrives
here?'
well. no. The man could easily have
como In the same ship az the letter.
Probably he was to meet Bob In London
and, disappointed In not finding him there,
came on here"
But don't you see IL Bob came In
the ship with that letter he would not
be here yet (uniess he came overland from
for another eight or nine days. |
do not hesitate to say that the last thing
he would think Of would be 90 come over
and. but those who do not know him so
well might reasonably suspect otherwise"
''well7' said Jim, his blue eyes looking
more puzzled than ever.
We'll" said my mother SLOWLY and
very impressively. 1 thought. what
make out OF 10 In this; That man did
rot come by the ship which brought the
etter from Australia: otherwise he would
1ave known that Bob was not here. But
he believed him TO be on the ship and. |
'peculating on the chances OF his coming
gave him time 10 get home"
But why should he believe that Bob
vas on the ship and of what importanc
vas II whether he was or not7"f
Now. you get beyond me-" she said,
.bH i believe why i cannot tell you.
hat that man knew my husband was
coming BY a certain ship. that my hus-
,and knew OF this and for some rea-
'on OF his own changed his mind"
Dear child said my uncle. you
weave quite a pretty romance. That
rtle head OF yours is full OF surprises.
tnow a mystery IL dear 10 a woman,
almost as dear as a BIT Of scandal. but