The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-05-29
TheHOllOW. ; >
BIZ 8 Of Her Hand
George Barr McCutCheOn

Booth indifferently. He was watching
the man In the "slicker" through
moody eyes.
"Oh. nothing like that" disclaimed
Leslie with unnecessary promptness.
But II were given 10 that sort OF
thing. I'd be bowled over In a minute.
Positively adorable face. II thought
you had IL In you 10 paint n thing as
IL really Is I'd commission you myself
TO do miniature for me. just 10 have
IL around where ] could pick II up
when liked and hold IL between my
hands, just as I've often wanted TO
hold the real thing"
Sara Wrandall returned to New
York at the end OF the month. and
Leslie met her at the dock, as he did
on an occasion fourteen months ear
lier. Then she came In on fierce
gale from the wintry Atlantic; this
time the air was soft and balmy and
sweet with the kindness OF spring. II
land was green.
Again she went 10 tho small. exclu.
sive hotel near the park. Her apart
ment WAS closed the butler and his
wife and all OF their hastily recruited
company being In the country, await
ing her arrival from town. Leslie at.
tended to everything. He lent his re.
sourceful man servant and his motor
TO his lovely sister>in-law. and saw To
IL that his mother and Vivian sent
flowers TO the ship. Redmond Wran.
dali called at the hotel Immediately
after banking hours, kissed his daugh-
ter-in-law. and delivered an uitimatum
secondhand from tho power at home:
she was To come TO dinner and bring
Miss Castleton. A little quiet family
dinner. you know. because they were
all In mourning. he said In conclusion,
vaguely realizing all the while that Il
really wasn't necessary to supply the
Information. but, for the life OF him,
unable TO think OF anything else to
say under the circumstances. Some.
how it seemed to him that while Sara
was In black she was not In mourning
in the same sense that tho rest OF
them were. II seemed only right TO
acquaint her with the conditions in his
household. And he knew that he de-
served the scowl that Leslie bestowed
upon him.
Sara accepted, much TO his surprise
and qualification. He had been rather
dubious about II. IL would not have
surprised him In the least n she had
declined the invitation. feeling, as no
did, that he had In . way come TO her
with a white flag or an olive branch
or whatever II In that combativo
force utilizes when II wants to sur.
render In the cause OF humanity.
Az soon as they were alone Hetty
turned to her friend.
"Oh. Sara. can't you 20 without me7
Tell them that ! am ill--suddenly ILL.,
IL don't think II right or honorable
OF me to accept"
Sara shook her head, and the words
died on the girls lips.
You must play tho game, Hetty.-
'Tt's--very hard" murmured tho
other. her face very white and bleak.
II know. my dear" said Sara gently.
IF they should ever hDd out"
gasped the girl, suddenly giving way
to the dread that had been lying dor.
mant all these months.
They will never know tho truth
unless you choose to enlighten them"
said Sara, putting her arm about the
girls shoulders md drawing her close.
You never cease to bo wonderful,
Sara-so very wonderful" cried the
girl. with look OF worship In her
eyee.
Sara regarded her In silence for
moment. rejecting. Then. with a swift
rush OF tears TO her eyes, she cried
fercely:
You must never, never tell me ah