The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-20
CHAPTER xv-continued.

C~arenceW stood outside. her
urst thought was OF the lawyer
"why, Mr.. Clarence, is he gomez
81 have come to take Olivia home
"Olvia, Why. she isn't here"
''Not here? Then where?"
He stepped inside with the words. He
was young man who cordially resenteo
being taken unawares
.'oh, II Is all right presume she went
home by the lane, and missed her by
coming around the long way. l suppose
she has shut herself up in her own room
The old man still refuses 10 admit her 10
his room, and il made her restless heu-
ben said she told him she was going TO
bring you some flowers. 1 am awfully sor'
ry for you, Miss Malvina."
THANK you. Mother was fun or years
and che was ready 10 go"
YES. exactly-perfect Christian and all
that sort OF thing. suppose.
IL am sorry you were not WatchIul
enough TO keep her from annoying MT
Matthews the other night. I'm dreadtnliy
sorry. as much on Ollie's account as any
body elses."
.rWeIi. you see, II was this way: Every
thing was so peaceful and quiet the first
part OF the night that fell into sound
sleep. When walked up, the first words
caught made me hesitate TO go In | was
afraid OF making matters worse ana sup
posed she would go away without any
harm coming OF 1t. was afraid OF adding
20 Mr. Matthew'S excitement by revealing
my presence at that hour or the night
Things were considerably mixed up, you
see
yes dreadfuliy mixed up know 1t. .
He added an incongruous feature TO
Miss Malvina's decorous little sitting
room with his high bred face and fash
ionable garb. AS long as olivia was not
there to be fetched home he had better
be going. He offered some more READY
condolences and turned toward the door
Malvina stopped him with pleading
look.
..Don't go yot, please Mr. Clarence. IT
looks as IL Providence had sent you here
on purpose tonight. have favor TO ask
OF you"
politely enough. but he looked trifie
bored He was not devoid OF kindly feel
ings, but really the queer old party who
had Just shuffled off this mortal coil and
the unbeautiful spnster upon whom he
had intruded in search of Olivia had
never appealed very strongly 10 the aes-
thetic side OF him.
Miss Malvina stood with her hands rest
ing reverently on the big Bible. He
hoped she was not going 10 ask him to
read portion of Scripture with her. That
would be too much for his nerves. AS
II direct contact with the book had
brought strength to her, Miss Malvina
suddenly lost all that timid nervousness
which possessed her whenever she came
I'm contact with this elegant, rather
naughty young fellow. who made her
..feei like a milkmaid for clumsness."
This man as Olivia's affianced husband
and the ownee OF Broxton hall had
IL ~. tl,.,n ahn had m
about that particular paper. She entered
abruptly upon the task she had set her
self
IT don't know that you ever heard Of
II, Mr.. Clarence, but my poor mother
had mania"
spare yourself Miss spillman. heard
every word she said to Mr.. Matthews last
night"
About - about - some papers and
things?''
''Yes, poor old lady! She was really
unsparing, dreadfully caustic. But of
course IL went for nothing. We all know,
don't you know"
Miss Malvina flung back the lid of the
big Mible and revealed the papers.
"There are the papers my mother
spoke about"
In life she had helped the world tc
cast discredit upon her mother To shield
Horace Matthews she had put at naugh
her mothers words. In death she would
make reparation. so far as was possible
westover turned an uncomprehendint
stare from the old papers to the plain
fwitching face upon which the lamp cas-
uncanny shades.
so then there were some hidden docu
ments Any Importance, do you sup
pose?"
IT think so. There are the inventorie
OF the Jewels and the plate which i sup
x..l,.. Il, 4 lt,nx tA.atl
any of IL? do want you TO read JUS
that one short paper, Mr.. Wostover."
She handed to him the slip OF pape
over which she had pored in growin
perplexity for half an hour before hi
coming She watched him while he rea
A.. and she knew from the quick mount
fng of the hot blood 10 his temples tha
she had not overestimated fits import
ance. He looked up at her presently wit
knitted brows
.'By Jove' And this was among N
papers that Matthews allowed to :
II don't know that we ought TO ga
that he allowed it TO be lost You SCI
Mr.. Westover II was my fault that h
lust outside our gate. How mother ev,
got hold OF them Is one OF the mysterlt
that can never be solved now. IL Wa
only when that poor. unhappy child can
here begging mo to search for them tht
did IL Just 10 quiet her.
Westoyer made ~ clearer she sa
something the other night about Jimm
Martin finding them and her purpose
keeping you In the dark for fear yc
would give the papers she wanted Bro'
ton 10 have 20 Mr.. Matthew'S.
(which rs Just what | should ha'
done. just what shall do as soon as
gets bettor."
THAT is what ne will never do" sal
Westovsr eravely.. "Govan gives him on
q few days more"
Dear Lord! Aud that poor child2''-
"Will not be left entirely witho
friends" said Oillie's lover, stinly.
"Oh. I know IL. ] know that she
inst as fond OF you as can be. But abol
these papers. What am / Go do2 j don
even know where Tom Broxton Is"
~ Neither do I. But this paper"-l
was folding the oldest sheet OF wriuf
into compact shape-"cOncerns my fath
as purchaser OF Broxton hall more noa
~ than II does anyone else Just az pre-
ent I should like 10 show it to mr.
Miss Malvlna."
Miss Malvlna looked wistfully from u
nile OF papers TO the young man. Yves
over interpreted the look promptly.
You are fraid you are not doing u
xfrbf fhfno bv your friend. Mr.. BfONtO