The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-06-10
: Perversity Cured
By Alice Thorp

cautions 10 the contrary, tHTlb lOuDu
me alone for few minutes in the
garden. His face was pale and
troubled, but his manner quiet and
collected
II want to come to an understand
ing" he said. Have been mistaken
in you? ! thought you loved me"
1T seems you have been mistaken"
was all ! replied.
Then you wish this engagement
broken OFF," he asked
"As you choose" ! answered.
"Give me your hand, then, please"
With trembling fingers-but, oh, so
gently he drew the bctrothal ring off
and kissing my hand, said:
"Good-byw
He then threw the ring on the
ground. and placing his heel upon it,
crushed it, and lifting his hat without
looking at me, walked quietly away
The agony Of that moment ] never
wish TO experience again. ! would
have cried 10 him, but | felt suffOcated
and could not speak. ! would have
them with tears, but that my limbs
refused TO move. / heard slight
cough behind me, and turning saw
Mr.. Littlcton's servant, Parsons, stand.
ing not far from me. He looked away
again instantly; but | knew that he
tween me and my lover.
That afternoon | was daZcd with
my misery, my punishment was so well
deserved, but seemed SO hard TO bear.
| went through the various amuse-
mcnts mechanically, looking always
for Chris; hut he never appeared. If
he had, | would have begged him 10
forgive ne before all the company.
They were a merry party Of young
folks, and game succeeded game. Mr..
LittlctOn was always at my side, max
ing love 10 me in many ways. and for
while his assiduous attention and
respectful, though fcrvcnt manner
ovcrpowcrcd my listlcssncss.
At length somebody proposed n game
Of "hide-aud seek 1t fell 10 my turn
to hide, and | was glad of il, for
had become sick of my gaycty. and
wished to be alone knew of n place
where few were likely 10 seek me.
At the top OF the house was an OBJ
scrvatory. in which was a very large
chest. For what purpose II had been
used | do not know. but il was per
foratcd with numerous apcrturcs and
the boards had shrunken apart so that
any one could easily lie concealed in IL
without Inconvenience from lack Of
air. | hastCncd up 10 this observatory,
and seating myself on the top of the
chest lid, abandoned myself TO my
misery.
cannot remember how long re
maiued there. when | heard footsteps
coming up the narrow stairway that
led To the observatory. | hastily con.
ccalcd myself in the chest, and heard
two persons enter, one of whom sat
down on the lid above me
Bob said voice. which I in
stantly recognized that of Mr.. Little
tons. I'VE can neither be seen nor
heard here. so we can have n little talk.
Ry George, Bob! wouldn't il bC "A spec
If |. Tom Simply. whose phia adorns
the rogucs' galleries of almost every
country i'm Europe. was to capture TINS
pretty little hciress, with her cool
million. hcy?"
The other. whose voice | recognized
us Parsons, replied:
You'd better be- quick. though.
Those forged letters of the mining
company may I've discovered any day.
And II YOU do marry this girl. how long
do YOU expect to remain with her?
Your physiog is pretty well known,
| tell you
MY dear follow. will stay Just
until | get my hand on the money bags
tho way | did with that old French
woman. All the women trust me- and
lac gave sinister laugh
will detail no more of their conver
Sation IL is sufficient that | learned
from il that they were a pair of dis
! tiuguiShcd scoundrols: that their first
! object had been 10 Swindlc my mCl,
out of large sum Of money 10y means
| OF their false representations and
| forged letters; but the possibility of So
! curing my affections had only flashed
! across the mind of the more accom-
! plishcd william when he saw that | wa,
disposed to quarrel with my lover.
Ii was with a mixture of terror ant
relief that | heard these unconsciou,
Sclfbctrayals. The gulf Ia the edge %
which my Needless temper had driver
me was appalling. and, covering in IN,
! old chest | made the most solemn rcsO
luton of my lifc-onc that have faith
| fully adhered to since-to check IN,
perverse spir.' which urged me 10 in
dulge my pride at the expense Of n!
best feelings.
After this precious pair had gon
downstairs. I waited until they wer
beyond hearing. aud then stretchc,
out my arms TO lift up the lid Of tn
chest.
Horror! IL was locked The heavy II,
had closed with n spring. and | wa
cooped mp in chest. i'm lonely par
Of the old building. that was not visite,
once q month.
My situation was most terrible.
shrieked again and again for hell
There was a rush OF feet along th
passage beneath. and up the stairs. Tn
lid was wrenched open, and | wa
drawn from the chest by the loyin
arms Of my loyal Chris. ! could onl
murmur
Chris. my love. my darling! forgiv