Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-25

"a reverse our relative positions, that
such jealousy Is mine was unworthy
both OF me and Of her, and not to be
entertained for moment.
Then she went on her way, and was
closeted with the French woman Tor
more than two hours, in the chill and
dusk Of the September evening, coming
down at last, white and shivering, to
take her part in the prayers. Her own
were long enough tlRt night; Thought
she would never come TO bed, and when
ut last she did come, nesting gently in
so as not to disturb me, I allowed her
10 think was asleep, and for the first
time for years, l should suppose, let
her 90 without her goodnight"
III.
Nine. Laurie was at her post the
following morning, and things went on
as usual for the next few days. She
excused herself from church on the Sun
day, however, both morning and eve
ming, and although she looked quito Ill
enough to justify her in staying at home
could not get rid of an uncomfortable
feeling that there was something IN the
background, and that we should never
come 10 a proper understanding until It
was cleared up. At the same time ]
saw in her greater effort to concen-
trate her attention on her work, and
while she spoke French with the girls
more exclusively than any Of her pre-
decessors--never, indeed, expressing
herself in English to any one unless she
was compelled-hcr knowledge Of music
far exceeded my anticipations.
By what seemed an unspoken mutual
consent, Mary and l said little or no.
thing about her after that night; butthe
kind of devotion had already noticed
on madame's part was unaltered, and
that my sister made little opportunities
of seeing her in private | was better
aware than she supposed. That she
was trying to do her good in some way,
which she was too delicate to confess
to q third person, was, after all, L
thought, the conclusion most in ac-
cordance with all my former expert
ence.
We heard nothing of the Sundays
indisposition on the Monday, and that
day, for the first time, she had Wis.,
itor. The lady, in the first instance,
asked for me, and | was pleased not
ONLY with her, but with the object of
her visit, which betokened kindness
and consideration rot often to be met
in this selfish world. Had the
French governess, who was on her
way to us three weeks before she wish
ed to know, reached us safely? The
fact was, she said, her husband had
travelled in the same compartment with
her in the tidal train until it was with
in station or two Of the spot at which
the collision occurred, when he ex-
changed into a smoking-carriage and
before they parted she had so interest
cd him in her forlorn position, and had
told him so much about herself that he
had promised to look her up at the
terminus, and see her safely on her
way to her destination.
(Which he would have done" his
wife added naively, :" if he had been
there to do it, but he was very badly
hurt. His was not one Of the worst
cases, by long way. There were five
deaths, you know, and one of the
bodies was never identified. He was
so afraid it might have been that Of
Nine. Laurie. Oh, yes; she gave him
her address, orI should not have known
where to come to. He had conclusion
of the brain, and remembered nothing
at first but now he is nearly himself
again, and he was so anxious about
that poor little French woman, as he
kept calling her, and about another
lady who was in the compartment with
them, but promised | would come and
see.n
could hear the girls mastering in
the hall for their morning walk as she
talked to me, and | went to the door
and called Nine. Laure in.
She obeyed the summons imme-
iiately; but when she saw | was not
alone she fell back like frightened
child, and with an expression infinitely
more distressed. Upon widely different
grounds it was easy to see that the
other was scarcely less taken ajack.
But this is not Nine. Laure," she
exclaimed. II mean my husband led
me to expect some one so very differ
ent "
sis that to be taken as a compliment
to madame?" asked.
Yes, certainly" the little lady re-
piled frankly. 81 had no notion she
was so nice-looking or so young. He
gave me the impression that you were
a plain, elderly person." she added,
laughing and extending her hand.
But perhaps you don't understand
me, and | am not such linguist as he
is. Perhaps and she turned to me,
"you will be so kind as to act as in
terpreter!"
There is no need" | said, "Ma-
dame understands English perfectly"
" Oh, we'll, them" she replied good
humoredly, 81 will tell her." which
she did forthwith.
my husband, you see, would have
have done better to remain with you,"
she concluded. "And yet, what Of
the other lady-the handsome English
lady who was with your"
/ do not think she was handsome"
Madame Laure replied in a slow, re-
luctant way. 81 think--pardon me
monsieur's memory must still be lit
tie clouded. She was not young or
handsome, that poor lady. And you
might not have had him spared to you,
madame, had he stayed where he was.
for. though escaped, she was killed."
KILLED in the same carriage with
you," | exclaimed. "And you told
me that night there was nobody with
you-that you were alone -
"Did IL" she returned alphabetically.
Every likely | did. 1t was too dread
full to talk about. Why should | send
you to your beds to be haunted as was
myself"
The little lady went away with her
gsyety under an eclipse. She could not,
apparently, get over the thought that
death had really taken one of the trio