The San Francisco call., 1904-06-05
HAND OF PROVIDENCE
By Martha RGcC. Williams

-E EMMY was explaining TO Amelia:
This is the way you make hor-
tus siccus-you get a big book
r. with no printin' in it. and then
paste it full Of weeds and flowers
and grass and little bits OF bushes but
you have TO dry, dry, dry 'en-siccus is
Latin for just as dry as bone.t
I wonder, could We put in Benjamin
Byram, esquire?" Bess speculateo
plaintively. Heaven knows he's dry
enough just as he stands. Then think
OF the relief, If he was once where you
could shut him up and off at will"
Prue giggled outright. He does talk
thirteen 70 the Dozen" she said. But
who wouldn't, with all his chances7
Nature made him a fool Of the first
water. and Fate Clipped in by giving
him a fortune, and a doting family"
Benjamin the Blatant Tom Rod
man calls him, Bess began, still plain
tive. Jenny came charging at her
with Amelia hot upon his heels. and
shouting: You hush, Aunty Bess,
You wanter lose me my pony. Mister
Byram says he'll give me a Shetland il
] don't let nobody say a word against
him in this house"
Il bIeeve he wants Jem TO fight with
Mister Tom Rodman." Amelia inter
rupted sagely. her head the least bit
aside. And 1 amt goin' to help him
there" she added pointedly. cause
Mister Tom says I'm his sweetheart
he's goin' to wait for me to grow up.
He thinks I'm a heap prettier'n Aunty
Bess right now"
How about me?" Prue asked. gig
Cling more than ever. Amelia looked
renectively. but Jenny stuck his hands
IN his pockets. set his feet far apart,
and said, sticking out his chin after the
manner Of his model, Benjamin Byram:
why, Prudy. you know nobody will
ever look at you, so long as Aunty Bess
and 'Melia are around"
Wont they, indeed?" Prue oueried,
drawing down the corners Of her mouth
meekly, although her eyes twinkled.
Jenny swung on his heel. saying
magisterially: Course not Why
you're all frecl1led same as a turkey
egg. and haven't hardly got meat
enough to wrap up your long bones"
Upon my souli Say, Miss Prue
shall take him out and drown him %
Tom Rodman asked, coming through
the door as he spoke. But Jenny
only grinned at him-Jemmy was nine
and Prue eighteen. They were the
best OF comrades. despite his brutal
frankness. Prue made a dash at him,
stood him upon his head, then swung
him by an arm and a leg, chanting:
Here be goesl Fingers ana toesl
ID The chimney when the wind blows,
Ending IN feint Of ninging Jenny
upon the open fire. Amelia improved
the opportunity to pull her brothers
hair until he howled. They were
twins. and pretty badly spoiled, as
was but natural, since they had grown
up motherless In their grandfather's
house.
III gwfng you By your legs, Prudy,
when Tn q man; you see II I don't"
Jenny said. trying to scowl. but grim
ming IN spite Of himself. Tom Rod
man picked the boy up and flung him
across his shoulder. sayi-= gravely:
II hate 10 do IL, but there's nothing
else for IT. Jenny, I've been tellin'
you this ever so long I'd carry you
TO the gypsies II you did not behave
better. Stop wriggling. You can't
get away. But I'll let you kiss 'MeIia
and the others good-by. Be quicki
You won't ever see them again"
Kiss 'em all yourself. That's what
you're after" Jenny the cstute piped
huskily, as Tom carried him close TO
Aunty Bess. His arms were free;
impishly he laid hold OF the two heads
and yanked them together. locking his
hands behird the two necks and hold
ing them tight, laughing uproariously
all the while. Tom was a gallant fell
low: he could do no less than kiss
Bess. IL all his heart did belong to
sweet Miss Prue. And just as he kiss
ed her, who should come II but Mr.
Byram, the rich distant cousin, who
had been for three weeks a guest at
Fairlaw.
Mr.. Byram had come there exploring
he felt the need of a wife rather
than the want Of one. Bess, who was
tail and twenty. and the very moral Of
gracious stateliness when she chose
70 be, had captivated him out of hand