The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-27

II was left 10 Tom to relieve the strain
ed situation. lie had been inspecting
newly executed portrait OF his guardian
while Miss Malvna had ratified OF he
apologies. olivia had asked his opinion o
the painting. and no had given II. II
came over now and took chair near Tn
sofa on which she was sitting II was al
II ne had put up a bar between them
Simple as the act was. II made IL yer!
hard for her To hold fast by resolv'
she had come 10. She wished he had seat
ed himself on the sofa by her side ~
would have done so once She nfted shI
eyes 70 HIS as he said easily:
"And so my little sister is going out u
sec the great world? Tell me something
OF your route.
She was so intent upon her own line o'
thought that she did not answer. How
calm and self possessed he looked! Whal
a strong. forcefuI face his lad becomel
Scarcely a vestige was left OF the shy
bashful boy she used 10 patronize and tor
ment sure OF his always loving her rom
had grown away from her.
"Or perhaps" said Tom, filling In what
threatened to become an awkward pause
"you have not marked out any arbitrary
route. So much the better. Are you going
direct to Nice?"
Eyes. 7 suppose so. don't know. 1t will
BE- the innocents abroad when Miss Nal
vina and slip our moorihgs
She laughed HISTORICALLY How could she
ever say 'it?" How could she go away
without saying 'It?" She felt like leaf
IN winter storm How cool and STEADY
his voice was
lyon will meet with agreeable surprises
In that respect Everything is SO simpii-
fed and systematized nowadays that
women can travel over the world with
inpunity. / am sure you Will enjoy 1t
And am sure shall not. ! never ex-
pect TO enjoy anything again. Tom, as
long as live never-anything az all
Her eyes were wet with unshed tears;
her cheeks were hot with unbidden blush
es: her clasped hands trembled visibly;
her excitement was getting beyond her
control. Rroxton looked at her i'm grave
surprise Then n smile OF pity came INTO
his fine face.
..You arc young yet. Ollie, so young,
and to the young sorrow has such
dreadful fnality In seeming. But ~ Is
only IN seeming, little friend. We can out
live eHa 4pe- Down about all the -trnnhles
n malicious fate can conceive or Tor our
torment II we VIII only believe In our
selves be true to the best In us
She looked at him with the ghost OF a
smile on her lips. THAT sounds dread
fully experienced, Tom" M
And am l not experienced? Not. rhe.
added. with quick thought for her. that
am quarreling with destiny. NV mil
osophy is that all that is is right
THAT IT. fatalism. and | do not think
fatalsm is healthy. especially for so
young a man. You see. l have not for
gotten how TO find fault with you, Tom.
mo. Come. row. this grows promis-
ing | lived i'm Germany just long enough
to acquire a taste for metaphysics and
10 miscall myself philosopher We
don't indulge along that line at the works.
Let me hear you define fatalism.'
His cool acceptance OF the existing
status OF things exasperated her most
unreasonably.
"You are turning my meaning into
Jest. Thomas. | suppose | am not worth
n serious thought nowadays. so you are
obliged TO think Of me as good Joke.
No: / don't mean that at all, for that
implies that YOU do sometimes think
about me"
Il am glad YOU do not mean IL. We
nave been good friends too long to quar-
rel with each other just as you are about
to put the ocean between us. and we
would have no chance to make up inside
of a whole year"
Nothing could be more matter OF fact
nothing less loverlil<e than his entire
bearing from the moment Of his arrival.
II only she could think he was acting
a part II only she could think he felt
as he had once felt toward her wanted
what he once wanted-her-it would
make II easier for her. Before he had
come she. standing before her fathers $
portrait. had registered silent promise.
II will try 10 do your bidding TO the
utmost father. Heretofore | have only
refrained from doing that which would
have come between me and II. ] am
going 10 marry Thomas Broxton. Then
your. sad. pleading voice will die out Of
my -memeFy- perhaps r.--
But Tom was making II so dreadfully
dificult She took the plunge presently.
Her voice trembled at the start
Thomas. ! am going to ask you" a
question before we part. VIII you an
swer II very honestly"
THAT depends" He smiled down calm
ly into her troubled face.
Her eyes fell before the cool steadiness
OF his. She clasped her hands tightly
upon her lap.
II want to ask you how long YOU were
standing in the doorway Of fathers room
that--night-before you closed the door
80 softly that / thought IL was the night
wind?'
A troubled look came into his eyes.
lie had not expected this direct cate
chising. lie answered inconsequently:
Reuben is a hungling old idot. lie
told me his orders were 10 send me di-
rect to my guardian. When / got there,
j found you were with him. and II was
no time for me 10 intrude."
Mora saw you close the door she
told me long afterward. I want 20 know.
Thomas. how long you had been there 4"
He moved restlessly In his chair. For
her sake he wished he might evade the
truth. Not very long-in fact. only a
second or two"
Were -you-.there.-iong enough 70 hear
my fathers last words2'
He remained Htubbornlv silent She
raised her eyes in desperation. He was
IN AT