The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-20

gate anu peVteu ahAiOusiy uoWh 'H
| dusty road
over an hour now since the mniste
and the lawyer had gone by in suci
haste and "still no sign OF poor Tom.
coming"
Colonel Rufus Broxton was the big
man OF the neighborhood. His sudder
illness had aroused great local inter
est. Personally she had none other thar
the tenderest memories In connection
with him. The gift OF a COW when theii
own only one had fallen over the blum
and been killed. the headstone thai
marked her fathers grave in the Mande-
vile burying ground. the annual sprins
breaking up OF her little garden patch
all testified 70 the goodness OF the col
oners heart and the faithfulness OF his
soul.
He had never lost sight Of the fact
that her mother was the impoverished
widow OF the man who had been the
intellectual guide OF his callow youth
nor how as the minister's wife she had
been q helpful friend and good adviser
10 the young and sometimes frivolous
wife he had brought homo TO stately
old Broxton hall
And now In the hour OF his extremity
Miss Malvina could not bear TO think
OF the colonel having an unfufilled wish.
Jessy had told her that all his cry was:
why doesn't the boy come? The boy
Will be too late Keep me here. doctor.
until Tom gets home"
And Jessy knew. because she was
housemaid at the han and heard every
thing. II only the boy had been sent for
sooner Mr.. Matthews must have known
how things were going to end.
And at thought Of the lawyer she feTl
To wondering over her mothers harsh
f1td0 Af
merit stood next TO Parson Drayton in
the town and county. There were those
In Vaudeville who thought the sun rose
and set In him. Her mother must he
getting unreasonable in her old age. and
so, dismissing the lawyer from her mind
as minor matter at such a solemn
juncture. she stood there breathing futile
wishes that she might do something. ever
so little something, for the colonel or
for Tom.
The road in front Of the cottage was
deserted. AT its best travel toward
Vaudeville was light and uncertain.
There was none at all tonight
The scent OF honeysuckles and sweet
williams weighted the air A single star
came out In the blue black sky, another.
dozen, host. A solemn hush en-
wrapped the universe II only some break
would come In the dreadful stiffness. II
came.
The patter OF hurrying feet In the dusty
road-a small dark figure was speeding
toward her out OF the gloom. II came
abreast her. Miss Maivina could hear
the quick painting breath OF the runner
Next came the gleam OF n white face.
bare Of hat. shone under the stars.
Who Is thatf Who are you. Tom
Tom BroxtonY'
The running feet halted. The white
face came closer A breathless young
voice called 10 her eagerly: lis that you.
MISS Malvina How about father?
Better, isn't he?"
Miss Malvina answered inconseouentIy:
What are you doing sfoot. child?
Couiun Daniel have gone to fetch your"
Mr.. Matthews man Rube was at the
station with his buggy. I think he must
nave been drunk. He upset the buggy In
lime hole this side the schoolhouse I
left him 1oundering about In IL. could
not wait Is father
Yes, said Miss Maivina recklesslv.
She would not rob that poor painting
young bosom OF its last fiickering hope.
Thank God for that muchr
The boy lifted his eyes toward the dark
mass showing above the darker shrub
berry OF Broxton lawn. But for that
senseless mishap he would have been
home an hour ago. He had run. painting
ana stumbling. over three long miles OF
dark. uneven country roads
sun half mile lay between him and
his one earthly friend He halted only
long enough to ning that gasping oues-
ton at Miss Malvina. Perhap. he Nigh,
stnl hear his dear fathers voice II but I'm
a deathbed blessing. He was speeding
onward at pace which soon efraced
every sign OF his slender figure. Miss
Malvina sighed heavily.
Perhaps j told him a lie But what
else was there 10 do? Poor boy, poor
Tom
She turned about and walked through
the prim li*le border OF zinnias and prin
cess feathers. She tiptoed softly into the
room where she had left her mother
peacefully slumbering in her armchair.
one nfted a lamp and plsced II carefully
out OF range OF the big chair She took
up book only 10 put IL down unopenea
IL was impossible 10 settle to any ordi-
nary occupation. She crept once more 10
the front gate.
The solemn stiffness grew more impress
Hve with the passing Of each moment
She wished some figure no matter whuse
might appear going toward the village
from Broxton. She should like to hear
that Tom had not got there too hate.
she had thrown white apron over her
mead as pr5tection against night dews
She leaned with her elbows on the gate
and wafted-not for very long A horse
man was cantering slowly in her direc-
tion from the colonels She opened the
gate and stepped into the road
a pun Of wind caught her white apron
and sent It nuttering right into tho
horses face. She could hear the brute
snort and squat
Its rider exploded angrfly:
Who in the deuce are your, You have
made me drop my bag
It's only me. Msivina Spillman. I
wanted 10 ask about the colonel Is he
dead. Mr.. Matthew'S"
Yes"
Did Tom get there I'm timer"
No"
lie was down on the ground now erop-
ing for his dropped beg. Malvlna g~oped
Zoo. IL was she who found g. IL had
bounced quite up into a cDrner of tho
fence and come unclasped I'm the transit
She mechanically clasped " n she handed
Il back.
is that all you droppcdT"
Yes"
am sorry 7 frightened your horse
IT, Ia.Na