The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-18
cHAPrER xIv.-tcontinueal

Olivia got up on her feet, and, folding
her hands tightly upon her breast she
looked down on Miss Malvna with an in
exorable purpose I'm her sad eyes.
II wish I could let IT go for naught
but I cannot. / know there were some
papers lost because I distinctly remem-
ber father asking you II you had seen
any the night OF Colonel Broxton's death
know he could not wrong any one pur-
posely, but losing those papers may have
put him in wrong position Help me
TO find them, Miss Malvina.'
Miss Malvina fell back upon her only
line OF defense Mother was queer
ollie. That was the reason I have shut
our door TO all the neighhors Of late. She
did not know what she was talking about.
There are
olivia interrupted her impatently.
but did you never hear her speak of
those Iost papers-of her finding them, i
mean?"
Never
.sNor any one else? Father? Don't you
remember that morning after Colonel
Broxton died?'
A subtle change swept over Miss NAL
vina's plain face. 4 frightened look came
into her eyes.
Think, Miss Malvina. Try 10 remem-
Der. Anu--dn, 90 ten me lHc liuthi hH'
whole truth, no matter how sorry YOU
may feel for me I can stand more than
you think can. But | shall never know
what peace is until my mind Is relieved
about those papers.
Thus adjured Miss Malvina made a re-
1uctant confession.
II will relieve your mind as far as lies
in my power, Ollie. IL you viii only try
TO stop worrying over what can't be
cured l was standing at our front gate
the night the colonel died, hoping some
BODY would happen by that / could ques-
fion about hm. When | heard horse
man coming, j rushed out into the road
with very inconsderate speed. !
frightened your fathers horse, and he
dropped his bag. / picked 1t up myself
and handed II back TO him.
HE told me the next day-you remem-
Der. 1t was when you brought him In your
a phaeton-that he missed some papers and
Thought they might have dropped out
when he let his bag fall !"
"All of which," said Olivia stonily,
'.goes to prove that some papers were
lost" ~
"Yes. but of course he found them
again. He said that morning that he
presumed he must have left them in the
study at the Hall, but II did not matter
much They could not have been very
important" ~
But MIS- Spliiman-Wnere uoes she
come into your story"
II told her when L went back into the
house all about 1t. Poor mother! l got in
10 the way of repeating everything to
her It interested her, you know. and, be-
ing queer already, she got twist In her
head about those papers. suppose which
there is no use trying to account tor
But she was so terribly in earnest last
night Miss Malvina. There must have
been something more than imagination in
II all But there. now That sounds as II
were helping her TO cast discredit on
father
Miss Malvina sighed wearily and turn
ed her eyes toward the cold, still form on
the bed. There was a note of pride In her
voice when she said: Mother was always
one of the terribly earnest sort. / used TO
tell her she must have some of the
blood of the old Covenanters In her veins.
Mother burnt out. She didn't rust out.
Poor dear. How glad she must be to
have done with IL all--this fuming and
fretting, / mean. Mothers wasn't a
happy nature, at least not here below. l
hope she is now. I've told you all /
know. Olivia"
Olivia was standing, with meekly folded
hands. looking down upon the dead wom-
an. How strange II all was Less than IL
hours ago that quiet form had quivered
with passion as IL lowered over her faith
ers sickbed and those sealed lips had
hurled terrible accusations at him al
most with their last activity. Now, II she
should offer up her own vigorous youns
life in exchange for a single word she
could not purchase It.
YES" she said slowly, "she looks as II
she had found rest 1 would give my life
though, TO bring her back to answer mc
one question. There would be no guess
work about IL now. She knows. and, c
dear Lord, want 10 kuowt just ON
n NJ fn qL
with a touch OF exhausted patienc,
Miss Malvinam asked, And the aues
tiony'
where are those papers,"
How should she know, child? Wha
would she be doing with papers that be
1onged to your father or 10 Thomas BroN
ton? She spent her whole waking time n
that big chair. I never will be able (,
look at Il without bringing her back. How
could she have found any papers? And
II she had. she would have turn~a then
over to the person they belonged TO
Mother was too honest to trick her wors
enemy II / sound peeTsh and cross
child. bear in mind that l. too. have gon'
through an ordeal"
Olivia drew in her breath with a uuicl
gasp Of excitement. She was too absorbe,
in the terrible mystery she was trying q
unravel 10 take any note of the tire,
look on the plain face she was searching
"Ah, something else comes back TO me
E. feel Ike some one who has had a clev
put into his hands. but IL is so frail AM
delicate he Is afraid TO strain IL for fea
OF losing IL forever. IL comes back TO m
when you speak OF that chair i remembe
one day-it was long before my garde
party--T came here TO see you abou
something. You were not here. and wa
afraid OF her. have been afraid OF he
ever since j was a little child. / Ore,
back when / saw you were not In On
room and waited on the porch for yot
Mother Spilman was down on her knee
before that big chair acting 30 queerls
j thought at first she might be praying.
which ] don't doubt she was sal
Miss Malvina coldly. she was yer
devout Mother prayed great deal.
expect that you disturbed her at he
morning devotons"
II don't think / disturbed her" sal
Ollie humbly. 81 stole right away yer
quietly and left her patting the chair a
over with her hands outstretched
'Patting the chair Mother sometime
very foryQnf I'm prayerH