The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-21

not an infant IN arms, Maivina. Did
Matthews seem very much put out about
those papers he lost?"
''He did not say SO. but when / said
hoped II was not anything that con-
cerned Tom he as good as told me TO
mind my own business"
''M-m-m- I'm -m-ml Just like his impu-
dence. He's forgotten the time when
you were the minister's daughter"
Then Miss Malvina began preparing for
the great event OF her absence She put
a bowl of oold tea on the window sili
within easy reach OF her mothers big
chair, rushed out into the garden TO give
Jimmy Martin his final orders and had
good five minutes left in which 10 hurl
herself into her best gown. a brown serge
trimmed with velvet and her Sunday
bonnet. which always made her look pre-
ter-naturally smart and distinctly unfa-
miliar.
BY the time Olivia, on her return trip.
had made the grand circle around the
beech tree. which she called turning her
ponies around" Miss Malvina was stand
ing on the horse block in a state OF ner-
vous readiness and effusive gratitude.
1T was real sweet of you. my dear"
| she said, somewhat Jerklly, as the ponies
| bounded forward, ito come back for me-
| The walking is so dusty. / don't often
| get such a nice ride"
mo: It's not sweet OF me at ALL" said
| Ollie with decision. You arc giving me
| credit / don't deserve. ] love 20 drive
my dariings. and 1 did not want TO go
into that gloomy old house one minute
sooner than l was obliged TO. I did not
| want 10 come 10 the funeral at ALL but
was afraid Tom wouldn't like 1t. Poor.
| dear Tom! 1t will break your heart,
Miss Maly, TO see how white and miser-
| able he looks IL has quite broken mine.
He keeps on moaning because he did not
get here I'm time TO hear his fathers
voice once more oh. could kill Reuben
| FOR that breakdown
Miss Malvina felt that she could gladly
help in the execution. And, Miss NAL
vina. we are going 10 take Tom home
with us after the funeral Papa says |
am 10 cheer him up. I'm sure l don't
know how. I don't see how anybody
In the world can do that. do your know
II II was papa who had been taken and
i left alone In the world / should hate
anybody who tried 10 talk me into think
ing Il didn't matter much. II wouldn',
be any use But then / don't suppose
girls love their fathers the same wey tha,
boys do. Father says no will lave "a
! be a father TO Tom now. and ] tel
him II he isn't just as good TO poor Tom
ss he is to me shan make him answer
for it,"
Suddenly the small clouded face wa.
sidelong look fall OF fun was flashed
under Miss Malvina's Sunday bonnet
you see. l feel as N l must he a mothel
60 Tom now, or an aunt, or something
elderly and useful"
Miss Malvina begged her not 70 b,
/. frivolous with such unliftlng gravity tha
the bright face became overcast again as
7 with a hysterical catch in her voice, Oll
added:
/ "Oh what a lovely world this would b
if all our friends would just keep wei
and happy and go on living forever unit
) we are all ready TO start for the nox
, world in a big family party, and the SUI
would shine all the time. and flowers b
In bloom always! oh. Miss Why. I hat
! sorrowl I hate 10 cryl'
she was doing Il copiously, however
Her dimpllng smiles had all beef
drowned. her sparkling eyes grown dsrl
with the gloom Of her crude protest Mis-
Malvina Sut an arm about the small
grief shaken figure and moaned a plati
tude into the ear nearest her:
My love, man 10 born to trouble a