The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-07

through her fingers into her waste paper
basket. on one OF the fingers through
which Toms message, OF love filtered In
scraps was big diamond ring that had
not been there when he went to tell her
| goodly
From smiles she had passed to frowns.
The letter was distinctly disturbing. Us
ually by the time she had reduced let
ter TO fragments she had forgotten Its
| contents
But this letter of Toms refused 20 be
erased so readily. From condemnation OF
his stiffness and blindness she passed TO
| self questioning and accusing.
! Had she ever let him suppose that her
feelings for him were other than those OF
| an aunt for nephew. a guardian for
| ward or anything else safe and mature
one could think of? She was sure. quite
sure. she had not. Tom had no one but
| himself 10 thank for his misery. But.
| then. that he should be miserable--that
| stung her tender little heart to the quick.
| Tom had had so much sorrow already.
Oh. what hateful letter to have 10 an
| swerl Now she would have to tell him
| about Clarence and herself.
| Mr.. Clarence Westoers step was heard
entering the veranda, and Tom Broxton
| was resolved, by the Magian touch OF
| love, into fading myth
Much more disturbing was the letter
written by Mr.. Mathews TO his ward.
| II was much shorter than Toms to
| Olivia, but IL went straight TO the point
with a brutal directness as effective as
| a well placed blow between the eyes. IL
| left him stunned and breathless.
Said the lawyer In his business let
| ter:
MY Dear Thomas-As only few more
months remain OF your allotted two
years absence. think the time has ar
rfx for m a ka pl NJ qta
to you.
You will soon be coming home, n man
in the eyes OF the law, legally emanci-
pated from all guardianship-in short
your own master.
/ rejocet o perceive from letters that
you have made excellent use Of your time
and opportunities. As, have told YOU
before ] highly approve OF your taking
up electricity. 1t may stand you In good
stead In the near future.
And now 1t Is my painful duty to in
nict very great surprise upon you. /
have known, since In my capacity as
your guardian j have had to examine
into your fathers papers. that he had
been led into some most unfortunate
speculations and investments.
My most earnest efforts were directed
toward drawing your funds out OF the
rapidly sinking concerns In which he,
with lack OF judgement not common
to him, had invested. After year OF
futile endeavor in this direction I bent
my energies toward rendering yourself
| supporting should the crash which I
| fully anticipated occur during your min
ority Ii did occur. Thomas and have
known for five years that you would
/ have barely enough TO finish a good edu-
cation upon and TO supplement II by car
| rying out your fathers cherished plan
| OF travel.
Toward this end have toiled and hus-
| banded your resources to the best Of my
poor Judgment. A few months after your
departure for Germany IL became evident
10 mo that IL you were to be left care
free TO pursue your course to its end
Broxton Hall must go. feel confident
that your dear father would approve
my course. The property has deprecated
In value immensely since your fpther's
death and since an unfortunate prejudice
against II has been raised In this neigh
borhood, ! consider il exceedingly fortu-
nate under the circums tances that a pur-
/ chaser could be found Obtaining an or
4 der from the court, without which, OF
| course. you being a minor, the transfer
| could not have been made, I sold IL 10
Mr.. Standifer Westover. a man OF fam
| lily and means. The funds thus raised
have been carefully Appropriated to your
needs and will serve to keep you from
anxiety during the remaining months Of
your German residence and pernaps until
| you can get into something profitable on
I this side. German correspondent or some
thing of that sort In some large import
ing house. while YOU are building up a
business as an electrician.
Il i have not wished TO be premature in
this exposition OF your financial status.
because l wanted your mind care free
until your studies were concluded, nor
| did want you TO remain too long in ig-
norance os the fact that you viii have
nothing to depend upon when you reach
your majority but your own heal and
hands. These l have conscientiously
| striven TO prepare for the battle of life.
| b L am aware, my dear boy, that this
| letter will come TO you in the shape OF
most disagreeable surprise, but IL com
| forts me i'm the reflection that your equip
| ment for self support IL much better than
| ever had. and with your youth and
| health on your side there is nothing 10
alright YOU in beginning at the bottom
Of the ladder instead OF at the top.
Doubtless you will be glad TO know that
Broxton Hall has passed into the owner
ship OF Mr.. Westover. The place. as
have said, was fast going to wreck and
been most Improbable piece OF prop
| under any circumstances would have
! erty for you. | consider myself fortu-
nate In finding such a purchaser for Il.
! Any sentiment YOU may feel about Civ
ing up the old house must yield prece-
dence. Thomas. TO the bald facts that you
were in no position TO hold on To Il and
the longer II remained unsold the less
was It's value
OF course when YOU return here you
VIII make my home yours while we wind
up my stewardship by an examination
OF all the papers and vouchers bearing
upon your estate and the funds your
| father invested I'm n wildcat scheme for
developing certain bogus mines In Colo,
RADIO. You owe Il TO yourself and 10 me
TO obtain an entirely clear conception
OF the why's and the wherefores OF this
deplorable and (to you) entirely unex-
pected turn OF your Affairs.