The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-29

TO have pinched the youngsters ears for
speaking OF Miss Matthews as "a dear
little thing" but, that being manifestly
impractlcable, he compromised on snub-
bing silence which lasted until he came
under the mellowing influence of first
rate cigar Toms satisfaction over the
outcome OF the fete flowed on worldly.
YES" said his guardian finally, with
the blase air OF man surfeited with
homage, at went off very well nicely
enough. i am glad, however, that IT is
over. / found IL both troublesome and eX-
pensive. Olivia must feel pretty well fag-
ged by II ALL"
Tom smiled at the recollection OF her
sweet dropping lids and her candid
yawns, revealing rows OF white teeth.
IL fancy she will sleep without rocking
tonlght--today. rather. How pretty she
looked in spite of all she had gone
through. She has grown into lovely
young woman while have been RrubbinB
at my Greek and Latin grammars. Why,
IL seems 10 me only yesterday that left
her little romp. trundling her hoop ana
playing with her dolls. The fellows Will
soon be-
Mr. Matthews clipped this sentence In
two with sharp petulance.
mot at ALL not at all. Thomas. ] shall
listen to nothing OF that sort, sir, for a
great many years to come. IL Is an aD-
surd idea. and as such resent It, sir
Tom stared at him I'm natural surprise.
Such an acrimonious outburst from man
whom he had never seen moved out OF the
most urbane composUre lacked logic.
IL fail 10 see anything in my remarks
to call forth resentment, sir, he SAID
with lifted head.
Matthews changed the subject abruptly.
your Judgment in the matter OF cigars,
Thomas, dehcs criticism. This Is super
fine"
He took the cigar from between his lips.
gazed fenectively at its cohesive white
ash. flicked II free with his finger ana
gazed editatively at the ceiling.
Tom gave n thoughtful twist to the soft
brown fringe that clothed his upper lip
with promises and changed the posi-
tion Of his long legs restlessly
Was this premature display OF pa
rental hostility meant for his especial
benefit? lie smiled at the futility OF it.
Did this ogre Of a papa think he could
give the world one glimpse 81 his m 70
diant child and then shut her UP In his
own ravished heart forever? He frowned
at the daring of II.
vision OF the future was already
shaping itself I'm the boys active brain.
a vision which comported so perfectly
with what he called "the common sense
OF the situation that this valiant show
Of opposition on the part ~ the man
no had selected "a idtncI- ll-iHW Hdh Ah'
effect Of slap on his cheek. Tom was
not vet schooled i'm the wisdom ~ check
turning. lie would bide his time, he
said TO himself hut he would not he de-
tered from asking olivia Matthews TO
marry him when that time came. by all
the fathers I'm the universe. Common
sense dictated waiting and Tom never
turned n deaf ear 90 common sense.
His vision had come 20 him unbid
den. but now that II had come he hugged
Il close with defiant tightness. The
frowning front his guardian showed
could not affect u In the least
It had como TO him first IN the little
pavilion under the sycamorcs, where he
had made one Of four happy young
things who ate ices. wasted cake and
talked the most delicious nonsense with
an abiding conviction Of profundity. IL
was there and then that he had drunk
I'm Ouie's iuveliness from the crown Of
hor pretty head 10 the dimpling sweet
ness o- bcr mouth with its ready smiles.
ollie had been one of the four the
chlefest. the only one ~ the slightest
inheritance Miss Westover tJeanne.
he believed ollie had called herr and
MFR westovcr. (Clarence. he believed