The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-31

OF so little Importance In the world that
my own daughter will make common
cause with bad man against me, the
sooner j go the better
Mother Spillman had not yet reached
the sluggish point which comes az com
pensation for failure. She had not been
shelved long enough to grow passive
under the humiliation. During the Rev.
Mr. Isham's incumbency she had been a
power i'm Vaudeville. and when time re-
moved him and disabled her she yielded
up her scepter reluctantly and ungrace-
fully. She was still much given TO as
serting her views in defiance OF large
majorities and. as for consulting Nal
vina I'm a matter OF grave Importance, she
could not bring herself 10 do IL. In this
matter of the lost papers. Malvina could
never be brought 20 see II In the right
light She would have stoutly stood out
for Matthews rights as Toms guardian
and carried the documents when found
TO him.
With all the strength OF affection un-
diluted by diffusion this stern old woman
had loved the older generation or the
Broxtons. Rufus Broxton, his wife and
his beautiful sister, Lucetta. had all been
objects OF her unstinted admiration ana
love- As they had stood by her I'm the
time Of her sorrow and suffering. so did
she solemnly swear 10 herself that she
would stand by the last OF the name.
A furtive but thorough examination OF
the papers Jimmie Martin had found had
led her To believe that they were OF
decided value 10 Tom. Whether TO give
them 10 him on the first chance meeting
with him or whether to hold on to the
most important ones until he came or age
was the knotty point with her. one of
her innumerable theories was that IL
Horace Matthews had not been willing
for them 10 he lost he would have made
n more thorough search for them al the
time of their disappearance.
The discrepancy between this view and
the idea Of Jimmie Martin having resold
himself did not concern her In the least
The average woman does not understand
the necessity for dovetailing theories and
rises superior to consistency.
The old woman sighed and peered rest
lessly toward the front gate. She had
half n mind when Malvina did come back
TO tell her al about the finding and the
losing of the papers, first. OF course.
swearing her 10 inviolable secrecy. but
she had entertained and discarded that
same half a mind scores OF times al
ready Mavina would just get angry
with her and put on superior airs or rec
titude Malvina got angry with her
every time she cast any discredit on
Horace Matthews management OF Toms
affairs.
He certainly had bewitched Malvina.
as he had others before her. Only that
morning at the breakfast table. when
Malvina had described the beautiful pearl
necklace that Matthews had casped
about his girls neck and she had prompt
ly recognized II as having been Lucetta's.
given to her as birthday gift by her
brother Rufus. and had denounced Its
appropriation by the lawyer. Malvina had
flown all TO pieces" and had Just stopped
oh rf ~ dtareqnpCt
mother I'm defense OF him.
"As IL did not know him better than
anybody living" the old woman grum-
bled striking one wrinkled fist angrily
against the other. LAS II did not know
his soul TO be rotten to the very core!
Tom Broxton, cantering gayly down
the sun fecked road on his way tn
Mandeville. caught glimpse OF the
bright spot of color In the cottage door
way and drew rein with friendly intent.
He consulted his watch and laughed.
1T is Mother Spillman. i ought to
pay my respects TO the old lady. L
have more time this morning than I am
likely to have again. | was asked to
2 o'clock dinner and II Is only little past
IL now. I'm showing my hand pretty
plainly"
He sprang out OF the saddle. threw
his bride over picket OF the fence
and made his way quickly between
Miss Malvinas hollyhocks and lark
spurs. The old woman peered forward
eagerly at sound OF the gate latch.
THAT amt you back already, NAL
vina"
Her hands were caught in warm
cordial clasp.
"No; It's only Tom Broxton. Mother
Spillman. I've stopped by to ask after
your eyes Miss Malvina tells me you
have had dreadful time with them
this winter. and, as il that wasn't enough
TO keep both OF YOU I'm work, you had
10 go and sprain an ankle"
All OF which was shouted so immedi-
ately into the old lady's ears at the top
OF Toms vigorous young lungs that she
recoiled I'm physical pain But she held
his hands with answering warmth and
smiled n glad welcome up at the great
stalwart young fellow.
"My dear boy. my good lad. to think
| OF your taking the time TO stop and
call on an old woman like me! But II
| was like you--like the Broxtons. mean.
| They never forgot other peoples feel
| ings. SIT down. Tom, close TO me. lad
| die, where l can touch your shining
| brown hair II / want to- But don't yell
| so. Tom. They try TO make out that
| can neither hear nor see, but the old
| woman II not quite useless yet-no. not
| yet-not too helpless 10 be a good friend
| to the last OF tho Broxtons Tom. Eh?''
Indeed. no. ma am" said Tom cheer
| fully II don't know Of anybody would
| turn 10 quicker II I needed help than
TO you or Miss Malvina" ]"
(To be continued)