The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-13
CHAPTER xu-continued.

CHAPTER xII-continued.
Mrs. Govan moved restieSsly In her
chair. John really was not telling her
. single thing she did not know already.
Yes: but. John. nobody has-that Is.
nobody should'-
she started and opened her mild blue
eyes 10 their widest extent John was
positively pounding the arms of his chair
with his clinched fist.
II say IL Is an inhuman shame 10 damn
Matthews because Tom Broxton's prop
orty has deprecited and his fathor $
Investments turned out badly. Are
Broxton's riches the first that ever took
wings To themselves? And because, by
close attention TO his business. Matthews
has amassed little bit bigger pile than
the common run OF Melton county at
torneys the wise ones OF the earth have
added two and two together. with mali
cious chucklings. and decided that Mat
xhews is n scoundrel OF the biackest
shade"
.All the same. It is a great pity that
Ill Of his papers are burned" said Mrs
Covan quietly.
IAN awful pity" the doctor replied
ooiemnly. II do believe that IL Is the
loss OF those papers which has preyed
on Matthews mind until he is almost
ready to take to his bed. You see, all
Of his vouches as Tom Broxton's guar
dian went up in that fire."
but Tom
"Oh, Tom Is all right Matthews showed
me a letter he got from him IN answer
20 the announcement that all the papers
were gone. He is a grand fellow. Rufus
Broxton's own son"
IT wish ] could have seen IT.
"Oh, ii was short! But 1t had point 10
et-by Jove. IL had / do not suppose /
could repeat It verbatim. but could
give you the sense OF tt
"Try. John. just to give me the sense
Of It. do so want TO hear how the
dear boy took IL. / don't mean about
the fire. but about his losses. lie is so
young
The old man threw back his head with
m air OF pride in the son OF his old
friend.
HE took II grandly. I could not help !
thinking when was reading that letter, |
how proud IL would have mde Rufus. He
said he did not suppose he was the first |
man who had met with disappointments |
Just as great on the threshold of life; |
that the blow was softened In his case |
by the reflection that no one would suf- !
Ter by his losses but himself; that IL he |
could not provide for his individual |
wants the money expended on his edu- |
cation had been poorly placed. As 1t |
was not at all probable he should ever |
marry the future did not cost him an |
anxious thought
Never marry Why. he was up to his |
eyes in love with Olivia Matthews before |
he left here"
'sYes, but westover got In the way OF
that"
Mrs Govan pursued her own line of
thought in an aggrieved voice.
THAT would have made things a little |
more even. and somehow l have always |
looked forward TO seeing another Mrs. |
Broxton at the old Hall"
Events have a provoking way OF shap- /
ing their own course without any res
pect for our wishes or preferences, Ma
tilda."
To which sententious bit OF wisdom
Matilda accorded n grave affirmative,
but go on about Toms letter, John"
''Well, II seems that Matthews had ur-
ged his coming here as his guest, to stay
while they were going over the papers.
20 which Tom replied that as, owing TO
the unforeseen Intervention of the elc-
ments. there were no papers TO be ex-
amined IL would scarcely he advisable
for him 10 come TO Vaudeville just now
The visit could only be productive Of
pain to him and discomfort 10 others"
Others. ! suppose, meant Ollie,' Mrs.
Covsn iuterjected.
He wound up by telling Matthews that
he begged TO assure him OF his unaltered
affection and confidence. There was no
HoOm IN MS neart Tor any other feeling !
toward the mGn his father had loved and
trusted"
"Did he say that, Johnr Poor Toni
Dear boy. Poor, poor laddie!"
Mrs. Govans tears were dropping fast !
upon the sewing she had laid upon her
lap.
"I think the reason Matthews showed
me that letter" said the doctor refec-
lively, twas because he wanted me 10 |
know just how Tom felt about-about
things"
"Yes; that was natural. see. But
Tom--where Is he going to locate. John? |
Did the letter state? Mrs Spillman was
asking me this morning II knew where
Tom was
HE thinks his chances as an electri-
clan will be best out west I'm some grow
ing place. He mentioned Kansas CITY.
Shouldn't be surprised II he brought up
there"
''And so that is the last OF the Brox-
ton name for Melton county. Dear |
dear. what changes one does see I'm n |
short lifetime' Why John. about the |
time you brought me here a bride the |
Broxtons were just everything in the |
county. The men couldn't project any
county affairs of any importance with
out Rufus Broxtons opinion and help.
Mrs. Broxtom led In all the social and |
church movements. and half the unmar-
ried In the county were courting t..s.
That's all So" said the doctor grave
ulur vnIl Inntrrcryou m