The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-05-01
THE BETTER WAY.
By Alice c. McKeever.

|
the matron. you are always getting
hurt" Then turning 10 the woman
she said. Have you finished the
shirtsP'
The woman raised her head and re-
piled softly that she had The sun
light streaming In through the window
brought her head and face and slight
form into bold relief.
He saw her plainly. her voice had be-
trayed her even before he had known
or guessed her identity. Yes, II was
Louise, older. Trailer, helpless and
beggar no. not exactly that for II
seemed even here she was a toiler as
OF old
my Godw he thought, "how long
has she been hereT
But they hurried him on and when
had not reached II any too soon. He
was never so near a fainting fit In his
! life.
Are you i'll, Mr. Hunter" inquired
more than one.
"A little" he repli d. 81 think will
! 60 10 my room at the hotel and rest
until supper"
But no sooner did he find himself
alone than he sent for one OF the maids.
n girl that he knew had always lived
In the place.
MARY" said he, II want TO ask you
n few questions, and you're not 10
| tell any one n thing shall say. If
make you a present OF five dollars, do
you think you can held your tongueW
Mary tossed her head and eyed the
fye-dollar bill.
II can tell the truth without being
paid, AS for telling anything else, no
money could make me do that"
VERY well, my girl, l only want the
truth. When was Louise Upton taken
| toto"
He did not finish, something seemed
to choke back the word.
The girls eyes opened and grew
round as sarcers. All. she remembered
now hearing her granny tell that
Louise Upton had once had lover
who had gone away and grown rich.
Could II be this was hep
"Only year ago" she answered
softly, plying the man she saw was
really suffering. "She worked ms long
as she could. but II was rheumatism
crippled her feet and she could not run
n machine, then her hands were bad,
too, and-and there wasn't any one TO
take care of her. so she asked to be
put where she is.'
How long has her aunt been dead"
Her aunt! oh, can just remember
her: about fifteen years. | think. But
nicer. sweeter lady than Miss Louise
couldn't be found Lots OF us cried
and would have helped her. but she
said no. she would 60 where she be-
longed."
where she belongedw repeated the
rich man I'm tone OF voice that made
the girls eyes sparkle.
Here is your money; take II, and
I'll not forget you, either
Thank you" said the maid smiling
joyously. you are very kind"
Very kind Did the walls take up
the words and echo and re-echo them?
Kind. very kind! Him; kind
He sat for an hour with closed eyes
and compressed lips; then as the shades
of c-enin. stole around, he passed out
and sought once more the matron OF
the county infirmary.
ut is not the hour for visitors" she
said GROSSLY.
But V hen he explained that he must
see one of the inmates privately. and
rendered another tivc-dollar bill, he was
quickly admitted.
lie waited for her in cold, damp
room called the reception room, and
she came at last-at last. The door
opened softly. there was a thump,
thump OF two crutches over the floor,
and Louise, wondering and surprised,
stood before him.
!. He bowed and wheeled forward n
) small sofa upon which she sank, more
; and more surprised for she did not
recognize him.
Louise he said. huskily, coming out
; into the stronger light. Louise, done
you know me?"
"Bob-Bob Hunter"
"Yes," he said. taking n scat at he:
|
to shake hands,"
: She half extended her hand and thet
drew back.
Don't. At you don't want to-"
{ "Oh. IL isn't that-but my hand"
He knew, when he took II almost h!
J force; the pretty, white hand that ha'
! been was now drawn and toilmarked
He held II between both his own, hi
: head bent over IL. while hot tear fel
= upon IL.
0 Louise felt her breath coming an,
= going at most surprising rate. Will
she could no. speak
v "'ve thought IL all over. Louise. eve
:. since l found you here, this afternoon
| never knew what cold-hearted vi
e lain I was before. but | know IL wel
d enough now.
@ Still Louise was silent.
d II loved you. have never loved an
y one Csc, but money was my God. and
ie and IL conquered me. But to-day. .whc
! saw you so frail and helpless and :
, poor, and thought of all your life ha
10 been, and contrasted II with what
o. might have been. had 7 not been s
lib cruel in the past. felt that wante
TO go out and shoot myself"
I'd But you didn't" said Louise. smi
d. ing with something Of her old brigh
IN ness.
ce "No, because back Of II all was u
a.