The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-12-24

tel till about noon and then strolle(
along the pretty main street OF the
peaceful town. more for the sake o.
exercise than with any investigator
spirit just then.
A church ended it's services and the
attendants were dispensing as he
neared il. Farmers from a distance
were driving off in wagons and anti
quated surreys. Two ladies had just
been helped into an oldfashioned
| phaeton. The weather was quite crisr
and chilly. As the elder of the two
ladies took her place she drew out
from under the seat cushion a shawl
A Paisley shawl! And having q
| white center and "curlicues," and a
| fringe! Wallace Briefly sprang into
action as If shot from gun, but the
phaeton had started up. Before he
could overtake it the rig had turned
corner and was lost TO view, com.
mingled with other vehicles.
THAT phaeton!" he painted, rushing
ladies into the vehicle-'the lady with
the Paisley shawl"
The man whose arm he had seized
in his fervor Of urgent excitement
stared at his wild-eyed, breathless in.
Aterlocutor in profound surprise.
why, yes," he spoke slowly, Mrs.
Esmond and her daughter"
"Do-do they live in a story and a
half house-painted Yellow" bolted
out Wallace tumultuously.
They do, one mile down the road,
where you saw them turn" was the
rejoinder, and then the informant
found himself alone, staring marvel
ingly after the erratic Wallace, who
had dashed away forthwith.
Mrs. Mary Esmond, widow, and her
daughter, Leila, pretty as a picture,
were quite astonished half an hour
later to be overtaken, just as they
were putting up the old family horse,
by the breathless, perspiring Wallace
Briefly. He apologized for his urgen-
cy-"one story and half house.
painted yellow"-"Paisley shawl
did they remember a fevered, hun
gered tramp who had fallen at their
doorstep such and such length of
time back?
why, yes, the poor fellow!" replied
Mrs. Esmond. "He made me think of
ray dead son. put out his old over.
coat for our unfortunate guest. The
next morning he was gone"
And often since l have hoped it
kept him warm, and that he found
home and friends" spoke Leila Es-
mond, and Wallace Briefly. reverence
ing her for her gentle pity for be-
loved brother. thought her face wore
the divine glory Of some angel.
He was my only brother" spoke
Wallace. "He left his old coat behind
him here"
1T is in the attic now," explained
Leila. There were some papers in it.
They bore no address, so | placed
them carefully away. thinking that
maybe some day they might be
claimed"
Il claim them now," said Wallace In
a tone of deep gratitude and satisfac-
tion. They mean to my poor, mis-
guided brother and myself a new,
grand start in life. after many bad
mistakes"
They restored the papers and made
him stay to dinner. He would never
forget that peaceful, enjoyable after.
noon. He bade them farewell with q
full heart.
Three weeks later Wallace Briefly
called Unexpectedly at the Esmond
home. He had learned of mortgage
on the place, OF the worthiness of the
owner of the Paisley shawl. He
brought to her present in ready cash
that would free her home from debt.
And then he found it hard to get
away. Leila was the loadstone that
lured him to delay, and then to a con-
fession OF love.
1t was quiet ceremony, their we'd
ding, and as the happy pair started
off on their honeymoon Wallace Bri-
erly insisted that his bride wear the
Paisley shawl.