The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-05-01
S-NOUISEw "Yes, auntie."
NSH91=X "Where is Bob Hunter"
IIlll I I|||l "He has gone home"
lnlll - lIn 80 early. Why did he


anxiously. Her eyes were dim, but she
fancied that Louise looked as II she
had been crying.
MY dear" she said softly, Bob il
only a man-and-you wouldn't let any
sense of duty stand between you|
The girl flushed deeply, and turned
her lovely face toward her questioner.
mo. auntie don't worry; IL isn't a
question Of duty"
IL thought, perhaps-Bob is so close,
he would object to me. and i wouldn't
not for the world, keep you apart The
poorhouse has no terrors for me-not II
1t makes you happy"
"You have a queer notion Of what
would make me happy. No, you are all
j have left, and we'll 'bide wee to-
gether.'"
And the girl pressed her soft cheek
against the one so old and wrinkled.
It's hard" murmured the old aunt.
"First there was the old father and
mother you nursed so long. and now
there's me-and he's n likely lad as
ever was. He'll be rich some day"
YES" said the girl. quietly. 81 know
II. He's made of the stuff that pro-
duces rich men. Let's forget him, for
he Is not Of our world"
But / hoped" persisted the old
woman sadly, that he might lift you,
at least, up to his world. You work so
hard, you are only n girl. Your life
ought to have been so different"
His world Is not above mine" ex-
claimed Louise earnestly, "it is far be-
low. II do not care TO step down.
Never mention this again, auntie,
please"
But when the winter of snow and
rain set in, and Louise had to plod
back and forth mile through the
storm TO the little millinery store,
where she was hired at seventy-ive
cents n day. the old woman more than
once brought up the name OF her old
time lover.
Hes gone to the city," she said one
day, getting salary that would make
us rich. one year of IT,"
Louise pale and weary. answered
nothing, but the old woman continued
plalntively.
'Now. If II hadn't been for me you'd
been living like queen. Seems like
instead of helping you, as l want to,
only take all your hopes away, Dear
dear, how long do live"
'Hushw said the girl, sternly. How
unkind you are! You are all l have in
the world. You are all have ever had
since-since they went awayw
you're twenty-five" said the old
woman, softly; you're the prettiest
girl for miles around. l always
thought"
"Td marry. Well, l won't" an
swered Louise, brightly, "for I'm de
termined to be an old maid
Bob Hunter had been in the city
twenty years. He was no Longer
known as Bob, but as Robert Hunter
millionaire.
He had friends, such as they were
astute business financiers like himself
servants who ran at his bidding. bu
not one person in the whole world wht
loved him.
Even the little errand boys knew hin
for what he was. hard, cold and un
charitable. They were paid their stipu
lated prices, never cent more Thi
world and this life was only n plac,
20 live long in, in order to grow ricl
and richer.
He seldom recalled his old countr,
home; there were no ties there 10 hol,
him. Only, sometimes. there came
feeting memory of fair young face
the one face in the world lie had trul.
loved.
'She was little fool" he woulr
muttcr; shes been n martyr lon
enough. | didn't propose to saddl
myself with that old aunt. Well. sh
chose her way, | hope she's enjoyc,
st."
Accident brought back his old hom
vividly at last. There was a railroa
running through that part of the cour
try that he desired TO buy.
I'll run out there few days" h
said; "it will be prudent to do so, an
j wonder how the old place looks b
this time, anyway. Nobody will recol
Dize me. dare say
But they did; the newspapers this
heralded Lis name, and the old neigl
bors who remembered him as a DO
wanted to see the great man he ha
become.
number OF old friends. as the
were pleased TO call themselves. III
dertook TO show him around and
point out the improvements that twei
ty years had brought about.
There was new court house. ne
Jail, and. lastly, fine. large buidin
lately erected for the county poor.
Bob did not care copper cent TO
shown any Of the affairs. but he Ia
his own reasons for being civil. hem
he permitted himself to be dragg,
hither and thither and at last actual
found himself inside the handsor
new poorhouse.
The matron will show US through
said the obsequious friend "W
knows but you may run across some
your old acquaintance" he added, wi
light laugh.
In one OF the large halls they pass
o woman bending over n little chi
who was sobbing bitterly. The won
sat I'm n low armchair. and her IA
was hidden. but the mass OF bro,