Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-03-10
Countess nalOla.
By WILKIE COLLINS.

By wILKIE COLLINS.
 He drew her to his. bosom. My own darlngl" he whispered-and kissed her. Softly and tremulously the sweet lips fingered, and touched his lips ill return. Then her head dropped. She put her arms round his neck, and hid her face in his bosom. They spoke no more.
 The charmed silence had lasted but a little while, when it was merciiessly broken by q knock at the door.
 Agnes started to her feet. She placed her. self at the piano; the instrument being oppo- site to the door. it was impossible, when she seated herself on the music stool, for any person entering the room to see her face Henry called out irritably. Come ill.,"
 The door was not opened. The person on the other side asked strange question:
 "Is Mr. Henry Westwick alone7"
 Agnes instantly recognized the voice of the countess. She hurried to second door. which communicated with one of the bed rooms. sDon't let her come near mel" she whispered, nervously. Good night, Henry 1! good nightr'
 If Henry could, by an effort of will, have transported the countess to the uttermost ends of the earth he would have made the effort without remo:se. As it was, ho only repeated, more irritably than ever, "Come inI'
 She entered the room slowly with her everlasting manuscript ill her hand. Her step was unsteady; dark flush appeared on her face ill place of it's customary pallor; her eyes were bloodshot and widely dilated. In approaching Henry she showed a strange in- capability of calculating her distances-she struck against the table near which he hap pened to be sitting. When she spoke her articulation was confused, and her pronun- ciation of some of the longer words was hardly intelligible. Most men would have suspected her of being under the influence of some intoxicating liquor. Henry took a truer view-he said, as he placed chair for her, "Countess, am afraid you have been working too hard; you look as if you wanted rest"
 She put her hand to her head
 My invention is gone," sue said. s'I can't write my fourth act. It's all a blank-alI a blank!"
 Henry advised her to wait till the next day
 ''Go to bed, he suggested, land try and sleep"
 She waved her hand impatiently
 II must finish the play" she answered. Fl only want hint from you. You must know something about plays. Your brother has got theatre. You must often have heard him talk about fourth and fifth acts you must have seen rehearsals. and all tue rest of it." She abruptly thrust the lnanu- script into Henry's hand. ''I can't read it to you," she said; 1T feel giddy when look at my own writing. Just run your eye over it, there's good fellow-and give me hint"
 Henry glanced at the manuscript. He happened to look at the list of the persons of the drama. As he read the list he started and turned abruptly to the countess, intend ing to ask her for some explanation. The words were suspended on his lips. It was but too plainly useless to speak to her. Her head lay back on the upper rail of tue chair. She seemed to be half asleep already. The flush on her face had deepened; she looked like a woman who was in danger of having fit.
 He rang the bell, and directed the man who answered it to send one of the chamhermaids upstairs. His voice seemed to partially rouse the countess; she opened her eyes in slow, drowsy way. "Have you read its'' she asked.
 It was necessary. as mere act of human ity, to humor her. q will read it willingly ; said Henry, If you will go upstairs to bed. You shall hesr what think of it tomorrow morning. Our heads will be clearer, we shall be better able to make the fourth act in the morning."
 The chambermald came in while be was speaking. q am afraid the lady is i'll, Henry whispered "Take her up to her room" The woman looked at the countess, and whispered back. "Shall we send for a doctor, sirl'
 . Henry advised taking her upstairs first, and then asking tue managers advice. There was great difficulty in persuading her to rise and accept the support of the chambermaid's arm. It was only by reiterated promises tc read the play that night, and to make the fourth act ill tue morning, that Henry pre- vailed on the countess to return to her room
 Left to himself he began to feel a certain languid curiosity ill relation to the manu script. He looked over the pages, reading a line here and line there. Suddenly he changed color as he read-and looked uI from the manuscript like man bewildered "Good GodI what does this mean2' he said to himself.
 His eyes turned nervously to the door by l which Agnes had left him. Sue might TO turn to the drawing room; she might want to see what the countess had written. Ht looked back again at the passage whicl sta! tied him-considered with himself for { moment-and suddenly and softly left th' room