The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-10
CHAPTER NJ.
FIRE COVERS A CRIME


The tragic emotion with which this
latter was read was altogether dispro-
portioned 10 the flippant coolness OF It's
tone and was absolutely divorced from
the common sense view of life whicn
Tom rather prided himself upon al
ways leaning toward.
To go back to its writer, as she had
nut out a coral tipped tongue TO moisten
the hap OF it's envelope olivia had re-
marked gravely 10 her inkstand:
'.such an absurd idea as this must
have a auietus put upon It very prompt
w. / think thtS letter will quito CON
vince him. Poor old ridiculous Tom
Her face broke up its gravity with
dimpiirx sr.ile mot that II is not very
nice to have him care so much. Dear
generous childv'
The inkstand to which she made these
ccnhdentiai remarks was an expensive
tride In beaten brass sent TO her by Tom
from Florence On the walls of her sit
ting room hung half dozen good etch-
ings selected intelllgently. Picked up
IN Rome for the dearest little girl In the
universe" Tom, the sender. had foolishly
ucrfbbled on the the inner wrapper Her
sIippered feet sank luxuriously into the
velvety pile of rich Persian rug SNIP
ned by Tom from Paris with magni-
1cent disregard for custom duties or ex-
press charges.
Tom. Toms constant though for her,
Toms doglike faithfulness. In spite of
her chilling Indifference. were In evil
dence turn which way she would. she
was smitten with a sharp sting OF re-
morse which reacted on her temper.
els Il my fault?" she asked the ink
stand petulantly. Have | not always
trvated him exactly like nephew
Conscience assured her that she had,
md 80 with a sense of absolution upon
her. she had run down the steps to
mail her letter in the box nailed 10 the
Ustepost.
II was quite late. She had taken
dinner with the Westovers and had been
driven home by her lover with the
brightest OF moons TO light them on their
way Mr. Clarence Westover could not
have been accused of cruelty to animals
on that particular drive, for he let his
spirited bays "garg their ain gait from
start to finish.
He aMd Olivia had much to talk about.
He was waxing impa tient under the try
ing conditions of an engagement TO whlch
she obstinately refused To fix limit. He
had begun by pressing her for date.
His voice was petulant and MS eyes,
(which the moonlight was not strong
enough TO reveal under his broad hat
bBim were full of moodiness as he
asked:
..Are we to go on this way forever,
Olivia?'
Ollie snuggled nearer to him with car
essing little gurgle. II was device she
Rad always found highly effective with
the one other man she had ever tried to
coax. her father
'.C'larence, dear please don't try TO hur-
nv things I'D. 1t is very pleasant as 1t
Is. and I dread 10 look forward TO the
time when poor papa will have To give
me up. He looks so old and worried or
late. asked DR.. Govan about him. and
he says all undue excitement for him
must be avoided
Every argument you have advanced
will hold good against our marrying for
che next ten years or so. Mr.. Mat
thews will certainly not grow younger
"Ten years! Mercy. Clarencel / shall
be an octogenarian by that time"
And l centenarian."
81 shall be walking with a stick and
mumbiing nonsense at everybody, as
Mother spillman does"
80 shali L." said her lover with de-
cdrion.
And I shall be looking back on low
er's vows and wedding clothes and such
trifes from the apex OF an cd woman's
superior wisdom. ! will call 4 all the
foolish efrervescence OF immature youth"
$50 shall l."
THAT will bo very nice. but a little
monotonous, won't IL dear? Do you in
tend doing everything I shall do when
We get old together. Clarence?"
She pushed back the wide brim of his
soft hat and. smiling lovingly into his
moody eys. called him "sulky" boy.
But when planning for his tete-a tete
drive by harnessing up vechicle too
email to accommodate Jeanne Mr.. Clar-
ence had told himself severely that 1t
was time he was bringing this affair TO