The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-14
CHAPTER XIII.
.moTHER" sPILLMAN SPEAKS OUT
At LAST


building up OF substantial charges from
straws ana wisps, Vaudeville had
heart. and when IT was known that Law
yer Matthews had actually taken TO MS
he'd and that DIR. Govan looked very
rrave when questioned about his pa
tient's chances for recovery this hear'
svelled with a great pity for oliVia
p~ospeotive desolation, with the result
that she was overwhelmed with neigh-
borlv offers of help and sympathy
1,puohing this widespread demonstration
she said to Miss Malvina, with SHINING
grateful eyes;
..T always knew that papa deserved 10
ne reyerod by his neighbors. and IL makes
me 80 proud 20 be assured or tho es'i-
nation he is held in But / don't thihK
ha would like any OF them at his peo-
ida He told me so. 1 think Reuben
.nd I can manage the case. He is not
very sick, you know. 1t Is just her-
vous attack. He has been in dread
fully nervous condition ever since the
fire. He was so frightened for me that
night you know" To which MISS MAI
vina answered mo, of course" and then
ssYes OF course" vaguely trying TO meet
All reoufrements. She was thinking OF
how very Ill Mr.. Matthews really was
and OF how entirely unconscious onsia ri',
WAS of the impending catastrophe But
a was not for her To furnish enlighteh-
mont.
some one. Miss Malvina decided, GER
<ninly ought to be within call at night
An case-4n case of the worst. Dr. Go
van was out OF the question. lie was
too old and too necessary TO the wei
befnR of the rest of Vaudeville TO be ris-
ked She thought OF Tom Broxton, but
Tom was hundreds of miles away. hard
at work. Mr.. Matthews had told her
ne was In an electricians Office in Kan
sas City. ollie never heard from him
at all nowadays She thought OF her
self. only to think next of her mother.
She could not stay away from the cot
tage at night. Why should not Clar-
snce westover stay, She gave Olivia the
benefit OF her views on this point
II think. my dear. you ought to have
some one besides old Reuben I'm the house
AT night 1t is jpst possible you might
want to send for DR.. Govan during the
night l was thinking that Mr.. West
over would be Just the one"
"Clarence to SIT up at night? oh. then
you must think papa very I'll indeedP
'T don't think anything OF the kind"
said Miss Maly1na recklessly. IT was
just thinking that naturally It would
soft glow spread over the girls tired
face. The mere suggestion had proved
cheering
''Oh. he Is just nice as can be, lie
comes every day and has wanted 60 help
nurse from the very beginning, and-and
lit would be immensely comforting to
me just to know that he was within
call, but papa seems to have such an
aversion to any one being In his room.
He has said over and over again that
he hoped ! would not take advantage OF
him when he was asleep to leave a stran-
ger in charge OF him. AS II would
take advantage of him under any cir
cumstances!" she added mournfully.
The very best Of men are selfish pigs
when IL comes TO sickness" said Miss
Malvfna, with scorn I'm her eyes and a
fxed purpose IN her heart
She found Clarence Westover tetherins
his horse TO the Matthews rack. She
went toward him eagerly
Well call this provdential: that
DO I was just casting about in m,
mind how I could get message e
you"
''worseY" He nodded gravely towar,
the house.
mo: l can't say that see any chang,
at all, but 1t is Just this way: Thing
are In too critical a condition for tina
child to be left alone at night with M
of-of',
Il understand. I have thought so n
along. i have pleaded with her for per
mission to stay. She has refused m
with singular obstinancy.- eanne
stay In spite OF her.
That Is Just exactly what you mus
do / know. 1t is all his doings. sh
would be glad to have you. know II
But she wouldn't go against his wishe
for the universe. / don't suppose he ca
help being selfish, seeing he Is mar
She needs you desperately, Mr.. West
over. What are you going to do abou
it?''
A second OF silent reflection fell be
tween them, and then Westover solve
the problem cheerfuly.
II have H. 1 can be on hand and n
none the wiser for IL. 1 don't suppos,
now. any one is likely TO visit the littl
side porch his room opens on afte
dark"
mo. Splendid! There is a hammoc
~. swung there just outside his window,
You can hear everything that goes on 1
the room"
Il have &C." said Clarense with dec
sion. II Will come after dark. Fortu
nateiy there is no moon TO tell on me.
Nor any dog" Miss Malvina adde
reassuringly. My dear MIR westove
what a load you have lifted off m
heart"
And as she trotted briskly homewar
with that much lghtened organ warn
ing toward Ollie's lover. she said 20 hel
self that she guessed they had all bee
unjust 10 this young man because tho
had dedicated Ollie to Tom Broxton ar
maybe because he wore patent leathi
shoes IN the daytime.
Vaudeville had its own standards. ar
Miss Maiyina stood by them. Patel
leather stood for holidays and holy day
Her loving heart was very fun just the
What with plying tenderness for oil
somber anticipations for Lawyer Ma
thews and growing anxiety for h
mother II could not well be fuller. 81
had 20 admit TO herself that her moth
was growing dueercr every day.
And tho queerer she grew. the mo
4. frenzied became her dislike for Horai
Matthews. In her efforts to account Z
n Miss Malvina recalled the physch
illogical fact that mentally unbalanc'
people frequently selected some especi
detestation. Sometimes n was tho
they had most reason TO love and ~