The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-03
CHAPTER VIII.
AN ACCIDENT.

Fixing a coldly rebuking eye upon the
moody young face opposite him, Mr.. Mat
thews tapped the library table impatient
ly with a paper cutter.
II am afraid Thomas. you are not Civ
ing me your undivided attention" And
Tom, blushng guilty. said he was afraid
he was not. He tried to make amends by
staring stoliditly at the map of Europe
which lay spread out on the table be-
tween him and and his guardian. The
ivory paper cutter once more resumed its
peregrinations.
He could command his eyes and his ears
even II his heart had gone astray. But
planting his elbows on the table and irm-
ly clamping his jows between both hands
he secured the attention of those useful
organ and put them entirely at his guar
dams service. But his heart and brains
were another matter. Both played tru
ant and absolutely refused TO be drawn
into consideration of this proposed tour
OF foreign parts. His day was proving
distinctly disappointing, but he need not
advertise that fact TO all the world. With
dull ears he heard his guardians voice.
Now, when your dear father and pro-
Jected this identical tour our intent ton
was to go directly to Paris the paper
cutter halted directly ovev the black spot
and from there
With rebellion in his heart Tom was
summing up his grievances. Olivia had
not emerged promptly on his arrival.
Her long delay had the effect of making
him feel crudely premature and not
eagerly welcome. All the sparkle had
been blown OFF the day by her tarrying.
Her father excused her on the score OF a
headache supertnduced by loss of rest.
When she did appear. however. cool and
fresh in her crisp, pretty house gown,
with shining eyes and red ripe lips. 1t
was impossible to accept that fiction Of a
headache.
We planned to remain In Paris six
weeks on our frst visit combining our
selves principally to the art galleries and
the places OF historic interest. You see
that was or would have been just after
the days of the commune"
Toms ears reported his guardians
words, and when Olivia did come his
heart complained. He had gone forward
eagerly to meet her. almost srdently. She
must have read all his adoring thoughts
In his burning eyes and flushing cheeks
His telltale cheeks had gone flaming hot
at sight OF her. She had smiled at him
as indulgentiy as II he had been young
spaniel frisking at her heels. and for the
brief space OF time iapsing between his
coming and the dinner summons she hac
patronized him openly that she had
SuNCtsSlullN iiuportu upou MIN HI AiICoiH-
Portable sense OF extreme juvenility. He
gnawed his buding mustache in impotent
rage.
Poor dear Rufus"' his guardian
droned. He had the making OF fine
artist in him. Doubtless that six weeks in
Paris would have been most proitably
spent by us. From Paris we meant 10 go
by easy stages"-here the paper cutter
ambled ezra atically over the map. descrip
tive Of the easy stages-"untn we reach
ed Florence-Florence. the home OF class
ic art. the scene OF immortal Savonarola's
unappreciated efforts and martyrdom."
What a finished young lady the pret-
" little thing had plossomed into on
the strength Of n debut! He had tried
TO talk OF her OF the future. giving II
tinge OF common interest--hers, his
theirs. She had persisted In question
ing him, with matronly air of supe-
rlor age. about his studies and his ward
robe and his physical condition. He
had alluded to his guardians wish that
he should travel and intimated that half
a dozen words from her adverse TO the
project would settle his mind perma-
nently. No power on earth could make
him put the sea between her and him
II she would bid him stay.
Instead she had wrinked her pretty
brows sagey and said: Yes; papa and
| talked all that over before YOU came
thing for you 10 do. A man IL
crude so incomplete. you know, until
he has seen something Of the world.
until he has measured himself by other
standards. Now. there is Mr. West
over
Tom stared at the map of Europe with
hot cheeks. Reason convicted him OF
having acted like n fool at that juncture.
Father or son. he asked bluntly.
'Son. OF course" Ollie had answered
sweetly. He Is only three years older
than you. Tom, dear, but he Is 40 pol
ished. so cultivated. so broad, entirely
owing To- travel you see
II admit his perfections." Tom had
snapped with the rudeness Of an un-
travelled donkey.
81 like him immensely" Ollie had re-
torted. with arched eyebrows and frosty
emphasis which had made Tom rejoice
In the summons to the dining room. He
had followed his lofty young hostess in
meek silence.
He wondered II she would pin n nap
kin about his neck and cut up his food
for him She was assuming such vast
~ superior airs he was prepared for
anything. everything. His lovely vision
was fading behind a bank Of dark. lead
en- clouds.
Olivia looked At him furtively once
or twice during the rather constrained
meal She wished her father had not
thought ~ necessary to warn her
against Toms "boyish foolishness." It
had made everything so difficult so awk-
ward. and IL was spelling the poor
dear's holiday" But papa had said"
he would be seriously angered n she al
lowed Tom To pay her any sort Of lover
like attentions.
And so the awkward dinner had drag
ged its slow length from soup 10 coffee
and Ollie had not followed the men into
the library, as Tom had fondly hoped
she would.
lie could never clearly recall all his
guardian had said TO him during that
prolix Introductory talk about his own
affairs. lie knew II had contained hints
about financial losses. investments that
had not turned out as they should. de-
precia tion I'm real estate. failure OF rail-
road stocks TO pay dividends. with a lot
more OF dry business talk which had
nothing I'm the wide world 10 do with
OIIia ~ that fupctura thpre no