The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-23
CHAPTER XvI-contInued

Olivia dropped on her knees by his bed
side. She clasped both her hands about
one of his, as II impioring him TO v'ndi-
cate his own good name before he left
her.
But you did the best you could. fa-
ther. or course you did. oh, know YOU
ala / know you did by Thomas as his
father would have done by me IL ! had
been left a helpies little orphan like
Tom"
A eroan was his only answer.
There. dear DIR. Govan will scoid me
sharply for saitating you In this cruel
way. Don't let US talk about IL at alL
papa We believe I'm each other There
now. Go to sleep I'm your naughty Ollie's
arms"
She laid her soft cheeks against his and
crooned a soft lullaby. lie stroked her
shining hair caressingly.
OLIVIA, my darling, you heard that old
woman's terrible charges. She hurled
them at me over this precious head
She nfted her head and looked at him
gravely-
''She knows better now, father
KNOWS better now?
He repeated the words after her with
laborcd slowness. He looked bewildereo
Olivia smoothed the gray hair back from
his furrowed forehead with slow, mes
merfc motion.
Poor old Mother Spillman is dead,
father. She is at rest. ] think Miss NAL
vfna 10 Scarcely sorry. She says life has
been such q burden TO her mother for
great many years that death meant re
lease. She says her mother was very
,uueer.'"
And she is gone, actually gone7 Do
you know II 70 he a fact, childf' He Ia
bored To lift himself into a sitting pos
turs.
'T know n to he a fact, father.
saw her myself. dead. She looked so
Quiet. so serene. She is at rest"
'~You saw her. Then you have been TO
tho Spiliman cottage. What did you so
there for?" His voice rang or In chal-
lenge.
she shrank away from him until the
pile Of pillows with which Reuben had
propped him into sitting posture hid her
paIlid face from him. Was he going to
force her to say why she had gone 10 the
Spiilman cottagef II he did, must she
lie. Instead ne spoke to her in the gen.
tlest OF voices. Rather did he, seem to
plead for mercy than upbraid her.
Don't COVER behind my pillows, my
poor child. Come where ] can look into
your dear eyes. You have nothing 20 be
ashamed OF. Olivia. know what took
you there Ysu went In search of vim
dicatiou for your most unhappy father"
Her head drooped until II touched his pill
lows. You thought To learn something
more about the papers which she claimed
10 be holding for Thomas"
Yes. father"
gieam OF qualification shot into the
shrewd eyes ofNthe dying man. II was
almost as II HIS departing soul paused
TO score one more pit,ful little triumph.
Poor old magpiel She overreached
herself Now they never will he found"
Were they very valuable to-Thomas--
father? That Is. II you don't mind tell
ing me. dear"
They were-they are" he amended
slowly, "of no value to any one. Thomas
would not be one dollar the wcalthier for
the finding OF them
A silence fell between father and
daughter. The sick man seemed to fall
into a sudden doze Olivia brought
light chair and seated herself as closely
az possible to his side.
The clock struck half past II. Reuben
was to come on watch at midnight. She
twfned her small, cool fingers about the
sinewy wrist that lay nearest TO her and
found Its pulse. The moments passed
on. She waited. For what?
The ticking OF the clock on the mantel-
shelf and the beating Of her own heart
seemed equally loud A low mutterlng
from the sick mans sunken lips made her
bond her ear quickly. Every syllable
that fell from his lips now was a thing
10 be boarded. In A state OF semicon-
sciousnees Horace Matthews was doing
battle with his conscience for the last
time.
"It was for her sake. for my tender
little chiid's sake. Good Lord forgive
mel She could not battle with the world
in poverty. only helpless. weak girl
He is strong: he Is young; he Is ambi-
tious. II will all work out right for him.
He will carve out a name and fortune
for himself But-but-I am going 70
meet them. am going TO see Lucetta.
Rufus, all OF them. What shall l say
what can tell them7 Unfaithful
friend, false steward. sinful mani hear
thrm crying II In chorus Thomas. for
give me- Lucetta. don't turn your dear
face away from me. Rufus. friend OF
my boyhood.
He opened his eyes with a start. His
first fully conscious gaze fell upon
startled him. He grasped her wrist with
q force that panied her.
II have been doing. Did ] talk I'm my
sleep7 Did I say anything silly, sleep
takers always dor
You talked a little. father, Just n little.
There, dear. Don't stare at me so. yoL.
look as II you were angry with me. IL
S only Il, father. your loving little daugh-
ter. There is no one else here, no one
at all"
II know. I know-only you. poor little
lonely girl: only you. my precious one"
She answered him with a pathetic little
boast.
''Oh. I could have half the town If
wanted 20. Everybody has been begging
70 help nurse you. Everybody holds you
In such high esteem. dearest. But we
don't want them
but we don't want them" ne echoed
duly. mo. we don't want them. It
won't last very much longer. my child.
I am tust waiting 90 see Thomas. and
then I will GO"
"Fsther. father. have YOU no thought
FOR me7' The vail escaped her unguard-
"a lips with piercing shrillness
NO thought for your God forgive me.
Olivia. there has been room in my brain
'cr no one but you. For you. and YOU
llone. have lived. I have labored and"
his voice dropped TO tired whisper
yes. sinned.''
~sinned7 Father. take that one word
'eck. I know you do not mean H. Take
| back In pity for me Don't leave II |
o me ss a horrible puzzle. II will tor