The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-06-19

scrap or paper which, through some
chance. had for years escaped exam.
nation.
It was what, many years ago when II
was written, she had believed TO be n
poem, and possibly she believed 50
still. But II was nearly forty year,
since he for whom those lines were
penned went away from her, and met
with his death not long afterwards in
India; and just thirty years ago her
mother had died. and she, Ruth
walker, the last Of the family, had
remained to grow old alone I'm Sun
croft, the old family home. But now.
ms she pOndcred over all this. and con.
1urcd up hundred thoughts Of which
we know nothing. nor have n right TO-.
she found that the markings Of ncr-
vous fingers on the tear-staIncd scraE
OF paper had done 1t rreparable in
jury; so she produced from n drawer
clean sheet Of fancy paper, chose n
pen with great show Of fastidious-
ness. and. adjusting her spcctaclcs.
commenced to copy out the poem i'm her
Miss Walker replaced I'm the cscrl.
tolrc the relic Of her long buried ro.
nance, together with one of the two
copies she had made. The other She
put into her pocket. Just TO have by
her, then she tldicd her hair with n
few pats of her hand, adjusted her
mob cap, wiped her spectaclcs and left
the room.
Arrived downstairs, she had tenn.
tatiOn-possibly the outcome of the rc.
aroused scntimcnt-tO walk I'm the gar.
den From the sitting room the old.
fashioned garden looked inviting I'm
the waning beauty of a perfect sum.
mcr's day. She was just about to step
through the French window when
some one entered the room.
"Ah! Rose" she said IL am going in
to the garden 10 enjoy the last mo.
ments Of the exquisite evening. Come
with me. child"
The breaklng-in upon Miss Walkers
medltations had evidently been acci.
dental, for the intruder made as though
To retreat hastily. She was n pretty
girl of about twenty five, brown haired
and frank-looking; hut there was an
expression of trouble cloudlng her us
ually sunny face. and she shrank back
as she said quickly:
mo. no-do please excuse me: I am
not feeling very we'll and shall go to
my room TO lie down for a short time"
And then she vanished.
The lines Of Miss Walkers benevolent
countenanCe hardened. and she pursed
up her lips and puckercd UP her brows
In perturbed thought Was romance.
when IL came to Suncroft. always TO
turn to Dead Sea fruit? The world had
taught even her, quiet and uneventful
though her life had been. many bitter
lessons OF the unfIltllmont of hearts
desires; and yet she had "a the same
time appreciated those lessons. and kept
Intact the tender faith that most men
and women should love and be the han.
pier ana better for it. And this belief
had made her take n special interest
I'm, and do everything to encourage. the
sentiments she had seen arise between
Rose Warden and her nephew. John
Walker. Rose was the daughter of n
long since dead friend. and John was
the only child OF Miss Walkers
younger brother
AS the wish had been father to the
thought. IL Glanced .hat Miss Walkers
friends I'm London. where Rose was n
govcrneSs and John rising engineer
had, acting on gentle promptlngs. put
these young people In one anothers
way rs much as possible. The result
was what had been forcseeu and hoped
for. and Miss Walker was inwardly
much rejoiccd. She had now made
Rose spend long summer vacation
with her in the pleasant old Surrey
home, and John had more than one.
come 10 stay week or SO. oStcnSihly
with an acquaintance In the nclghhor.
ing village. But something had gone
wrong. There had come the little rift
within the lutte. On the previous after.
noon her nephew had left the house
suddenly. he having before that been
with Rose in the garden; and he had
llNN Slltt NdlActl Allu IOSe : sudden
change of manner from llght-hcartcd-
ness TO utter detection. with other
evidence of her secret sorrow. told It's
own story Miss Walker wondered
what exactly had occurred. and en-.
gagged in a dozen anxious couicctureS.
She paced the garden until the al.
vancng evening brought that breath
Of chilllness which Miss Walker at her
age did not like. Then. with n last
look at Roses room. and a dcprecatoty
shake of her handkerchief at the re-
treat OF that presumably pining young
lady. Miss Walker turned her face 20.
wards the house. Just as she stepped
in the sitting room her nephew was
shown in by the other door.
"Well. wellr' said Miss Walker cheer,
ily-for she saw reconciliation I'm the
vlslt--"why have you deserted us foI
a whole day. you negligent young
manr"
Very sorry. aunt. but IL wasn't quite
my fault" he returned. speaking rather
gloomily. Then he added. with som,