The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-05

with his candle held high. Matthews
| promised to follow soon as he could
get into his dressing gown. The gown
proved elusive, and his progress was
slow.
Presently a cry scarcely less startling
than the one that had broken up his
sound slumber ascended from the floor
below II was I'm Tom Broxton's voice
| collie. Olivia. what on earth are you
/, doing down there? BY Jove. she IL IN
T, a dead faint. Mr.. Matthews here, quick!
! Before he had time 10 place his candle
: on the table his guardian was In the
| room looking like a man who has re-
! ceived his deathbow.
There. In a heap on the floor. her shin
| ing hair falling In a thick mass over her
! pallid face and closed eyes. lay Olivia,
| Her father gathered her TO his heart with
| a frightened cry and laid her on sofa.
Tom lighted a gas jet and rushed
| toward the dining room In search OF
water. Every receptacle was empty.
of course. The outdoor cisterns were
his only hope. When he got back. Olivia
had regained consciousness, but was sob
bing and clInging to her fathers neck
, with n frightened clutch. Her eyes were
wide with terror. and short irrepressible
shudders ran over her body visibly every
few seconds. She was pleading excitedly
with her father.
Take me home. father; take me
away now. this very minute, papa. You
know 1 did not want TO stay. oh. hor-
rible. horrible"
Tom held a glass of water to her quv-
ering lips His face was scarcely less
pale than hers.
Drink this water. Ollie, dear, and
then tell us what has frightened you.
See. / will light every gas jet I'm the
house so as to show you that you have
been frightened by nibbling mouse,
and / will stay down stairs TO keep the
mice quiet all the rest OF the night II
only you won't say anything more about
going home at midnight"
She drank the water eagerly. Then.
finding her courage come back with
the companionship OF the men and the
illumination of the house. she said more
steadily:
"As II could be frightened by'a mouse!
You are very good, Tom TO a most
troublesome guest ] am so sorry I was
ugly to you this afternoon. But
don't want TO stay She shivered and
clung closer to her father. ''Oh. father.
father. IL was so frightful. so distinct!
l will never, never, get over IL"
"Get over what, olivia? / insist upon
your calming yourself sufficiently to give
me lucid account OF what has happened"
There was an unfamiliar sternness In
her fathers voice and manner which
made her stare at him in surprise. She
had no means OF knowing that he was
hiding his own fears behind that stern
mask.
Are you going to scold me. father.
after all i have gone through? / never
saw you look so cross before"
II don't want TO scold you at all. my
darling. ONLY mean His strong
square jaws were twftching convulsive-
ly. His nerves were rapidly getting the
upper hand OF him. He looked implor-
ingly at Tom.
Tom took UP the task OF questions
with tender soothing In his manner.
I'VE are asking you TO tell us what
frightened YOU so badly, Ollie. dear. so
as TO punish him or them or IT, You
see. we want TO he doing something
about 1t, but we are all m the dark so
far"
She shook her head mournfully.
"Oh. there Is nothing TO be done Tom;
nothing you can do. nothing; nothing
anybody can do Sell the place, Tom.
and let strangers live in IT, You can
never be happy here. Oh papa, papa.
(To be Continued.l